The jab is often described as the most important punch, the punch that all offense, range and strategy is started with. However there are many fighters out there who have had great success without this punch or at least are not known for it or dont rely on it. Here's a list of guys who are not really jabbers, not to say they cant but just dont typically rely or work off it Hopkins Mayweather Jones Pacquiao Tyson Any other guys out there who were legends but were not really jab oriented
Joe Frazier was the first to come to mind. Floyd's not known for his jab, although he does have a good one when he uses it. I think he has a great jab to the body though. He uses it like many fighters do a jab to the head. Disrupts rhythm, maintains distance, sets up bigger shots to the head.
Mayweather and Hopkins are more counterpunchers, and that style relies more on power shots and angles, rather than the jab. Toney is similar. Tyson had a good jab, it's just not as noticeable because he used it mainly to set up getting inside and then delivering his trademark hooks and uppercuts. Still, he knocked some fighters down with his jab e.g. Ruddock. Duran and Pac both have good jabs but they use it more to set up their straight right/left respectively. Basically they all have good jabs, it's just that they don't try to dominate a fight with it, it's not their main scoring punch. Whereas fighters like Holmes, Pastrano, Terrell, Hearns it really stands out because they use it so often and can often score and control a fight with the jab alone. What do they have in common? Long reach, and height. The guys you mentioned don't have exceptional reach, in fact some of them have mediocre reach and are short (e.g. Tyson, Pac). If you have reach & height, you're a natural jabber/outfighter. If you have smaller proportions and are more compact, then power shots are more your strength, so you'll be better suited using the jab to set them up rather than relying on it as your dominant punch.
Frazier, Pacquiao, Tyson uses powerpunch more than their jab. Floyd uses his jab to body, jab to head as his main offense, aside from his lead right and counters.
Frazier, Pacquiao, Tyson uses powerpunch more than their jab. Floyd uses his jab to body, jab to head as his main offense, aside from his lead right and counters.
Frazier came to mind first for me too, but I thought I was really going to have to defend that position, to pleasantly see more than one person mentioning him. He's not thought of as a "boxer" by many, unfortunately, even though he is a master of his style of boxing. Which is frustrating, if you're a Frazier appreciation club member.