Best Mover/Footwork/Mobility by weightclass

El Bujia....You are probably more clued up than me about this.....But dont you think his footwork (offensively) in some fights was pretty "decent"? ...
I like this:
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpup2k_t_m0&feature=related[/ame]
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSNrAtTfoTk[/ame]

 

He was put down almost immediately by Kameda because of his poor footwork (and his over-anxiousness brought on by his complete disdain for Kameda's abilities). He was effective, certainly, but he made so many mistakes technically and by virtue had pretty poor balance, which is what allowed even the likes of Kameda to drop him coming in.

 

Oh, I love both the flaws and the glories of Ali's footwork. As you said, I point out several instances where he used good footwork. In fact, some years ago, I was going through an intense Ali film study - I even made a thread about how technically competent he often showed himself to be.

Roy Jones could do many great things, but like Ali, he, too, could make some basic technical errors of footwork that he could get away with due to out of this world athletic gifts. I think with that the way that these guys utilised their footwork, once that speed diminished and the reflexes faded, they'd always struggle against the best. I think Leonard's footwork was superior and, well, if I was training someone, Napoles would definitely be my prototype.

Funny thing about Ali ... as much as he is said to replicate Robinson's footwork, I find he often shows things that Pep did, just as much, if not more with his footwork.

 

Just saw your reply now man, thanks:good

 

Ali did better wtih fading physical gifts than Jones did, though, and I think that is partly due to he had easier to revert to technically correct footwork (and a much better chin of course).

 

No doubt, Ali was more warrior than Jones, he was smarter about the realities of his physical abilities and well, he was simply better. These and other reasons such as the way Jones lost the weight he put on led to how they comparatively competed when it became clear that they weren't the same force they once were.

:huh Mike Tyson, for someone as good as himself, footwork wise, I'm baffled by how often he could stand square on. Coming out of a clinch, he'd stand square on and, sometimes, even drop his hands when pushed back ... something Holyfield took advantage of (yes, I know that this was post-Rooney).

 

But the one thing he was able to do, quite effectively, was close the distance quickly, and in such a way that it could throw more technically proficient movers off guard. Sometimes he got caught on the way in, but when he was in control of himself and not getting ahead of himself, Pryor worked his way into range about as effectively as any 140lb fighter in history.

Although, if you want to substitute Armstrong in his place, I'll say the same thing- and given that Homicide Henry was rarely dropped on the way in, he might even be a better example of this kind of footwork being used effectively.

 

For all round effectiveness Luis Manuel Rodriguez could be mentioned in every thread pertaining a different aspect of boxing, and who is the best at it.

 

HW - Ali
LHW - Jones Jr
MW - Robinson
WW - Leonard
LW - Whitaker
FW - Pep

 

At flyweight McGowan deserves a mention.

 

Ali had more will, was mentally tougher than Jones. That had more to do with it than anything else IMO.

If it is so, why isn´t he up there with the very greatest?

Just playing devil´s advocate here.

 

He is.

 

Definitely. I love the way he gets the angle for the left hook.

Ignorance. I think 99% of people who have seen him, are very impressed with him.

Agreed