Usyk has sensational footwork. Lomachenko and Rigo too. Technically, Whitaker's footwork was **** but it worked.
Should best footwork include natural talent? Ali and Whitaker for example aren't conventional, Whitaker crossed his feet a lot. But his talent negated all his technical deficiences and then some more to the point where his footwork was never and would never have been a shortcoming. Should Whitaker be included because his talent meant that whatever he did, it would work. Or should it not because technically, it was pretty bad. Louis was methodical, and I feel like he got the most out of his feet he could get. But he was still a bit of plodder, not a Wepner like plodder but just not very fast on it. Technically maybe miles ahead of Ali, but against Ali his feet would have been a shortcoming despite the difference in technique, simply because talent can trump technique. Should Louis be ranked ahead of Ali because Joe used his feet to their full capability while Ali could have brought more out of them. Or should Ali be ranked ahead because his feet were truly phenomenal (Now it's like I'm on some forum discussing nickelodeon girls' feet) despite technical shortcomings.
I won't profess to know if it was among the best but I just loved to watch Holyfield. The 'Holyfield Jig' as Emanuel Steward called it. Bounce up and down move back to ride a punch and then straight back to counter. Tyson was the more exciting fighter but Holyfield, to me, was a joy to watch. We had a fighter over here called Colin McMillan in the early 90s. Terrible hair - 'cos that's what we should be analysing on a boxing forum - but great feet that allowed him to switch in a flash. If he had had a bit more pop to his punches, he'd have been incredible.
Good post. I consider both physical talent and technique in assessing footwork. In that light, Louis' footwork really doesn't compare to Ali's, imo. Can't imagine that very many pro fighters would rather move around the ring like Louis than like Ali.
Mayweather had the best feet I've seen, as evidenced by the Pac, Marquez, and Canelo fights. Tarver deserves a mention having never been knocked down other than his glove sweeping the canvas. Vernon Forrest was smooth.
Theirs been a plenty, Most great fighters had great footwork, it was just used in a different way, J.Louis, seemed slow a foot, until his opponent realized he was suddenly in Louis punching range, and by that time it was too late. Name some that haven't been named? Camacho Sr. At jr.light weight. A.Pryor. (the unorthodox angles his punches came from.) Alexis Arguello (see J.Louis) M.Taylor (before Chavez) P.Whitaker of course. Wilfredo Gomez (prime) Duran, and I could go on. It's almost a prerequisite to be great, you must have great footwork, especially at ATG level. Some fighters used it to avoid punches, some used it to cut off the ring.
Looks pretty good to me. I'd add Pep in there as well- in his prime his footwork was a thing of beauty.
Wilfredo Gomez displayed great footwork..both offensively and defensively in that bout with Carlos Zarate....and in other bouts as well.
THIS A young George foreman had incredible footwork the way he pivoted and slid a Joe Frazier made him look like a washer woman. Roberto duran too very slick and fast footwork skipping into range and odd angles and setting up body shots was amongst the best footwork of all time in his prime up to 1980. Ali is the best. Ray Robinson, Louis close by. SRL. On the far lower tiersTyrell biggs was one of the greatest movers for one round only he could never dance more than 1-2 rounds
It is generally agreed that Harry Greb had a very unorthodox fighting style. Yet there are numerous reports saying that Greb was extremely nimble and was moving constantly on his feet even when he was tearing into his opponent. Moreover, Greb was regarded as a very aggressive fighter who was difficult to hit with a solid punch. While Greb may not have had great footwork in a textbook or conventional sense, it must have been very effective. - Chuck Johnston