What do pundits mean when describing someone as a gifted athlete?

[THE THIRD MAN]

I think a natural athlete is someone who has the natural skill to be great at what they do with less work than other guys

Well said, i'd go along with that, to me Floyd is a gifted athlete who has all the natural attributes to be a great in the sport. RJJ had it too but apart from those two i think everyone else currently fighting has to work really hard at it to get the results. At the same time so called gifted athletes are often the most lazy and as a consequence lose to inferior opposition. No matter what sport you play you still have to put in the effort and do the training.

[Scrap]

Theres a lot more Nuture than Nature in top athletes across the board. The more discipline and time spent correctly in the formative years the better motorized skills will be.

[Mr140]

Most gifted would have to be Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammad Ali

[sexydarin]

Even gifted athletes who were born with it, had to work their asses off to get to the top. If they didn't work their asses off then they never would have made it.

[donnydarkoIRL]

In the game today i think the most athletically gifted fighter has got to be between Floyd Mayweather Jr. (obvious,) Joan Guzman, (not so obvious,) or mayb Shane Mosely

[BoxingGorilla]

Even gifted athletes who were born with it, had to work their asses off to get to the top. If they didn't work their asses off then they never would have made it.

Yeah, but that's because they are surrounded by other gifted athletes. Staying in practice and practicing for to unlock "greatness" are different in my mind. You can only unlock greatness in people who have greatness within them.

We talked about this in an older thread, but I will say again that I do not think of boxers when someone says the word atlhlete. (this comment is not a threat to anyone's well thought out opinion.)

[donnydarkoIRL]

Even gifted athletes who were born with it, had to work their asses off to get to the top. If they didn't work their asses off then they never would have made it.

Yeah, but that's because they are surrounded by other gifted athletes. Staying in practice and practicing for to unlock "greatness" are different in my mind. You can only unlock greatness in people who have greatness within them.

We talked about this in an older thread, but I will say again that I do not think of boxers when someone says the word atlhlete. (this comment is not a threat to anyone's well thought out opinion.)

I would agrre with u there.
There is a difference between the Athlete and the Boxer.
The Athlete is restricted only by his own limitations in the skill or cardiovascular fitness departments.
The Boxer is faced with the obstacle of another highly trained opponent attempting to physically prevent him from succeding with his objective.
Whereas the athlete's primary goal is to be the best he can be and attempt to perform to the best of his abilities by running as fast as he can, swimming as long as he can or jumping as high as he can, the boxer must approach his task with a mentality prepared to take physical punishment before being able to attempt to exert his own will upon the opponent.

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

This may sound a dumb question but I get puzzled when I hear this said about certain fighters.

Lampley said that Jermain Taylor is possiblyy the most gifted natural athlete in boxing.

What does this mean?

He's not the strongest guy, or the quickest. He doesn't have the most skill or the most stamina so why the gifted athlete moniker? I mean to me Floyd or Roy Jones are gifted athletes, Hopkins too. I don't think of Jermain Taylor when I think of gifted athletes.

Are they referring to crossover ability, i.e gifted in other sports?

Joe Rogan always say the same about Kevin Randleman on the UFC as well even though his record is 50/50 win loss. He's muscular but obviously not that gifted an athlete else his record would be better...right?

Can someone explain?

Well to me, a gifted athlete is balletic, has brilliant power and speed and is in great physical condition.

What else would it be

Fukin Merchant

[Mar]

I hated those "gifted athletes" back in my school days...to me it's those guys who can get away with spending way less time in the gym, on the field, on the court, whatever and still be the best at what they do or at least close.

[Wacko3205]

Physically, mentally, totally 100% debdicated to the performance of the craft.

They mean Floyd Mayweather Jr.