Most boxing fans and media rountinely favor fighters because of their flashy style. Who can blame them? Their style brings in the money and massive attention to the sport. Sometimes we need to draw the line between being a better fighter versus an exciting fighter who may not be as great. WHICH fighters do you believe to be very effective, but not very entertaining? WHICH fighters are fun to watch, but not as well rounded?
Carlos Monzon and Bernard Hopkins are obvious choices. I would add Jack Johnson. Three fighters who were very effective but not very entertaining.
Danny Garcia is a two weight word champion who some very ugly looking but very hard hitting hooks. He will place his head on exaggerated wide off center angles. In Garcia vs Khan, the first knockdown Garcia lands a left hook, his head is leaning down towards his right shoulder looking out at the audience. In big exchanges you will see him load up the overhand windmill right hand. He misses a lot with this punch.
Carl Froch - was a super strong conditioned 168lber, whose chin was wide up in the air and his hand down by his waist. Often he charged forward behind a straight right and straight left where he squared up his legs. In terms of boxing technique its not a great punch, but Carl landed this on a lot of top oppostion, Kessler, Ward, Bute. Carl's punches, are ugly looking (wide with the elbows way down so the head is not protected and don't look that fast but Carl was always forcing opposition backwards and would find a way to inflict damage. His flick type jab was always busy and probing and annoying the opposition and often overlooked as a real weapon. Carl had long arms that just dangled over his short torso it gave a loose impression of his movements. But when he lands the opposition respected it so he was throwing with real power. An excellent fighter who only lost twice only to elite names at 168.
Mayorga. The first time we really saw the crazy style was vs Six Heads Lewis. And to think this guy was a multiple amateur national champion with 103 wins as a teenager. You can't fake that type of success. What and how he did it worked. So when he faced and beat Forrest in the pros, what the audience saw was a more "polished" version of Mayorga's style. Poor balance, hands down, slow feet but throws bombs at opponents and so tough he will keep throwing regarding of his balance. He actually added a decent jab at times when he settled down in a fight (vs Vargas).
I love watching Monzon and Vitali, two of the greatest judges and manipulators of distance. Foreman is another I like to watch, tho he looks like he's in slow motion and his punches can go very far wide. He just knows how to pressure and incrementally overwhelm.
With no disrespect intended whatsoever, I would have to say Johnny Owen. Johnny boxed in a mechanical, almost robotic style. He used his jab, not as a weapon of range but a means of getting inside and once there, he just stuck his forehead to the opponent's shoulder and banged away with short hooks to head and body. Johnny was absurdly strong and fit and just chipped away at opponents until they were totally exhausted.
Ken Norton, dragging leg, the cross arm defense. Solid power but not looking for the spectacular KO. Marvin Hagler, all business but business was good.
