Best HW jabs: Louis, Liston, Ali, Holmes, Foreman, Lewis, Bruno, Douglas, Thomas, Bowe, W Klitschko

I have to go with Wlad.

There are others with a faster jab, but I don't think anybody based their entire style off it like he did, except for maybe Holmes. But not even Holmes did so much with his jab.

Wlad would kind of leave it hanging halfway and he'd only have to snap his forearm out to pop the other guy in the schnozz. He also would mix that snappy weapon with a power jab that he stepped into, which could really mess up your day. And then he'd hook off the jab so that you couldn't settle down and be comfortable just with the straight snappy shot. And then he'd jab and leave his glove out against the other guy's face (technically illegal) blinding him to the rocket right that was going to follow.

Wlad would use his jab as a defensive tool, letting the other guy walk onto it and as a weapon to reset guys and as another weapon to bust open the guard for his thunderous 1-2. In terms of versatility, I think he can be argued to be one of the best jabs ever, and certainly one of the best ever, if not the best, at HW.

 

In other words:

Wlad
Holmes

some other guys.

 

I will have to go back and rewatch a lot of footage in order to rank them in order.

Just at first glance, Wlad, Holmes and Liston are the 3 standouts. As @BCS8 mentioned, Wlad could hook off the jab which is a relatively rare skill.

Holmes probably had the best combination of handspeed and power in his jab, and he also could slap with it, which made it very difficult to get close.

Liston had incredible reach and power with it. The 84 inches reach is probably an exageration but he likely had 81-82 inch long arms which, combined with his power, made it very hard to get close.

The rest all had great jabs too. Its too hard to put them in order right now.

Oh and i would add Pinklon Thomas to that otherwise excellent list.

 

Basically this.

Emanuel Steward considered Wlad's jab the greatest in HW history.

 

Holmes.

That jab was why he could stay competitive with young, notable HWs half his age well into his 40s. He was probably the most skilled jabber ever.

But I have to shout Ali out for his versatility. Prime Ali could do literally EVERYTHING with a jab. He would double up on it, change levels, throw it to the body and come back upstairs with a hook, he’d step on it and knock your head back, he’d turn his punch and cut your face open, no HW pushed the limits of what a jab could do like Ali did imo.

 

Bruno had a very powerful jab a real weapon. The Truth Williams had a beautiful jab .RIP . My HW favourites

 

Louis jabs could've made a hole in space time.

 

He never said that. But putting words into the mouth of dead people seems to be your forte.

 

The great WK jab
Failing repeatably to stop a lumbering low skilled oaf plod forward

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Again failing to use the jab

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Takam showed better use of the jab against Povetkin than Klitschko.

Klitscjko couldn't box clean against Pov longer than 10 seconds. Takam boxed clean for whole rounds.

 

My favorite weapon
Holmes easily holds the top spot

Holmes

Klitschko
Louis
Liston
Ali
Foreman
Douglas
Thomas
Bowe
Lewis
You can switch it up anyway you want AFTER Holmes.

 

Holmes
Klitschko
Ali
Liston
Louis
Bowe
Lewis
Foreman

 

Did you ever consider stop embarrassing yourself publicly, or do you just enjoy it?

"The jab of Wladimir is considerably more powerful, it is simply shocking, and penetrates the opponent from head to toe. Ali is similar but when he tries to come in forward in a straight line he loses some of his balance and coordination. In a number of technical aspects, Klitschko is significantly superior. In terms of a jab, for me he's the best. After him, in that element, I would put Larry Holmes, and then Lewis"

https://www.b oxingsc ene.com/articles/steward-compares-klitschko-with-lennox-lewis-ali

 

It's Wlad. He controlled the division and barely lost a round for a decade based on that punch.

That said, Joe Louis' jab should not be overlooked. It was greatness.