Best European defensive stylist\specialist

Yes, I think so, he looks like a Whitaker at times, albeit at a lower level. He's frustrating though, he was a world amateur champion and would likely have won the Olympics if he made weight, which he didn't. He's gone from 135-147, mainly because of lack of discipline and his strength at the weight and athleticism isn't great. He's pulled out of a few fights and been inactive, which seemed to be personal problems. I think If he worked harder to get some conditioning he could certainly be a P4P type. Here's 1 of his fights

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GtsSgJzKQY[/ame]

 

Yeah, he does look like slower less athletic Whitaker. Not bad.

Exactly the fighter i wouldn't wanna watch though

 

Too bad Witter is old now - him against Gavin would have been a real bloodbath.

 

Suppose I could argue that Lennox Lewis became one?

 

Do you mean Naseem Hamed ?

Was he a good defensive stylist ?

I seem to remember him as a bit of a gung-ho power puncher. He definitely borrowed a lot from Herol Graham, but wasn't as slick as Graham - as I remember it anyway.

He was one hell of an entertainer though. It's a shame that ride didn't go on a bit longer.

 

Wlad Klitschko is pretty good at not getting hit.

I think it´s a matter of schools. In the US slipping punches is seen as the highest art of defence while in Europe you are more focussed on blocking. Of course there are always exceptions. Footwork plays a big rle in both "schools".

 

I dunno. maybe. Which stage of his career do you have in mind ?
Last time we saw him in the ring he was taking some pretty big punches.

 

And don't forget clinching and holding - considered major defensive ploys everywhere.

In fact, the most successful defensive boxers probably employ chronic clinching.

 

The VK fight was a result of Lewis being under-prepared and drastically underestimating Vitali in my opinion.

When Steward got hold of Lewis, he made him more defensive by forcing him to use his jab much much more.

I'm not sure how to articulate this but I'll try, Lewis's rangy offense became his defence if that makes sense, he was no longer going in for tear ups, he was fighting as a pugilist, and defending himself far better as a result.

 

True. I´d like to get throws back into boxing. Would make clinching more interesting.

 

Graciano Rocchigiani

 

Controlling the range, major element of defence.

 

No I don't think so, I'm a fan but he was never was that hard to hit. He's Canadian schooled anyway

 

Does Kalambay counts?

Found this:

He was an African amateur champion but figured he needed to turn pro in Europe. He went first to France, then to Italy, in 1980, where he teamed up with his manager, Ennio Galeazzi.


By the way Kalambay said the toughest opponent he faced was Barkley.