aside from joe louis who is the most skilled HW ever?

Holmes?

 

In terms of offensive skill... Tyson.

Overall boxing skills.... Holmes.

 

Probably Harold Johnson, Archie Moore, Tommy Loughran, John Henry Lewis, Jack Sharkey.

 

Jack Johnson.

 

Tyson's the most skillful HW ever, in terms of perfect technique while balancing offense and defense, mastering the art of hitting without being hit while being short is 1 of the most difficult skills for any boxer to master

 

patterson was actually damn skilled for a little guy, had all the skills tyson had plus more boxing ability. But, didnt have the gentics..the big punch or the chin.

 

Patterson didn't have the defense Tyson had though, he got hit/knocked down far more than Tyson did in their primes, a good choice none the less and a very underrated P4P fighter better P4P than Archie Moore ever was as far as I'm concerned

 

Ali himself said Patterson was the most skilled heavyweight he ever fought..as for the defense..you may be right..but i also tend to think that Patterson and tyson both got hit with glancing blows..its just tyson was stronger and all around more strudy..where as Floyd would get knocked off balance..have his gloves opened, ect, and then get hit clean. So not sure if its so much a a defensive skill thing as it is a strength thing.

 

Dempsey is also underated due to the willard fight after the knockdowns when he is wild with bloodlust..but in other footage he looked very skilled..not saying dempsey is the most skilled heavyweight..just making a point.

 

Moore, Charles and some other "lhws" had more fights at hws than many career hws. Like Bowe for example.

 

Jersey Joe Walcott probably deserves a shout.

If Tyson enters the equation then you cant exactly leave Dempsey out of it.

Jack Sharkey is not a bad call for all his other isues.

The answer is probably Jack Johnson though.

 

I'd agree Patterson was probably the most skilled Ali fought, him or Holmes anyway

I don't think Patterson's defense was on par with Tyson's, I can't see a prime Tyson being hit clean like Johanansen managed:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY2hmn7xQFU[/ame]

Patterson's leaping left hooks at times left him open to being countered by big right hands and he often got knocked down as a result

I wouldn't put Dempsey in the a skilled list, by virtue of him not using a jab and not keeping his hands up. But his conquorer Tunney maybe deserves a mention despite his low hands

 

a bit too much holding for me...and while i respect history, i dont think he was quite "modern" enough...some limitions in style that dont get sorted out till you get to the dempsey tunney era in my view.

 

well...using the jab more may be a point..hands down though..that wash is style..plenty of other good fighters did the same or a similar stance...louis often, holmes, ali (i know ali did much wrong..still) and today we got mayweather doing it...holding your hands down is done for a reason. the guys who do that arent morons.