An Overlooked Quality In Legends

Felix Trinidad- unless you are something special on immense proportions, then don't go to war with him. One of the best finishers on film. (here comes the 'he didn't finish off Whittaker train)

 

Jim Driscoll- if you don't rate him off the little bit of footage we have, then ****ing man up.

 

Schmeling - ring generalship, there was hardly a fight where he did not fight his fight
Canzoneri - power, he was a very hard puncher but fought often bigger and top class opponents with good chins which makes his KO% look bad
Patterson - defense, he was very elusive and hatd to hit clean but he had a risky style and was bound to get caught
Walker - technique/boxing, most of the time he is described as a brawler but he could box quite well
Marciano - defense, he is often described as a guy with a bad or any defence. In fact he had a pretty good one
Jones Jr. - ring generalship, most of the time people talk about his speed and athletic ability but he was a pretty good ring general. One of the best in recent times IMO
Mayweather - power/accuracy/timing, he does not have the big knockout power but he has the kind of combination or power, timing and accuracy that makes you think twice about giving him the chance to counter you

not great but:
Sven Ottke - judge of distance/range, I think he was the best in that in the last 20 years.

 

Too right.

Just a couple to chuck into the mix...

Ray Leonard's killer instinct and finishing prowess. He was nothing short of lethal in this regard, though it occasionally tends to be overlooked in comparison to his all-round ability.

Whittaker's tendency to throw umpteen punches a round despite often being pigeonholed as boring and defensive.

Pep's punching power and ability to fight dirty when the occasion called for it - he wasn't exactly a fairy in this regard.

Locche's footwork. It was minimalistic in a sense - especially as he got older - but always left him in a perfect position to fob off whatever the other man did and counter perfectly without ever losing his balance.

 

Since I mentioned it earlier, this one's fresh in my mind: Napoles' footwork. Faultless balance, could adjust to close or restore the range with effortless speed.

Chavez - straight right hand was an excellent technical tool.

Liston - timing and sense of punching strategy.

Whitaker - punching technique.

 

Louis - footwork, he is often described as plodding but I think this is far exagerated. The way he effortlessly slides into range with a few small steps without his opponents beeing aware at times that he get´s into punching range is a thing of beauty IMO.

 

Who would be dumb enough to say that?? Whitaker, even at his age, was one of the greatest defensive fighters in the history of boxing. It would be stupid to say that. So, if any of you out there want to say that Tito wasn't a great finisher because he didn't stop Whitaker, please hit me up so I can put you in your place.

 

Agreed; the way he subtly slipped into range in the Schmeling rematch, against a very good ring general it has to be said, was brilliant. I think a lot of Louis's overstated reputation as a plodder comes from his struggles to pin down Conn and Walcott - two of the finest movers of all time in ANY division. Having a hard time negating their movement when you're a natural counterpuncher and, in the case of Walcott fights, advanced in years isn't too much to be ashamed of.

Agree with the point on Jones Jr too. I've never liked him much, but his ring generalship in his prime was quite outstanding at times, often superceded by his athletic ability and reflexes.

 

I think it comes more from the fact that Trinidad managed to hit Whitaker, whose defense was nothing at that point compared to years gone by, with the kitchen sink and still not take him out despite knocking him down twice.

It's still pig**** of course, but that's people for you.

 

Mickey Walkers cleverness and ring generalship are criminaly sold short.

To hear some people speak, you would think he was a prehistoric version of Ricky Hatton.

 

Gene Tunneys punching.

Once his hand problems were sorted out he seemed to have been a punishing hitter, even against guys like Dempsey.

 

Mike Tyson's lightning fast, thundering jab

 

Dempsey always said that he didn't understand why people thought Tunney couldn't hit.

He also said that one punch Tunney hit him with in the first fight had him out on his feet.