Conditioning vs Skills?

Tobie Oshea: I would pick conditioning over skill. I could have all the skill in the world, but what good does it do, if I'm not conditioned to fight past four rounds. It really doesn't take much for a well conditioned fighter to survive several rounds over a highly skilled fighter. Look at Roy Jones and Glen Johnson. Jones was the more highly skilled fighter and he threw everything at Johnson, including some nice bodyshots. Johnson's condition and stamina didn't seem to change at all during that bout and he finally caught Jones. Also, Hasim Rahman has been a victim of conditioning so many times over lesser skilled opponents....Show more

Arnette Dominici: Warrior is correct in all his points. Douglas Holyfield is your example for conditioning. Holyfield sent two large pizzas "compliments of the house" to Douglas's hotel room every night for the monh before the fight. They were always gone the next morning. Douglas was flabby and lost to a conditioned Holyfield, but ! he should have won. On the other side of the coin, just watch any of Foreman's second career early comeback fights. He is in awful shape, but his experience (and talent) take him to victory. My own opinion is that one needs conditioning first, skills second, plus talent, plus luck. Perseverance is also key, as everyone eventually loses....Show more

Barrett Alosa: If two guys have the same skill.. but one is fitter, obviously he will win (as Ross said!). Converesely, if two guys have the same fitness the more skilled guy will win - we are not exactly inventing anything new here though. I think once a boxer has the capability, and confidence, to produce a good punchout put, i.e. average fitness, and good skills he will always beat a well conditioned but average-skilled fighter.This is boxing.. not marathon running. Fitness is important - but the fundamental skills of the sport are far more important in determining success. On another note - you can always improve fitnes! s. Your skill set is limited to your god given talent.. you ha! ve an absolute predetermined peak from the time you are born. For fit, not necessarily overly skilled, fighters see Jeff Fenech; Ricky Hatton....Show more

Caroyln Ebach: If you had the right skill, lets say Roy Jones skill, you'll be droping people in the first round and then light up a gar. Super skill over super conditioning any day.

Neville Dautremont: Skills are the icing, conditioning is the cake! Conditioning over skills- Chavez v.s. Taylor, Skills over conditioning- Ray leonard v.s. Marvelous Marvin Hagler.

Marvel Mcaulay: Conditioning will always win over skill sets.Sometimes competition becomes a test of attrition...that means the one that gets tired first...will lose.Theres two other aspects surrounding the successful outcome of a contest that you've missed...the competitorand luck.You can be the best conditioned athlete in the world...and if you don't feel well, your mind isn't focused and you're distracted...you can lose.Or you can be the most ! skilled fighter of all time...and if your opponent lands a lucky punch...you can lose.Also...skills are taught, trained, and worked...but you cannot learn, work, and train well...if you aren't in good condition.I'll take conditioning and learn the skills later - one of the reasons many team sports have "pre-season training" to condition their athletes first....Show more