Can we create the perfect boxer: Who has the best jab, ever?

I personally think Liston had the best jab in the Heavyweight division followed by Ali, Louis, and Holmes in that order.

 

Hi Swag, I have always wondered that if Liston had such a great jab then did why the young Ali jab him to pieces. Ali completely dominated the battle of the jabs in their first fight.

Sonny had a great power jab but he had to be set to throw it and he always had trouble landing the jab against movers ( see the Machen fight ). I put Louis and Foreman in the same category. They were great at jabbing fighters with little lateral movement. Fighters like Holyfield, Holmes, Ali and even guys like Carl Williams and Buster Douglas all had better jabs in my opinion.

Cheers Mate.

 

Whitaker has the best p4p jab in my humble. It’s not like Pea was gifted with a huge reach like say Bob Foster or Tommy Hearns who both had incredibly effective jabs.

Miguel Canto and Johnny Famechon are two personal faves as both fighters only had an average reach. Ditto Howard Winston. Joey Archer also comes to mind.

Jose Napoles had a wonderful left hand, Ike Quartey also had a brilliant jab. Sugar Ray Robinson is a bit underrated as far as how good his jab was. Ditto Sugar Ray Leonard.

Both Hagler and Moorer had brilliant jabs for southpaws as did Winky Wright.

Cheers All.

 

I gotta go with Larry Holmes here.
Get back with me when your guy knocked down a heavyweight title contender with his jab.

 

I disagree that Ali "completely dominated the battle of the jabs". He was on the losing end of it but even so he was dead even on the scorecards which would not be the case if it was a domination. Liston had also fought about 6 minutes in 3 three years, was considerably rusty, at least in his mid 30s but most suspect likely older, didn't train at all, had bursitis and went into the bout with a separate shoulder injury, and asked for a postponement of the bout which was subsequently denied (recorded by the Florida Boxing Commission).

 

Mayweather. It's kind of a two for one deal. He had a great standard jab and also possessed the best power jab to the body in history.

 

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Not to mention his dog at his homework.

Liston had only fought 2 minutes in 18 months when he beat Floyd Patterson the first time and 4 minutes, 4 seconds in almost 2 1/2 years when he beat Floyd in the rematch.

That’s what gyms and sparring are for.

The narrative is that Sonny was older than advertised and he might have been by a year or so but even that is subject to dispute (his mother said he was born in 1930 and he fought Golden Gloves in 1953 and it’s doubtful that would be happening with him already in his 30s).

But the people who want him to be older seem to have it figured out that he aged about 10 years between Patterson II and Ali I — which were 7 months apart. Like he was prime in the summer of 1963 but a senior citizen who should have been in an old-folks home by late winter of 1964 lol.

Boxers rarely go into the ring at 100 percent — it’s a sport that takes a toll even in training. Something’s always less than idea. And it’s 100 percent clear in the Ali I fight that Muhammad has a far better jab head to head, at least to me.

 

Hearns.

 

Great post, my sentiments exactly.

 

yes you can.
Holmes.

 

Absolute not my man. I've said it befor Holmes had the best jab in boxing history regardless of weight class. Not only the best jab but he also utilized it better than anyone else. It's not even close to be honest

 

1A Ali 1B Hearns

 

Pernell Whittaker.

 

Great mention Philly. That jab was like a piston against Yuh, even though he lost.