List 1fight that perfectly demonstrated a fighter's style, attributes, &/or identity.

Pick one fight (or maybe two) for any one fighter or fighters that you think perfectly demonstrated the kind of fight they like to fight, what they are best at, how their offense/defense works, the way they approach different specific scenarios, their overall style, and their tendencies as fighters. Basically, the kind of fight you would present to a curious friend who wanted to know what a particular fighter was all about not having seen them in action before.

It doesn't have to be a non-competitive beat-down or anything, because frankly that hardly showcases a fighters broader ability. However usually the fighter of discussion is dominant and isn't faced with the adversity of perhaps their greatest, most dominant or impressive wins due to the difficulties presented by the opposite fighter or the ease of a mismatch, which may distract from the visible characterization of the fighter of discussion.

I have a lot of fun doing this type of thing since it makes me appreciate the specifics which make great fighters their own men with their own identities.

Some of my (overly intricate) examples:

Juan Manuel Marquez VS Terdsak Jandaeng- In this fight, Marquez starts of slow as usual, setting a measured pace bobbing that left arm up and down when circling, throwing two shots at a time and the occasional combination early on. He parries shots very well and shows fairly elusive head/ foot movement, very economical and technically sound. As the fight progresses, Marquez starts to pick up the pace while his opponent comes forward, landing combinations and right hand leads. He periodically goes to the body throughout. His southpaw's opponent left hand cause a bit of swelling and Dinamita shows he doesn't mind taking a few to punch with his opponent in an exchange. After hurting his opponent with a perfectly timed counter-uppercut, he smells the blood and he shows he has a killer instinct and a finishing offense. Soon his opponent recovers from a left-counter knockdown, and the pace resumes to a boxing match. Ad******g further with his brain and laying on more and more leather to satisfy his fighting heart, the combinations and counter-uppercuts take their toll and several knockdowns lead to a finish to the fight in the seventh round.

Classic JMM.


Manny Pacquiao VS Antonio Margarito- Here, Pacquiao has once again reprises his role as the smaller man taking on an even bigger (if less skilled) opponent in Margarito. At the start, Pacquiao gets into his familiar guard and hoppy stanced rhythm, and it doesn't get long before his offense gets going. Using his quick feet and quick hands, Pacquiao darts in and out landing multiple clean shots in fluid combination. Always circling, Pacquiao is able to avoid most of Margarito's shots, but doesn't try overly hard to evade the occasional jabs and right straights that make their way clean onto his face. Throughout the first four rounds, Pacquiao uses his speed to overtax Margarito's defense and open shots to the body, with one left straight in particular eventually seeming to fold over Margarito's profile. In the mid rounds, Margarito's style and size catches up with Pacquiao in several moments. Pacquiao does not shy away from a few big shots that land, and before escaping, commits to trading and making it a point to out-land Margarito. After eating some monstrous uppercuts and a debilitating body shot, Pacquiao simply touches his gloves and asks for more. After a cut develops on Margarito's face, Pacquiao seems to consistently land 7 shots for every 2 thrown by Margarito, and simply glides to whichever place he wants, always in complete control.

The damage warrants a stoppage by the tenth round that never comes from the ref or corner, and Pacquiaos willingness to fight, technical versatility, and raw talent are showcased better than ever by the sound of the final bell.

(Some say it is easy to look good against Margarito and easily forget how impressive he looked before the scandal; Sure, Mosley did it too, but Pac had to use more than just the speed and power which Mosley showed, who has had better showcases of his skills and abilities in his career so I wouldn't highlight the Margarito fight for Sugar Shane.)



I look forward to seeing what fights you guys pick for each fighter. I think I'll post a few more soon once I look through some videos.

 

Really, nothing? Maybe this would have done better in the classic forum.

Oh wait, I know what to do: Sergio Martinez is the new GOAT! Pac is ducking him! Floyd is some sort of scared bird!