Balance: The single most underated attribute on the forum

I disagree about joe louis, which is why he was knocked down at times off balance(see braddock kd). louis was still the best though.

 

You want an almost perfect example of balance,watch Gene Tunney.

 

I'd actually say Hagler. He wasn't always in a position to explode, but was always in a position where he could move, punch or stay steady if necessary. When he attacked, he was very difficult to counter because his balance meant he never over-extended himself and he was never in a position to be finished off even when hurt.

 

Right on. Tunney is a great example of combining fluid movement with a steadiness and harmony that you usually only find in relatively stationary, stiff boxers. Anyone can dance around a ring, but to do so with perfect balance and always being in punching position requires tremendous skill.

 

..........Jofre qualifies too, as does his conqueror, Harada.


Olivares as well.

 

Perhaps Loi, Laguna and Buchanan from the same era from what I have seen on film, although these picks are not as prevalent as those chosen already.

 

Floyd Mayweather Jr, Roy Jones, Whitaker, Charles Burley, Tyson.

 

Most would consider this an obscure pick, but i find it an interesting choice. His feet weren't really fast, but he sure had that great balance. I like SRR, an obvious choice among others.

 

I find Benitez worthy of note too.

 

Ali and Robinson was two of the few fighters that could throw effective punches going backwards, and that requires great balance. And then we have Prince Naseem, who always seemed to be in an impossibly unbalanced position but somehow made it work for him. That should require it's own balance in it's way.

 

Frankie DePaula was solid too.

 

Eddie generated tremendous punching power from both sides out of a low center of gravity. He was also able to slip punches effortlessly from a stationary position without having to move his feet, using impeccable upper body movement.

Lotte Mwale kept moving in to attempt combination after combination, to no avail. Eddie kept unhinging his upper body from his legs without having to compensate by using footwork to maintain that balance. He was outweighed against Snipes by 25 pounds, yet never took a backwards step.

 

Glad to see i am not the only HUGE fan in here. You can talk him up all day to me, i will lap it up endlessly

:thumbsup

 

Hell, Eddie's one of those who I'd use footage of for training film.

He was no kind of muscular specimen, which actually demonstrates how efficient he was with the use of his body. He was both aligned and relaxed, with his body supported by bones, ligaments and tendons, not by his muscles.

I have a vivid memory of him folding an extremely well conditioned and prepared Marvin Johnson in half with a straight right to Johnson's body. If in peak condition, would Eddie have been the one to derail Mike Spinks? (He really ought to have hired Matthew Saad Muhammad as his personal trainer for Michael from the signing of their contract, instead of skipping rope in his hotel room to make weight at Matt's insistence the night before losing his title.)