What Was Their Secret To Success?

Highlights

Boxing legends find success by focusing on their strengths and using them to become immortal.
Hopkins relied on strong fundamentals like a strong jab and counterpunching to become an All-Time great.
Gatti became a world champion because of his toughness and willingness to fight until he had nothing left.

One of the great things that makes boxing special is that fighters can be successful in their own ways. Sure, having natural talent provides an advantage over the competition. However, fighters who aren't the biggest, strongest, or fastest can still win titles. Sometimes, it's about heart and determination. Some of the sport's legends were able to focus on their strengths and use them to become immortal.

10 Bernard Hopkins Had An Old School Style

Hopkins Mastered How To Attack When In A Clinch

Hopkins wasn't the fastest or most athletic, but he relied on the fundamentals of boxing: a strong jab and counterpunching.

Bernard Hopkins made 20 defenses as middleweight champion before moving up to light heavyweight. In many ways, Hopkins (55-8-2, 32 KOs) used some of boxing's hidden tricks to become an All-Time great. Hopkins was a good defensive fighter. While he had a strong chin, he never left himself open to take big shots. The most controversial part of Hopkins's game was his inside fighting. Many observers would note that Hopkins's work in the clinch was borderline dirty.

9 Arturo Gatti Was All Heart

Gatti Was Involved In Numerous Fight Of The Year Contenders

Gatti will always be remembered as one of boxing's top action fighters and blood and guts warriors.

Arturo Gatti (40-9, 31 KOs) didn't have many physical gifts, but he became a world champion because of his toughness. Gatti's action fights with Micky Ward, Ivan Robinson, Gabriel Ruelas, and others are legendary. Gatti's skin would cut easily and the tissue around his eyes would always start swelling within a few rounds. But Gatti would never quit and always fought until he didn't have anything left.

8 Pernell Whitaker Is One Of The Best Defensive Boxers Ever

Whitaker Was A 4 Division World Champion

The Hall of Famer always gave his opponents fits with his technical skills.

Pernell Whitaker (40-4-1, 17 KOs) is the face of the crafty southpaw style. If boxing were stripped down to its essential roots: hit your opponent and don't get hit while stacking up rounds on points, Pernell Whitaker would be at the top. Whitaker was borderline impossible to hit clean in his prime: he had the speed, timing, and defensive skills to avoid punches. Offensively, Whitaker always seemed to find the openings.

7 Prince Naseem Hamed Had Insane Talent

Hamed's Power Allowed Him To Disregard Fundamentals

Hamed had monstrous power for his weight class.

Lineal featherweight champion Naseem Hamed took risks. The Prince (36-1, 31 KOs) would go through stretches in fights where he didn't care about defense. He'd drop his hands and leave himself open for counters. Sometimes, he was so off balance that he'd get knocked down. That's why Hamed's fights were often so entertaining: he knew that his opponents would eventually go down if he caught them flush because they couldn't handle his power. Hamed showed that sometimes pure talent is good enough.

6 Mike Tyson Maximized His Strengths

Tyson Overcame His Small Stature For A Heavyweight

Tyson kept a high guard that allowed him to evade punches while moving forward.

One of the sport's strongest punchers, heavyweight champion Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) was at a disadvantage during his fights because of his 5'10 height. However, Tyson kept a high guard and used his low center of gravity to put a lot of leverage into his power punches. That's how Tyson was able to do tremendous damage with his hooks, uppercuts, and body attack.

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5 Roberto Duran Was A Complete Fighter

Duran Evolved As He Won Titles From Lightweight To Middleweight

While constant pressure was Duran's signature, he ruled the lightweight division because of an improved jab.

Roberto Duran grew up fighting in the streets of Panama City, earning the nickname Hands of Stone. Duran (103-16, 70 KOs) was a massive puncher but grew as he gained more experience. Duran's feinting allowed him to set up his power shots and become an effective counter puncher. This was important as Duran moved up and faced bigger challenges like Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler. Duran's footwork is underrated as well.

4 Manny Pacquiao Was A Relentless Ball Of Energy

Pacquiao Was Dynamic In The Lower Weight Classes

Most of boxing's top sluggers were seen as slow and deliberate. However, Pacquiao changed that dynamic.

Boxing's only 8 division world champion, Manny Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) was simply too fast, too strong, and too active for many of his opponents. While Pacquiao was constantly searching for an opening to attack with his tremendous left hand, he was never a stationary target. Pacquiao's constant head and foot movement frustrated opponents.

3 Floyd Mayweather Was Ambitious And Disciplined

Mayweather Took Care Of His Body In-between Fights

Mayweather's dedication to the craft is something other fighters try to copy.

Floyd Mayweather is a defensive wizard. Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs) mastered the art of rolling with his opponents' punches, and taking advantage of openings. However, what really set one of boxing's greatest counter punchers apart was his ambition. It wasn't enough to leave Bob Arum and start his own promotion. Mayweather perfectly crafted a unique and brash persona known as Money to become one of the highest paid athletes in the world.

2 Julio Cesar Chavez Had An Iron Chin

The All-Action Fighter Could Walk Down His Opponents

Chavez was able to walk through punches and take his opponents' best shots.

The Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez (107-6-2, 86 KOs) was named Fighter of The Year multiple times. Chavez was able to rely on his signature pressure style because of his durability. Chavez's willingness to trade because he knew he'd get the better of the exchanges made him one of the sport's most popular fighters and a unanimous Hall of Famer.

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1 Muhammad Ali Recognized That Boxing Is Entertainment

Ali Knew How To Sell Fights

Ali showed the world that boxing could be an art form.

The heavyweight champion, Muhammad Ali (56-5, 37 KOs) was not afraid to talk trash and get under his opponents skin. Brash and charismatic, Ali always backed up his words in the ring. He glided around the ring with his smooth footwork and sharp punching. Ali put internal pressure on himself to win because of his constant flair and eye for the spotlight.

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