By Shaun Murphy: During my time getting punched in the face as a sport, the term ‘’natural fighter’’ was very common in my Gym. My trainer, a lovely guy called Mick, admitted it was every coach’s dream for that once-in-a-lifetime fighter to walk through the doors, and we’d often talk about the legends of the past like they were superhuman. However, after my skill increased I noticed the top amateurs weren’t so far of myself. So I tried to become a top fighter. Hell, I even wrote down on a piece of paper once I was going to be undisputed World Heavyweight Champion by 2013. Unfortunately, whenever the alarm rung for my morning run I stayed in bed, and, I couldn’t resist the drink, women and godless-lifestyle so prevalent in British culture. Inevitably, I failed. But I believe I have enough knowledge to explain why some make it and some don’t..
The Upbringing
Although the concept of boxers fighting their way-out-of poverty is romantic, it’s only partially true. Every sociologist worth his PH.D knows impoverished communities are a breeding ground for violence, but these academics will also describe the addiction, crime and hopelessness that the ‘’Ghetto lifestyle’’ ferments. No doubt, individuals like Jake La Motta, Mike Tyson and Andrew Golota used the violence and desperation of previous hard times as fuel for the ring. However, in Jake La Motta’s Bronx, Mike Tyson’s Brooklyn and Andrew Golota’s children’s home many of the ‘’toughs’’ wasted away in jail or chained to addiction. It’s sad but very, very true.
This is where I contradict myself. Although, it’s obvious, being brought up in a terrible environment isn’t needed to create a World Champion. Wanting to prove yourself, and being exposed to violence from a young age develops the qualities needed for excellence in the ring – and the toughest areas produce people like that!
In boxing, though, many of the elite fighters aren’t from poverty, but are from supportive, middle-class backgrounds – like Sugar Ray Leonard, whose parents were very comfortably off. If your upbringing has left you with something to physically prove, and you enjoy the challenge of fighting. Good or bad upbringing, it doesn’t matter. By making the sacrifices, people from all backgrounds have become champions. In boxing it doesn’t matter how hard you’ve had it, only how much you want it!
You’ve Gotta Be Nuts
Gill Glancy – the famous trainer of boxing’s First Homosexual Champion, Emile Griffith – once asked a prominent psychologist why so many boxers are self-destructive. The answer? The doctor replied: ‘’any person who would consider entering a profession where you’re voluntary allowing people to hurt you is simply disturbed.’’
Here’s the good news. Every fan likes it that way, because deep-down in that place where you only visit in your bravest moments, we love the tragedy of the squared circle. The deepest minds have remarked, the knock-out is a symbolic death and seeing two people try and kill each-other satisfies people’s violent urges in society’s only acceptable way…
What’s the one attribute all the ‘’real’’ fighters possess? – Sir, it’s madness! Muhammad Ali, perhaps, explained how deep in the reservoirs of the human soul a boxer has to go when he explained the ‘’dark place.’’ According to Ali, the dark place is a state-of-mind where you face death, extreme pain and your most savage instincts. Many fighters have travelled to this destination, and to beat the best in the world’s hardest sport you have to go there! Coincidentally, many potential world beaters have descended to mediocrity because they wouldn’t travel to their innermost depths in pursuit of glory. It’s unassailable, you have got to be nuts to be a top boxer.
The Right Genes & Mental Attitude
Oh boy, what a debate. What genetics do you need to become a World Champion? I could be wrong, but there’s only two things you can’t do without in the ring. A sturdy chin and discipline.
In the 1980s, Marvin’s Hagler’s Hall-of-Fame trainer, Goody Petronelli, said he’d spent many hours contemplating the cause of a good or bad chin to no avail. Hagler’s trainer spoke with doctors, skull experts and other fight people, but couldn’t find out what attribute was needed for a strong jaw. Petronelli’s only lead was when Hagler’s cranium was examined, and the doctor discovered ‘’Marvellous’’ Marvin’s skull was two-times thicker than average. Instantly, like me, Goody Petronelli came to the conclusion skull thickness and strong facial muscles [which Hagler had] separated the ‘glass’ and ‘iron’ chinned boxers.
Goody also said if a fighter ain’t got a chin, he shouldn’t box. I agree, although, I believe like Tony Zale did, another massive factor is mentality. If a boxer is determined he’s harder to hurt, and I think if a fighter trains [particularly, his neck muscles] he can develop at least enough punch-resistance to make it.
In boxing you’ve got to be disciplined: Ricky Hatton ruined his chances of becoming an all-time-great because of his lifestyle, and so have many other fighters. Sugar Ray Leonard, for instance, was shocked by the lack-of-discipline displayed by the contestants on The Contender series. The former great recounted chocolate bars, bad-sleeping habits and even alcohol being drunk while training and couldn’t believe athletes would live that way. ‘’Sugar’’ Ray espoused no one can succeed without discipline, and perhaps that attitude was the secret to his accomplishments? Sugar Ray Leonard always lived clean – nearly every great fighter has done – as you can’t succeed without self-control. Unfortunately, many prospects have been beaten by the dinner table or bar stall well before they’ve lost in the ring!
The perpetual question, are fighters born or made – and can you succeed without ‘’the gift.’’ My opinion. If a man’s got a good chin and he’s got the mentality and discipline. He has got ‘’the gift.’’ People in boxing, these days, have become too intellectual. We’re in the information age, and every fight-fan has access to every piece of information known about the human body – that’s being dubbed genetics. It’s obvious, they say, Floyd Mayweather’s fast-twitch muscle fibers and Rocky Marciano’s ‘inherited’ lung capacity won him the title. However, if you look into the life story of every great boxer you’ll see hard training was the reason they become legends! Some fighters are naturally talented, but as Joe Martin [Muhammad Ali’s first amateur coach] said, ‘’young Cassius was just average to start, but he trained very hard.’’ In sport science they say with repetition the skills just come, and that’s the secret to becoming a champion. Hard work! A modern-day case is Kostya Tszyu, the Russian admitted he was just average to start and only his intense training brought him to the world stage. In stark contrast, a plethora of ‘’naturals’’ haven’t made it due to laziness in the gym and the road.
So there you are, I believe the greatest fighters are just guys who wanted it the most. I might be wrong, but look into the pasts of the World Champions and I’m confident my theories will hold true.