Ali, Nunn and RJJ - compare skillsets

Good question.
First it would be good to define or list what the fundamentals of boxing are.

I'm no expert but I will say standing with one side (foot/hand) forward and generally 'leading' (initiating an attack) with that hand is a fundamental rule of boxing.
I reckon that one was rarely flouted, though Ali did like to zip in the cheeky right hand lead now and then.

 

RJJ certainly had his own unique way of fighting, leaping in with a lead 'hook'-type punch rather than a short step in with a straight lead or flicking out a jab while staying back at range.
I don't whether that flouts the fundamental rules as such, but it was certainly a unique (and powerful) mode of attack.

Nunn looks very textbook to me. Did everything correct from what I can tell when he was fighting well. Southpaw of course though.

 

Nunn certainly slapped too much, but he punched good when he was boxing good. The same is true of Ali. Maybe they had bad hands and adapted the style to take care of them. It's rough on the hands, punching.

Yes, Nunn and Ali both leaned back from punches. That's not so good against good fighters. I think that's a habit TALL fighters often fall into. Vitali Klitschko was another who leaned back excessively. Usually it worked out okay.

I think their footwork was pretty solid. Nunn ran around in a few fights, but if I was facing Iran Barkely I'd probably run right out of he ring !

RJJ was just an incredible fighter. Maybe he broke the most rules.

 

I will throw another name in there.

Jimmy Slatterey.

 

I think that his figth with Paul Berlenback is on Youtube.

He is light on his feet, has no pretence of a guard, and depends upon his reflexes not to get hit.

 

All three had exceptional speed and reflexes .. Jones the most power of the three (P4P) while what turned out to be the weakest chin. Ali and Nunn had benefits of superior size (height and reach) .. Jones might have simply been the most talented of the there at his best .. Ali the toughest ..

 

Don't all 'boxers' depend on their reflexes not to get hit?

(I say 'boxers' because I reckon a lot of slugger/swarmer/brawler types depend more on pure aggression, crowding and attacking, as their defence)

 

Of course.

My point is that Slatterey relies exclusively on his ability to time punches.

He doesn't employ any sort of guard, and only puts his left out to shorten the distance to the target.

In that sense he definitely belongs in this discussion.

 

What they used to call a Fancy Dan.

 

Two fighters who I think might belong in this dicussion, but lack the film to prove it, are Young Griffo and Dixie Kid.

 

Since everything had been said about Jones and Ali for years, also with the fact that Nunn is my favorite fighter, i will talk about him.
Michael Nunn was a special talent, went 1 and 1 with Frank Tate in the amateurs, so before the olympic trials, he was asked to move up to let the road clear for Tate, he accepted and i don't know why, he beat Virgill Hill in the trials but lost to him in the box offs the next day, so Hill went to the olympics.
Michael Nunn was a special talent, tall, southpaw with great speed, footwork, power, reflexes, defense and capable of fighting at all the distances.
But Nunn came from a turbolent neighborhood, in his prime, he was awesome, his performance against Tate is one of the finest performances at a title fight ever and also knocked out Sumbu Kalambay, who beat the undefeated Mike McCallum and gave hell to every fighter he fought but Nunn.
Nunn troubles started after his impressive win over Kalambay, started to look sloppy but still managed an amazing run with wins over Barkley, Starling, Curry and almost beat Toney, that night, Nunn fought Toney on the inside, and beat him in his own game before Toney showed why he is a great fighter.
Michael Nunn was a wasted talent, on his best night he has a chance against any middleweight in history.