Which fighter broke the most fundamental rules and still ended up being ATG?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by dmt, Feb 1, 2025.


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  1. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    Which fighter broke the most fundamental rules and still ended up being ATG?

    I say its Roy Jones Jr. Dude used to leap in with his chin up, used to keep his hands down, used to lead with left hooks instead of jabs. Yet he still ended up being a first tier ATG.

    Ali is another good candidate but in fairness, he did do some fundamentals well such as his fundamentally sound jab, keeping his hands high at close quarters vs Foreman etc.
     
    dmt, Feb 1, 2025
    dmt, Feb 1, 2025
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  2. Shay Sonya

    Shay Sonya The REAL Wonder Woman! Full Member

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    Rocky Marciano. According to many, his very existence, as an all-time great Heavyweight, broke the most fundamental rules. And yet, there he was! :ggg
     
    Shay Sonya, Feb 1, 2025
    Shay Sonya, Feb 1, 2025
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  3. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Manny Pac all day for me. His footwork was all wrong, wide open for a counter, couldn't jab, and even though they say a fighter doesn't carry their punch up in weight, he did and kept winning. I predicted his demise so many times and he always proved me wrong.
     
    scartissue, Feb 1, 2025
    scartissue, Feb 1, 2025
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  4. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Midget Wolgast, Tony Canzoneri and Jimmy Wilde are the great fighters who, for me, explored stylistic dead ends most thoroughly.
     
    McGrain, Feb 1, 2025
    McGrain, Feb 1, 2025
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  5. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Very good post a little to think about in here, I don't quite agree with you but will have it in mind next time I sit down for the Pacquiao-Marquez series.
     
    McGrain, Feb 1, 2025
    McGrain, Feb 1, 2025
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  6. Ice8Cold

    Ice8Cold Still raging that we didnt see Bowe V Lewis Full Member

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    Not particularly an ATG but Tyson Fury is a pretty awkward fighter.
     
    Ice8Cold, Feb 1, 2025
    Ice8Cold, Feb 1, 2025
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  7. SwarmingSlugger

    SwarmingSlugger Active Member Full Member

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    Ali and Roy Jones first spring to mind, though them doing things all wrong definitely caught up with them.
     
    SwarmingSlugger, Feb 1, 2025
    SwarmingSlugger, Feb 1, 2025
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  8. Jakub79

    Jakub79 Active Member Full Member

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    George Foreman moved strangely, threw punches strangely, blocked them strangely, but this method made sense. however, he was certainly not a stylist.
    Naseem Hamed did everything that the coaches forbid, but apparently it is an advantage for someone with such movements, reflexes, flexibility... very unpredictable
     
    Jakub79, Feb 2, 2025
    Jakub79, Feb 2, 2025
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  9. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    I'm not sure Marciano broke many rules ,except with his fouling,he was just an unlikely success story probably the greatest overachiever.
    Ali did lots of things technically wrong but his reactions allowed him to get away with them,dittoJones Jnr.
     
    mcvey, Feb 2, 2025
    mcvey, Feb 2, 2025
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  10. FThabxinfan

    FThabxinfan Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Semi ATG, probably solid fighter for his own weightclass but Koichi Wajima,dude was Marciano on meth, nonexistent jab and absolutely wacky but exciting style.
     
    FThabxinfan, Feb 2, 2025
    FThabxinfan, Feb 2, 2025
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  11. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Hamed probably falls short of ATG, otherwise him. RJJ is the one who most flaunted fundamentals relative to the success he had imo.
     
    Bokaj, Feb 2, 2025
    Bokaj, Feb 2, 2025
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  12. Barrf

    Barrf Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Pre-exile Ali, Roy Jones Jr, and Naseem Hamed did literally everything boxers are taught not to do, yet it worked for them.

    Ali actually did know what to do; he just chose not to. He got a lot more orthodox as he got older.
     
    Barrf, Feb 2, 2025
    Barrf, Feb 2, 2025
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  13. Barrf

    Barrf Boxing Addict Full Member

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    ATG puncher and showman, at the least.
     
    Barrf, Feb 2, 2025
    Barrf, Feb 2, 2025
    #13
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  14. greynotsoold

    greynotsoold Boxing Addict

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    I remember talking with a friend of mine after a Pac fight in 04 or 05. We agreed that he was going to get timed jumping in and was a KO waiting to happen. And we were right but it took 7 or 8 years and a lot of rounds.
     
    greynotsoold, Feb 2, 2025
    greynotsoold, Feb 2, 2025
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  15. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    Hamed, Jones Jr, Sweet Pea
     
    lufcrazy, Feb 2, 2025
    lufcrazy, Feb 2, 2025
    #15
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