Best backfoot boxers?

Sugar ray Robinson is definitely one that comes to mind

 

James Toney and Wilfred Benitez were masters at this and setting traps
for their opponents fighting off the ropes and backfoot.

 

Definitely Ray Robinson. Monzon also.

 

Floyd Mayweather and Andre Ward.

 

Louis, Mayweather, Ward, Holmes, Hearns, Wlad, B Leonard, Lewis, many more to choose from. Tough question.

 

Ali
Tunny
Mayweather (sorry)
Walcott
Toney
Willie pep
Whitaker
Holmes
Roy Jones
Ezzard Charles
Archie Moore
Hearns
Both Sugar Ray's


Hmm... come to think of it this question might need a narrower focus.

 

Hearns had more trouble using footwork vs brawlers.

 

Jones didn`t know how to escape on the ropes, he just stayed there taking punches while blocking against fighters like Griffin and Calzaghe against Griffin he was better in the second fight on the front foot.

 

Undoubtedly, but I'm probably not knowledgeable enough to come up with many good examples. One that springs to mind for no particular reason is Reggie Johnson, who in one of the very first fights I ever watched performed extremely well backing up and seemed to me to have been robbed against James Toney.

 

Good general point but there are caveats. There was that guy he taunted by putting his hands behind his back against the ropes and proceeded to knock out with one right hand counter - a quick draw from the back pocket basically.

 

I like how everyone's knee jerk instant reaction is "Yeah, that sugar ray Robinson fellow. He's the greatest fighter of all time right? Might as well automatically throw his name out in every thread."

 

Wlad can't box off the back foot to save his life breh.

Watch Holmes box circles away from Shavers and then look at WK hugging on for dear life in 95% of his championship fights.

Ali was one of the greatest HWs ever to box off the back foot. Sublime coordination and rhythm that you barely see anymore.

Hell , Wilder is better going backwards than WK. Wlad is good for one step back only , then he has to reach out and bear hug.

Willy Pep comes to mind here also.