2007-05-22 18:23:48 · 16 answers · asked by TD 1 in Sports ➔ Boxing
By defensive fighter, I mean exactly that Best Defensive Boxer Ever. Comments about punch power, etc. not necessary!
2007-05-22 18:40:32 · update #1
I would have to go with Ali. He was always moving side to side, front to back, rarely did anyone find themselves in a position to just haul off and tag the man. He was the greatest. I have to admit too that a young, sane, Mike Tyson was also a great defensive fighter... believe it or not he was paitent and very difficult to land power shots against... and then, BOOM, in his prime Tyson was the most devistating puncher of all time....
2007-05-22 18:29:55 · answer #1 · answered by No More 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Willie Pep is by far the greatest defensive fighter by far that I have seen by me watching videos. But there are other fighters on my list I would love to mention others like:
1.Joe Gans
2. Jim Driscoll
3. Jack Johnson
4. Pernell Whitaker
5. Benny Leonard
6. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
7. James Toney
8. Winky Wright
9. Bernard Hopkins
By my opnion the last all around defensive fighter left with Sweet Peat and Mayweather Jr. Old time athletes used move defensive tactics in their fights what happened???? The new athletes I see and fight in the ring with are too offensive minded and rely on their speed and punching power to win fights. All the moves learned in training do not mean nothing without the best motivator to keep your defense sharp and that is your mind. Believe it or not your thoughts is what wins fights........
2007-05-25 06:43:04 · answer #2 · answered by Devon P 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
An important distinction to make is YOUNG ALI vs. OLD Ali. Before his boxing exile of three years, yes he was the best defensive fighter of all time. Fights like, Liston, Patterson, Moore, Chuvalo, Mildenberger, Williams, Terrel, and Folley he was a defensive mastermind!
After his 3 and ½ year lay off? Frazier, Norton, Foreman, Young and Spinks. He was not himself, He won a lot of fights but he took a lot of punishment at the same time.
But for the first 7-years of his professional career…WITH OUT A DOUBT
2007-05-23 16:23:28 · answer #3 · answered by Realgroovy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Willie Pep, hands down! He's reputed to be the only boxer in history to have won a round without throwing a punch. That is simply a testament to his defensive genius. Pep had great ring craftsmanship. He had the quickest of feet that allowed him to evade punches by moving out and away from an attacking opponent. He was also adept at bobbing, weaving and parrying that he was absolutely very difficult to hit.
2007-05-23 03:32:37 · answer #4 · answered by bundini 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Floyd Mayweather Jr.: This was a tough decision because I have seen tape on a lot of Defensive greats(Ali and the rope-a-dope, Winky's Invinicible Fortress, Hopkins Veteren Tactics, and James Toney's Counter Mechanism) at the lower weight classes Floyd could stand in front of you and make you miss, the higher he went he had to adapt and fight a more "mobile" fight game.
2007-05-24 17:48:42 · answer #5 · answered by Legal Eagle 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Willie Pep, but only because we don't have films of Young Griffo. All newspaper articles. eyewitness reports and accounts from opponents, peers and trainers of the day talk of Griffo as a man who could not be hit. George "Kid" Lavigne and Jim Corbett were particular admirers.
One of Griffo's favorite tricks at a bar was to stand on a cocktail napkin and allow a patron to swing freely on him. Griffo would evade every blow without lifting his foot off the napkin.
Griffo made hall of fame fighters look like they were swinging at nothing. Men like Jack McAuliffe, George Dixon, Joe Gans(who learned from and patterned his defense after Griffo), Lavigne, etc. Amazing fighter.
2007-05-23 05:05:53 · answer #6 · answered by douglas c 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Willie Pep, Muhammad Ali, Floyd Patterson, Jack Johnson
2007-05-23 18:39:50 · answer #7 · answered by rledman8 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ali, he would dodge your hit not take it (unlike the implications of the word defense) and then hey, he would definitely prove the age old saying "the best defense is a good offense," once he dodged your punch of course, lennox lewis comes in 2nd, you try knocking that monster out
2007-05-23 01:33:36 · answer #8 · answered by Chris G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Willie Pep, Pernell Whitaker, Floyd Mayweather Jr.
2007-05-23 02:04:29 · answer #9 · answered by eltúnel 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Willie Pep. Former featherweight champion started his career 61-0 had tremendous speed and finesse. And an old boxing legend is that he won a round without throwing a punch!
2007-05-23 01:43:44 · answer #10 · answered by ♠ACEMAN♠ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋