Ten best heavyweight jabs of all time

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by dmt, Apr 22, 2025 at 11:33 PM.


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  1. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    Holmes
    Liston
    Wlad
    Ali
    Usyk
    Lewis
    Louis
    Thomas
    Foreman
    Moorer
     
    dmt, Apr 22, 2025 at 11:33 PM
    dmt, Apr 22, 2025 at 11:33 PM
    #1
  2. HistoryZero26

    HistoryZero26 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Maxim should be on there.
     
    HistoryZero26, Apr 22, 2025 at 11:44 PM
    HistoryZero26, Apr 22, 2025 at 11:44 PM
    #2
  3. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Great list. On their good nights i think Page, Williams, Douglas and some others would push Moorer close. Norton had a damn good jab that gets underrated in the big picture and Bowe's was really good but underused.
     
    JohnThomas1, Apr 22, 2025 at 11:48 PM
    JohnThomas1, Apr 22, 2025 at 11:48 PM
    #3
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  4. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    At heavyweight?
     
    Stevie G, Apr 23, 2025 at 12:05 AM
    Stevie G, Apr 23, 2025 at 12:05 AM
    #4
  5. MaccaveliMacc

    MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Holmes
    Liston
    Ali
    Wlad
    Lewis
    Louis
    Foreman
    Thomas
    Williams
    Golota (before he broke his arm)
     
    MaccaveliMacc, Apr 23, 2025 at 1:36 AM
    MaccaveliMacc, Apr 23, 2025 at 1:36 AM
    #5
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  6. Philosopher

    Philosopher Active Member Full Member

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    OK, so usual suspect plus a few that won't get mentioned...

    Liston
    Holmes
    Ali
    Louis
    Wlad
    Tyson
    Bruno
    Dubois
    Usyk
    Thomas

    I think Tyson's jab is hugely underrated. It was like a repeating decimal during his prime. Usyk’s is hugely underrated, always keeping his opponent 'just' off balance, forcing them to reset constantly. One of the many reasons fighting him must be so draining, I've rarely seen a fighter use his attributes with such efficency
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2025 at 2:48 AM
    Philosopher, Apr 23, 2025 at 1:57 AM
    Philosopher, Apr 23, 2025 at 1:57 AM
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  7. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Eddie Machen had a wonderful jab, he was so good at shortening it up, using it with a feint. Reached Liston with it.

    But really, people mean long best jab, most useful in a fight, which is fair enough. Eddie ain’t gonna put jab Lennox Lewis.
     
    McGrain, Apr 23, 2025 at 2:28 AM
    McGrain, Apr 23, 2025 at 2:28 AM
    #7
  8. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Bob N Weave Full Member

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    The answer is Holmes, Ali, Wlad and Louis I don’t believe anyone else comes close to those guys? Foreman and Liston get a lot of credit but they didn’t really do anything with it that was special expect that it was hard lol.
     
    Journeyman92, Apr 23, 2025 at 2:31 AM
    Journeyman92, Apr 23, 2025 at 2:31 AM
    #8
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  9. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Excellent picks, I'd replace Moorer with Carl Williams.
     
    mcvey, Apr 23, 2025 at 3:11 AM
    mcvey, Apr 23, 2025 at 3:11 AM
    #9
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  10. dinovelvet

    dinovelvet Antifanboi Full Member

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    Holmes
    Foreman
    Louis
    Ali
    Liston
    Lewis
    Bowe
    Norton
    Buster Douglas
    Holyfield
    Mike Tyson
    Tyson Fury
    Pinky Thomas
    Carl Williams
    Anthony Joshua
    Bruce Seldon
     
    dinovelvet, Apr 23, 2025 at 3:45 AM
    dinovelvet, Apr 23, 2025 at 3:45 AM
    #10
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  11. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Eddie Machen had a wonderful jab, he was so good at shortening it up, using it with a feint. Reached Liston with it.

    But really, people mean long best jab, most useful in a fight, which is fair enough. Eddie ain’t gonna out jab Lennox Lewis.
     
    McGrain, Apr 23, 2025 at 3:53 AM
    McGrain, Apr 23, 2025 at 3:53 AM
    #11
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  12. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Larry Holmes
    Sonny Liston
    George Foreman
    Joe Louis
    Lennox Lewis
    Wladimir Klitschko
    Pinklon Thomas
    Buster Douglas
    Riddick Bowe
    Carl Williams
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2025 at 6:16 AM
    Dynamicpuncher, Apr 23, 2025 at 6:10 AM
    Dynamicpuncher, Apr 23, 2025 at 6:10 AM
    #12
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  13. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I don't think Usyk or Moorer should be that high.

    Douglas knocked down a fighter 3 times with a jab which is unheard of and he dominated Tyson with the jab.

    I think alot of the 80s Heavyweights had a better jab than Usyk.
     
    Dynamicpuncher, Apr 23, 2025 at 6:12 AM
    Dynamicpuncher, Apr 23, 2025 at 6:12 AM
    #13
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  14. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Holmes
    Liston
    Thomas
    Foreman
    Ali
    Douglas
    Lewis
    Moorer
    Wlad
    Holyfield
     
    Saintpat, Apr 23, 2025 at 6:22 AM
    Saintpat, Apr 23, 2025 at 6:22 AM
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  15. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    Douglas has a great case for the top 10. He just missed mine due to his very few good performances. But yes, in terms of power, he was superior to Usyk.

    I think Usyk has an excellent jab. He rarely gets countered over it. He uses it very nicely to the body. He also has a gorgeous up jab that i personally like. He feints it well and he varies the power of them very well. You never know if he is going to merely slap with a jab or put some power into it.

    I put Usyk in the top ten due to how versatile his jab is. But i have no problem with anyone saying Douglas or Thomas had a better jab.

    As far as Moorer, perhaps i am biased as i am rewatching the first Holyfield-Moorer fight where Moorer's jab were snapping Holyfield's head back. Moorer was right handed and jabbed with his right hand which gave him extra power. I need to rewatch some of his other fights and then re-assess if a top 10 spot is warranted.
     
    dmt, Apr 23, 2025 at 6:54 AM
    dmt, Apr 23, 2025 at 6:54 AM
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