Best jab per division

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Dorrian_Grey, Jul 25, 2025.


  1. Dorrian_Grey

    Dorrian_Grey It came to me in a dream Full Member

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    From heavyweight to minimumweight (or just the big 8 if you prefer), who had the best jab per division? I would probably go something like that:
    • HW: Larry Holmes
    • CW: Steve Cunningham
    • LHW: John Conteh
    • SMW: Andre Ward
    • MW: GGG
    • JMW: Thomas Hearns
    • WW: Floyd Mayweather Jr.
    • LWW: Antonio Cervantes
    • LW: Joe Brown
    • SFW: Alexis Arguello
    • FW: Eusebio Pedroza
    • SBW: Celestino Caballero
    • BW: Fighting Harada
    • SFW: Kazuto Ioka (?)
    • FW: Masao Ohba
    • JFW: Kenshiro Teraji
    • MW: Wanheng Menayothin
    Thoughts?
     
  2. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    For JFW I highly recommend checking out Joey Olivo, especially against Yuh. Absolutely insane jab on the man. @PhillyPhan69 was quite big on him iirc.
     
  3. Mandela2039

    Mandela2039 Philippians 2:10-11 Full Member

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    Middle gotta be Ray Robinson, it was so versatile, fast as hell and could set up big left hooks with it
     
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  4. themaster458

    themaster458 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I'll just do the main ones:
    HW: Holmes for sure
    LHW: Someone's probably gonna name Foster so I'll go with Bivol
    MW: McCallum or Golovkin
    WW: Jose Napoles
    LW: Whittaker
    FW: Not sure about this one tbh
    BW: Fighting Harada
    FW: Canto
     
  5. Dorrian_Grey

    Dorrian_Grey It came to me in a dream Full Member

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    There are plenty of elite MWs with superb jabs, it's far from a foregone conclusion that SRR has the best jab. Golovkin, Monzon, Jermall Charlo, Joey Archer, Emile Griffith, Hagler, Kalambay, even LaMotta had a very educated jab. 160 is probably the toughest division to pick imo.
     
  6. Mandela2039

    Mandela2039 Philippians 2:10-11 Full Member

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    Robinson and Lamotta were consistently and constantly outjabbing one another in their sixth bout, it was a pure thing of beauty seeing Lamotta jab into Ray's jab and Ray sniping him with the flicker..

    Think i've gotta agree with you on this one, MW is the hardest one to pick
     
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  7. clum

    clum Member Full Member

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    If you're struggling looking for a great jabber at superfly, check out Gilberto Roman.
     
  8. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Michael Spinks had the best jab at light heavyweight imo.
     
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  9. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    These are very good. Without really delving into them, and off the top of my head, I would say I always liked the Ali jab best. John Conteh's jab was outstanding but i would also have Willie Pastrano's right there as well. At welterweight Ike Quartey's was very impressive but i have always liked the Luis Rodriguez jab best. And at lightweight - for me anyway - Ken Buchanan's was tops.
     
  10. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Heavyweight has to be Wlad. He ran the division behind that jab for a decade.

    LHW: Maske.

    Monzon for MW.

    Benny Leonard for LW.

    Gonna say Pep for FW but you could give me an argument.

    Y'all can have all those pocket pet divisions.
     
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  11. Mike Cannon

    Mike Cannon Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Hi scart.
    Just seen this from the op, and was just about to say exactly what you put, Pastrano and Buchanan, great minds.....
    stay safe buddy, chat soon.
    Mike.
     
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  12. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    • HW: Muhammad Ali
    • CW: Usyk
    • LHW: Bob Foster
    • SMW: Anthony Mundine
    • MW: Carlos Monzon
    • JMW: Thomas Hearns
    • WW: Thomas Hearns
    • LWW: Antonio Cervantes
    • LW: Pernell Whitaker
    • SFW: Alexis Arguello
    • FW: Willie Pep
    • SBW: Wilfredo gomez
    • BW: Fighting Harada
    • FW: Miguel Canto
     
  13. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    I had Buchanan down and changed it last second to Whitaker. The Rodriguez jab is perennially underrated but up against such tough competition.
     
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  14. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    • Heavyweight: Larry Holmes
    • Cruiserweight: Oleksandr Usyk
    • Light Heavyweight: Michael Spinks
    • Super Middleweight: Anthony Mundine
    • Middleweight: Gennady Golovkin
    • Jr Middleweight: Thomas Hearns
    • Welterweight: Ike Quartey
    • Super Lightweight: Antonio Cervantes
    • Lightweight: Ken Buchanan
    • Super Featherweight: Alexis Arguello
    • Featherweight: Willie Pep
    • Super Bantamweight: Naoya Inoue
    • Bantamweight: Fighting Harada
    • Super Flyweight: Gilberto Roman
    • Flyweight: Sot Chitalada
    • Jr Flyweight: Hilario Zapata
    • Strawweight: Ricardo Lopez
     
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  15. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    I like this list alot. Outstanding
     
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