Duran is LIKELY the best fighter skill wise, ever.

It's so hard to pick a fighter that is the 'most skilled', because the list is practically endless. Even in the short amount of footage we have of him, Benny Leonard appears to be as skilled as Duran and Loma. You also need to include dudes like Sweet Pea, Mayweather, Locche, Burley into the discussion. Not an easy thing to answer.

 

A grandmaster, certainly, but with people like Charles, Moore, Burley, Pep, Whitaker and others—well it's hard to decisively call him the most skilled.

 

I'm with you here Rollin.
Yes, he's an absolute legend and so skilled, but a lot of guys at the top who are also up there.

 

thousands of them, do you realise how many Top Fighters have graced the ring over the years...

these questions and breakdowns are impossible to answer.

 

Honestly and on the eye test peak Loma is possibly the best fighter I've ever seen. He made P4P guys quit because they couldn't put a glove on him. I wish he'd stop trying to be a hero fighting giants that make him look less than phenomenal because they are simply outsized problems to deal with.

Duran of course ranks far higher than Loma in terms of achievements and probably always will.

 

Duran was bigger than Hearns.

 

A nicely "manufactured" jibe, very nice.

 

Really more of a compliment to Duran, if anything, John.

 

Everything is bigger in Panama.

 

I don't think Duran is "the" most skilled fighter ever but I have no problem in him being considered top 10, He definitely is. He may be top 3 regarding the best inside fighters ever (offensively)

 

impossible to answer ,,is the correct answer

 

And when discussing skills, how about the "B" side fighters who come in on short notice, out of condition, and have the skills to survive against world class conditioned fighters? When I saw this topic I immediately thought of all the top fighters I have seen fight, but one of the most "skilled" I have seen is a guy who is now mid 40s who comes to our place to spar occasionally. The guy has a better than .500 record, has never been the "A" side, probably couldn't jog around the ring twice, but has only been stopped a few times (has fought everywhere, against top class competition on a few days notice), and is always fighting a better conditioned and prepared opponent. He survives and can be dangerous in short bursts. He has also worked as a paid sparring partner for some of the best.

He can hold in dozens of ways, always using leverage (people he spars with think he is super strong, he's not, it's all tricks of leverage), he tries to keep his opponent guessing because he knows he can't keep up in speed or conditioning. His fundamentals are excellent, he has learned OTJ, he probably had little or no training when he turned pro. He is always balanced, his elbows are in, he moves just enough, he's always set to punch, and he conserves energy. He talks to his opponent, most of the time the talking gives them something to think about and it keeps them from mounting an all out attack that would drain his limited conditioning. If they do, he tries to conserve, and then if the opponent wants a quick break after the offensive, he opens up. He's not world class, but from inside the ring or from the ring apron, watching/listening to him is a learning experience. I've seen a lot of fighters who are quicker, stronger, better conditioned, etc., but I'm not sure I've seen anybody more "skilled" in the ring.