A simple question. What fighter had the best defense or is he around today. I search for the fighter who use all the tricks in the games, the fighter who was almost impossible to land a punch at. As usual I have two favourites and it´s young Ali and Sugar ray Leonard. Who do you think is the best in the art of defense skills? All the best The predator
Imo the two most outstanding fighters in terms of defense were Willie Pep and Pernell Whitaker. Niccolino Locche, Rafael Benitez and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are not far behind imo. The fighters with the best defense still active would be Hopkins, Toney and Winky - imo Abraham is not that far away from them. All old guys by now though and with the exception of Abraham there is nobody coming on now who is in the same class.
Certain Categories of Defense: Foot movement Defense: Roy Jones, Prime Ali, Jack Johnson, Whitaker, Mayweather Slipping/Rolling ability: Whitaker, Benitez, Pepp, Mayweather, Loche, Prime Tyson, Duran, Toney Reflexs - Whitaker, Ali, Roy Jones, Benitez, Mayweather Blocking/Parrying ability: Winky Wright, Duran, Mayweather Honourable mention: Hopkins, combines allot of those to have a great defense but not numero uno in either category
locche, whitaker and pep are probably my top 3, mayweather and benitez not far behind. For the type of style he had duran defence is amazing as well
Will if you do this like that than Chavez and Jack Johnson should be up there in the blocking ability part, Walcott, Hopkins and Tunney should be mentioned in the foot movement part and I think you could add Armstrong to the slipping/rolling part. Nice list though.
Whitaker can be argued for a few reasons. Whitaker's footwork kept in a good position. Whitaker was able to slip and parry with the best of them. That's not all Whitaker could do. There is an old saying I'm sure everyone on this forum is familiar with. "The best defense is a good offense." Whitaker exemplifies this as well. People often criticize Whitaker for his lack of power. Whitaker did, however; throw a high volume of punches, worked of a very effective jab, and was a great combination puncher with impressive body work. I don't know of any other fighter that does all three of these facets of the game, all of which help you defend yourself, as well as Pernell Whitaker. I am not saying Roberto Duran and James Toney are equal in every regard, but they were both good at making opponents miss and making them pay. Neither Duran nor Toney possess Whitaker's footwork. Floyd Mayweather Jr. has footwork and movement on par with Whitaker's, and some might argue to be better. Mayweather appears to be a slightly crisper puncher, and puts punches together well when he so chooses. I just don't feel Mayweather is as consistent of offense to rate him as high as Whitaker. Mayweahter does not use his defense to set up his offense as much as Whitaker either. Mayweather is sometimes content in making his opponent miss without making him pay.
Pep Loche Driscoll Mike Gibbons Canto Loughran Johnson Corbett H Johnson Benitez Attell Gans B Leonard
Rafael? Was that Wilfred's brother? Just Kidding! As far as heavyweights go jimmy young was pretty slippery.
Damned, I always think of him as Rafael. Wilfredo is Gomez for me. Don´t know if this makes any sense.
Yeah it does. What confuses me is Wilfredo is Gomez and Benitez is just Wilfred. But some still refer to him as Wilfredo Benitez.
