Ali actually trained while being whipped by ropes. no racist and also not true. but yeah Ali is the best probably.
Haven't read all the posts but your comment: "...only seems to work for defensive minded guys that take a good punch" IMHO is wrong. Throughout boxing there have been TWO types of fighters that excel with their backs against the ropes. 1) Your comment which is pretty much true. There's a difference between fighters with their back to the ropes posturing their defensive skills vs. fighters that go there waiting to unload their counters! 2) The fighters that, willingly, go there to draw their opponent in for a counter attack. I immediately thought Counter Punchers. Quarry & Galindez came to mind quickly. Many others. The elimination WBA tourney title fight? Quarry fell back against the ropes inviting Ellis in; Jimmy basically stood center ring not wanting to engage Jerry on the ropes resulting in a rather snooze fest of a fight. Quarry always seemed to go to the ropes, a prerequisite to a devastating attack! Watch Victor early on after grabbing the WBA crown. One of the kings of counterpunchers! In closing there's a downside to this style which another poster mentioned. Many judges often see this as a liability not an asset which cost counterpunchers points. To all you judges I see it more of an asset to bangers ready to unload than to defensive fighters who go there to frustrate. My $0.02
Canelo is better now than he was in the 1st GGG fight but in that fight his work with his back to the ropes was better than it was v Jacobs where he was getting caught a little, however he is getting better and better, any flaws may soon dissappear if he carries on with his current trajectory.
It was the speed and Marvin didn't care about defense in that fight so Tommy could land easily and he did. Both guys were landing easily in that fight. They sure didn't work on defense much, which is why they were both tired and Marvin cut and swollen after 3 rounds.. Hopkins is good on the ropes. Benitez vs. Duran was good. Toney is always great although against Peters he took enough punches didn't he?
Lewis got hit loads by Vitali and when on the ropes v Mercer he leaked a lot of shots also, Camacho ran from Rosario after being hurt and didn`t land much with his back to the ropes.
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You could say that, but opponents are often wary or bangers. Never follow a puncher, so they say. Usually the best counter punchers are not big punchers, they are defensive minded durable type with skills and a counter hook. Hopkins, Toney, those types. With a defensive minded counter guy, opponents might be more included to attack, which makes them fall into the trap of the counter puncher. Quarry was a good counter guy for sure. He could take a good punch too. I'm not sure if counter punchers are viewed unfairly by the judges. If you go into a shell for 30 seconds, while the other guy throws several, the counter puncher better at least throw one back. Ali was a good counter puncher. He'd wait for the other guy to tire, then he'd land a good one. I still think the best counter puncher tend to be durable if they hang out on the ropes. If you miss on your counter, you open too. So its a skill and timing type of thing..
You guys should check out the Jose Medel v Jesus Pimental fight sometime. Man, I've never seen anything like it. Medel places his spine to the ropes and sets trap after trap to catch Pimental coming in or on the counter. After awhile you can visibly see Pimental hesitant about going in. Incredible.
