Greatest inside fighters?

Because you get the impression he could have stood his ground with anyone if he wanted to. But we know he'd have opted to box LaMotta or Tiger.

 

Ah Manassa you beat me to it. I was going to give a call on Basilio for an inside fighter. I don't think he was just tough, he had subtle skills. Same with Lamotta. Marciano is interesting pick at HW, I've seen you make that pick before.

 

Heavyweight: Joe Frazier - Just a big 1 handed Henry Armstrong had such a phenomenal workrate for a big guy and about 80% of his work was done on the inside. His bobbing and weaving to get inside was a very good form of defence and effective as it got him in where he was really devastating with that left hook to head and body.

HM: Jacl Dempsey, Tommy Burns, Jack Johnson and Rocky Marciano

Light Heavyweight: Cant think here

Middleweight: Dick Tiger. Just so strong i cant think of any fighter so strong in there own weight class as Dick was. He really destroyed Carter and Fernandez in inside fights. His hooks were absouloutly devastating especially inside added to his immense strength and you have a beast of a guy.

HM: Jake Lamotta, Gene Fullmer, Marvin Hagler, Harry Greb, Mickey Walker

Welterweight: Carmen Basilio. The definition of brawler. Carmen was rough tough and ready but had some seriously underrated skills. His ability to roll with and slip shots is criminally underrated. His combinations especially inside with his left hook were simply brillaint. His aforementioned left hook was brutal on the inside. He beat Ray Robinson (by then a fully grown Middleweight while Carmen was basically a big Welter) on the inside and as Mannasa said did alright vs Fullmer. Also he was very strong for a Welterweight.

HM: Jose Napoles, Ray Robinson, Roberto Duran, Mickey Walker, Henry Armstrong

Lightweight: Roberto Duran. Just so smooth in there. His ability to go to offence to defence is admired by me and it wasnt more potent as when he was on the inside. His seamless ability to switch from offence to defence and vice versa instananeusly is superb. He also had that ferocity inside that aided him. Perhaps the best inside fighter.

HM: Pernell Whittaker, Henry Armstrong

Featherweight: Henry Armstrong. Just a force inside. The perfect swarmer. He never gave guys a chance on the insde swamping them with his non ending attack and strength. Can't say much more than that.

HM: Can't think

Bantamweight: Ruben Olivares. For Such a tall guy he was magic on the inside. He had such quick feet that got him inside and he really banged that body especially with a left hook that he sometimes doubled up to the ribs! Just one nasty ******* inside with punsihing attack and power in either fist and to head and body. However this was on his day, when he was not on his day he could get frustrated and outlasted and his motivation can be lost if he cant hurt his man (think the first Herrera fight)

HM: Manuel Ortiz, Luis Castillo, Fighting Harada

Flyweight: Pascual Perez. For a wee guy he was hoorin strong. Solidly built he was like a little barral but he had very fleet feet that he used to change his angle inside and then bang away to head and body with brillaint combinations. Genuine power in either hand and immense strength.

HM: Fighting Harada, Jung-Koo Chang,

 

Two of the greatest inside fighters were supposed to have been, Billy Petrolle and Pete Herman.Ad Wolgast was very effective there too.

 

You already mentioned Ortiz didn't you? :fire I thought no-one had mentioned him, but then I went back and checked.

Duilio Loi was supposedly great on the inside; he seemed to hold his own - more than hold his own even - with Ortiz over their 3 fights. Pity the footage doesn't really exist to back this up.

 

He was good on the inside wasnt he? Just far too much holding for my taste

I have seen him outbox Ray Famechon but i havent read much about Loi so didnt know he was inside fighter

 

yeh, ythe more i thin about ti the more he is the number 1 at Heavy.

 

definitly however i do think he was one fighter that was made for the ruleset he boxed in as i dont see him winning except in his era and before. He mastered his ruleset like no other fighter