Very true. Ali is a very good analogy as well. Even to hear Foreman say he was the 'dope' in the rope-a-dope speaks volumes. Tyson speaks to this as well. Mike Tyson could punch no harder later in life than he could in the beginning. With D'Amato with him he fought smart. He was in shape. He moved. He did not get hit. Upon the loss of D'Amato he was a freak puncher who did nothing more. For a short time the freak punching, as well as the reputation of being a freak puncher, hid the eroding skills (maybe not eroding but skills not used, not being mentally prepared). It finally caught up with him and he faded into nothing more than a punch line for lots of people. This may be another topic altogether but in a lots of cases it is the man behind the dog that gets things done. EWO