Best all time inside fighter

Duran, clearly IMO.

 

Maybe Henry Armstrong?

 

By no means the most varied inside worker, but Sandy Saddler has to get a mention here. His uppercuts on the inside were pure murder and he was strong as **** so there was no way out of an inside exchange with him other than to retreat.

Of course Duran is the best though.

 

My vote goes to Armstrong, that guy was a machine. Alsways swarmer, if you were a boxer, he never gave you any room, at ALL. No mere jab would keep Armstrong away. A Truly chest to chest fighter imo. Duran has nothing on Armstrong in this regard imo.

 

Armstrong, Duran, Hagler, Frazier

 

Yeah, Saddler was immensely strong in the clinch.

Never threw a punch without somehow fouling as well.


Marlon starling and Don curry were great technical inside fighters.

John Conteh and Pedroza two of the best for combining technique and dirty tactics.

 

Duran was vastly more skilled on the inside than Armstrong. Head movement, feinting, picking his shots, etc. Armstrong was insanely strong and could back just about anybody up, constantly punching, the ultimate swarmer, but Duran was more skilled inside (and overall of course).

H2 I'd pick Duran to get the better of Armstrong on the inside.

 

You might have a point. I think Duran has a few more inside skills and tweaks but Armstrong just places himself down your throat and stays there. He's totally unrelenting.

 

Armstrong had great head movement, its amazing with going forward, and hands down, most foes still miss. Barney Ross just could not land on Armstrong, and perhaps a great boxer than SRL imo. And Armstrong ruin him. Duran was more skill over all, because he can box. But Armstrong was as you said the ultimate swarmer, and no one could have goting off on Armstrong in his hayday. Also that relenless pace, Duran didnt have that compare to Armstrong.
Armstrong's syle, he didnt need to feit, or pick shots because he was in the guys chest, thowing shots to the body, and working up to the head. I think Armstrong could beat Duran, it would be a war. But I think Armstrong could do it.

 

Wilfredo Gomez, Smokin Joe, Victor Galindez(who was also dirty),Dick Tiger(great body work),Lupe Pintor

 

Armstrong's herky jerky bob and weave style was very effective, true, but he was still not the defensive fighter that Duran was by a fair amount. And while Ross may have been more accomplished than Leonard, he was by no means the more skilled fighter, especially at that stage of his career.

Armstrong's relentless workrate would be what would make a fight between the two competitive, but Duran's technical edge would be too much to overcome IMO.

He'd win some rounds based purely on workrate, but I'd expect Duran to just out-class him at times skill-wise, taking the majority of the rounds, something like 10-5.

 

James Toney could hang with anyone in close. Iran Barkley, Prince Charles Williams, Vassiliy Jirov, and Evander Holyfield all found out the hard way.

Roberto Duran was great while up close and personal. There is a great clip on youtube, sparring Nigel Benn, that puts his skills on display. Duran is around 37, much smaller than Benn, and the disparity in power is undeniable. Yet, there Duran is hanging tough with his younger partner. I realize this is only a sparring session, but it's worth a look if you have yet to see it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxFoBuffkgo

Julio Cesar Chavez was very good on the inside, but his talent is a bit different from Toney and Duran. Chavez' did have a subtle defense, but not like that Duran and certainly not like Toney's. Chavez used his feet well to set up the distance he wanted, put together beautifully brutal combinations, and had a knack for shrugging off some attempted clinches.

These guys are my top 3, and I would have a lot of trouble saying that any of the 3 were better than the other. If pushed for an answer, I'd go with the first two that I mentioned. The main reason for picking those two would be their successes at higher weights and advanced ages. That signifies better technique and less dependence on strength.

 

Duran's defense was better than Toney's clearly IMO.

 

No one has mentioned Whitaker yet. That surprises me a little.