5 greatest composite punchers of all time: my picks

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by McGrain, Jul 23, 2008.


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  1. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    1 - JOE LOUIS


    Every punch in the book delivered with absolute precision, never rushed, always balanced, real power over a short distance. Not the only choice for #1 but he is my choice. This video is a belter, take note of 2 minutes, where Joe scores pulverises his man with just the jab.


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    2 - MIKE TYSON

    You could put him at #1 without any arguments from me. Another one with every punch in the book, he could actually use even more planes of movement on offence than Louis, as well as being faster - but snatched a little bit, perhaps, where Louis did not, see the Frazier fight.

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    3 - SAM LANGFORD

    Sam's video may be less glamourous than Joe's or Mike's but he's the last man i'd happily see ranked above both. The golden snatches of footage plus that extraordinary KO record from Welter to Heavy bare out an astonishing composite puncher.

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    4 - SUGAR RAY ROBINSON

    I'm beggining to wonder if Sugar wasn't actually better at Middle than Welter. That's sacrilidge, I know, but he certainly started to sit down on absolutley everything he threw. Here is him doing exactly that against the helpless LaMotta.

    [yt]QV9OrNgCVf8[/yt]


    5 - ARCHIE MOORE

    Not everyone will agree he deserves a placement in this list, but Moore is the all time KO king and the ultimate deluxe counterpuncher. There are stories of him using his surgical scars to lure opponents in and of men waking trying to explain they were in the middle of throwing a shot as the lights went out. But Archie had every punch in the book and could absolutley pour it on when he needs to. In this video he hooks to the body with the right from a near-square stance and fires in high overhand rights against a taller opponent. A great, great puncher.

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    Honourable mentions: Sonny Liston, Bob Fitzsimmons, Sandy Saddler, Jack Dempsey, Bob Foster, Stanley Ketchel, Thomas Hearns, Jimmy Wilde, Charley Burley, Rocky Marciano, Ike Williams, Ruben Olivares, Roy Jones, Jimmy Wilde, Julian Jackson...you get the point!


    So what do you think of these five picks?

    Any observations concerning the footage?

    Who would be in your five?
     
    McGrain, Jul 23, 2008
    McGrain, Jul 23, 2008
    #1
  2. acb

    acb De Camaguey... Gavilan Full Member

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    My own amateur opinion:

    1. Joe Louis-- soundest technique, could get the KO with so little distance & with textbook boxing technique. I favor him over Tyson because Tyson was a stronger man naturaly, who intimidated his opponents more, and yet both got similar results.

    2. SRR-- master of every punch in the book, alone, or in combination, in any order, and at any given time in a fight early or late (thinking of Turpin, Fullmer, and Graziano).

    3. Tyson-- obvious reasons. One thing to add here is that boxers with his body type sometimes are wide punchers.. yet he was able to use his legs as leverage instead of winding up and delivered his punches straight and with great affect.

    4. Hearns-- for his leverage, pinpoint accuracy, placement, timing, and elastic strenght-- and element that I think contributes to some punchers like he, Jackson, and Robinson.. although obviously not Tyson.


    ... Havent seen Langford (or even enough of Moore) McGrain, and this computer´s connection is too slow to look at him.
     
    acb, Jul 23, 2008
    acb, Jul 23, 2008
    #2
  3. Robbi

    Robbi Marvelous Full Member

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    Sam Langford was probably the most impressive puncher considering he started at lightweight then went all the way up the heavyweight. It's a pity the film of him is extremely limited to say the least.
     
    Robbi, Jul 23, 2008
    Robbi, Jul 23, 2008
    #3
  4. BOGART

    BOGART Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Louis gets my vote for the top spot as well. Just doesn't seem to be enough footage of Langford for me to judge him on. Obviously, from his record and reports, he could bang but some film would really help. I'm not sure how high I'd put him, though he would be high, but Julian Jackson was always my personal favorite pucner.
     
    BOGART, Jul 23, 2008
    BOGART, Jul 23, 2008
    #4
  5. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Julian Jackson would never make my top 5 but I feel that he is a great composite puncher. He's a bit more skilled than i've generally given him credit for down the years.
     
    McGrain, Jul 24, 2008
    McGrain, Jul 24, 2008
    #5
  6. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    Yup.

    He showed a nice jab and great movement against Baek before nearly decapitating him.
     
    Russell, Jul 24, 2008
    Russell, Jul 24, 2008
    #6
  7. fists of fury

    fists of fury Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Excellent picks and I can't fault your choices. Louis would be my number one as well.

    I think going down to the lower weights, a prime Julio Chavez was a great composite puncher. He may have lacked the outright power of a KO artist, but his punches were delivered with textbook precision and he mixed up his shots upstairs and downstairs beautifully. Perhaps an honourable mention for him?
     
    fists of fury, Jul 24, 2008
    fists of fury, Jul 24, 2008
    #7
  8. My dinner with Conteh

    My dinner with Conteh Tending Bepi Ros' grave again Full Member

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    This content is protected
     
    My dinner with Conteh, Jul 24, 2008
    My dinner with Conteh, Jul 24, 2008
    #8
  9. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    It's tough to argue against any of those guys although there must be someone that merits more than Tyson ... all and all great calls.
     
    he grant, Jul 24, 2008
    he grant, Jul 24, 2008
    #9
  10. the cobra

    the cobra Awesomeizationism! Full Member

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    Alexis Arguello is slightly above Louis in my book. I've never seen anyone so skilled at the art of punching. Louis and Tyson and several others were faster and arguably had more power, but for precision accuracy, the execution of the punch, and the variety of punches, Arguello is my top choice.
     
    the cobra, Jul 24, 2008
    the cobra, Jul 24, 2008
    #10
  11. the cobra

    the cobra Awesomeizationism! Full Member

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    the cobra, Jul 24, 2008
    the cobra, Jul 24, 2008
    #11
  12. Minotauro

    Minotauro Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Wilfredo Gomez could make the list.
     
    Minotauro, Jul 24, 2008
    Minotauro, Jul 24, 2008
    #12
  13. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    But if you were coughing up one half of one penny every time you typed "liverpool fc" you'd still be running at a loss....anyway or no, I got sick long before talking boxing on the internet of explaining the difference between a pure puncher and....a composite puncher....and i rather like the way it looks.
     
    McGrain, Jul 24, 2008
    McGrain, Jul 24, 2008
    #13
  14. paidinrakim

    paidinrakim Member Full Member

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    Langford and Louis son
     
    paidinrakim, Jul 24, 2008
    paidinrakim, Jul 24, 2008
    #14
  15. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Joe Louis
    SRR
    Thomas Hearns
    Bob Foster
    Carlos Zarate

    Those are todays picks

    Jofre was good, Duran is getting not much support etc
     
    JohnThomas1, Jul 24, 2008
    JohnThomas1, Jul 24, 2008
    #15
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