Nerdcore Boxing

What makes a boxer tough enough for the sport? And can this toughness be built up over time, or does it have to be there from the start?

I’ve been thinking about this a lot over the last few days after seeing the all too common ritual of throwing a new guy in with a bigger/better boxer to take his first real beating (note this wasn’t at my gym). In this instance I saw a once proud and swaggering teenager break down and quit. Did that mean this kid will never be boxing material?

If his body can be built up to take punishment, why can’t his mind? Personally I think the boxing mind can be conditioned somewhat gradually, just like the body. But I guess a boxer’s will is the big variable that trainers want to size up. Thus the school of hard knocks maintains its popularity.