I think this thread deserves a bump. There's too many to choose from but: Ricardo Lopez, James Toney, Mike McCallum, Sugar Ray Robinson, Pernell Whitaker, Willie Pep, Salvador Sanchez, Alexis Arguello, Niccolino Locche, Ezzard Charles, Harold Johnson, Joe Louis, Jose Napoles, Marvin Hagler, Evander Holyfield, and Yuri Arbachakov. Currently there isn't a lot of fighters with aesthically pleasing styles but Juan Manuel Marquez and Nonito Donaire deserves a mention.
Joan Guzman has a great style to watch. Miguel Cotto looked surgical on his way up. Nonito Donaire is amazing to watch. And yes, Duran deserves a mention. In his younger days at lightweight his style made for the most exciting fights.
THere are alot but Ricardo Lopez was the first one i thought of.. I think hes style was so text book and perfect.. If someone asked me about perfect techinique,and just overall execution and ring generalship id tell them to watch Finito, Imo he looks flawless. Also Barrera, he put together some of the most exciting combos ive seen on a fighter... I loved the way he combined toe to toe slugfests, with briliiant boxing all at the same time. Salvador Sanchez another fighter , who dod some things to perfection. Kid Gavilan and Johnny Tapia. Most of my favs to watch are either big punchers or above average pundhers. .. BUt these guys are exceptions,, Just all action and both added a lot of flash to their styles, but make no mistake these guys were also great ring generals and boxers with very fast hands... Even though neither were ko guys (Tapia average/ Gavilan maybe a little below) there punches were accurate and hard enough to keep guys honest... Usually dont see excellent boxers without power that go toe to toe.. But both of them like to mix it up at the right time. Prime Mike Tyson was a slugger, but he was a machine and at one time was well schooled in tricks of the trade, also had an excellent defense. And ill probably be the only one to menton.... One of the biggest hyped fighters of recent years to flop... THat was Panchito Bojado who also reminded me of A Prime Danny ROmero.... Both guys electryfying style could be defused by experienced world class fighters, but very pleasing to watch.. Both were very fast and big punchers earlyon, both quick on their feet but never added lateral movement to their game.. But that lighthning quick in and out explosiveness was very exciting to watch.... Romero didnt go as far as i originally thought, but at least he was a 2 division champ and was well respected name for a litle while... He seemed to slow down after the Tapia loss and his power also diminished,, still a solid contender after that loss but not electryfying like before...... As for Bojado man what a shame,,, And you know its not like he had drug/Alcohol problems or troubles with the law that sidetracked him... He was just plain lazy and didnt like to train!! Simple as that, and also early on in his career he read to many of his press clippings and never really improved.. But what a talent i really believe that at 7 or 8 fights and only 17.18 he would have beaten a number of contenders.. HE just never improved to championship or top contender status... And that was his fault cause he wasnt dedicatedd and didnt waant to listen to anyone so never improved. Also liked watching a fw Marquez .. Most like his style now better, as he gets hit more and commits more to knocking guys out... Like Barrera and Mark Johnson he is one of the young guys i watched live at the forum, when they were prospects.. And all turned out to be future HOFs (they better not snub Johnson).. First time i saw Marquez he only had like 8 or 9 fights and already fought like the seasoned champ everyone else saw years later... DOnt know how many (if any) fighters i can think of that looked so disciplined and well schooled so early on. First time i saw him i thought of Salvador Sanchez and predicted he would be a future champ... Only time i saw him fight undisciplined and rattled was against Freddie Norwood, guess it was a learning experience. I enjoy watching Manny even more so now that hes corrected alot of flaws.. Although he looked flustered the other day. Pre vietnam Muhamad Ali (Cassius Clay) even when he wasnt letting his hands go he was just an impressive guy to watch.. PFP no one was as quick or as graceful as a young ALi.. HEll hes even qucker than almost all fighters period regardless of weight. He sealed his greatness in his 2nd career with all time great fights.... But IMO couldnt get away with looking brilliant when doing nothing like before. The 3 slickest fighters since ive been watching boxing are Whittaker,Floyd and Benitez... But personally i though Benitez was much more entertaining.. Just very impressive how he could be agressive press the fight (not all but most of the time) and still be so slick.. As a young fan i was so impresed with the skill level Benitez - Leonard showed in their fight... JUst two of the fastest,slickest fighters ive seen in the ring at one time, combined with superior offensive skills. And last but not least my all time favorite, Roberto Duran at LW and WW... At that time he didnt really have any flaws, complete Package,, and doesnt get enough credit in My opinon for his speed.... HTH and pfp probably the best ive ever seen... Even on his off days, at the worst he would maybe let very good fighters be competetive, but at his best he dominated and usually knocked out his opponents. Im talking a couple years after he beat Buchanan and lost to Dejesus I. ALso thought ODLH was awesome to watch when he fought intellingently.. Some call him an overaciever but i think he could have been greater.. Loved THomas Hearns style.. When he wanted to be the Motor city Cobra he was one of the greatest ever almost impossible to outbox hiim... And when he was the HIT Man one of the greatest punchers ever.. Michael Nunn in his best fights was amazing to watch, some fights he dissapointed and just got by on his superior skills... BUt when he was on he looked unbeateable... Was amazing against Frank Tate.. And his ko over Kalamby electrified the boxing world at the time,, No one wanted to fight him,,, Even aging but still elite Leonard and Hearns didnt dare mention him as an opponent. A young Gabriel Ruelas but it all together and became even better after his close loss to Azumah Nelson I..... He was looking pretty awesome until his tragic fight with JImmy Garica.. He lost it after that... But for that brief period he reminded me of a Young DUran,,, Just so relentless and aggressive but also slick and showed excellent boxing skills at the same time.. CHeck out his fight when he won the titlle vs Jesse J Leija, one of my favorite performances form a fighter. Ok i got more but i know this is probably one of the longest posts ive ever done LOL!
I´ve got to make a little change here. The one´s I love to watch due to their style are: Henry Armstrong Tony Canzoneri Kid Chocolate Joe Louis Willie Pep Pernell Whitaker Those are fighters I love the style or more the change of their style during their career and opponents: Floyd Patterson Roberto Duran Bernard Hopkins There are other fighters I love watching when they are doing their thing. Mostly more modern ones but also some past ones: Jack Dempsey (Willard) Max Schmeling (Walker, Louis I) Muhammad Ali (Williams, Foreman) Joe Frazier (Foster, Ali I) Mike Tyson (Berbick, M. Spinks) Sumbu Kalambay (Barkley, McCallum I) James Toney (Jirov, Holyfield) Roy Jones Jr. (Toney, Vinny Paz) Naseem Hamed (Robinson, Kelley) Floyd Mayweather Jr. (Coralles, Mosley) Manny Pacquiao (MAB I, Cotto) *new entrances compared to the list before are highlighted
jersey joe walcott,james toney, peak ali, prime tyson, henrry armstrong,joe frazier,roy jones( was a clown but still i like his style).
Not one of my favorites, but Joey Giardello should be included in the discussion. More recently, Juan Manuel Marquez, also very fluent with combinations.