Best one armed fighter?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Mike_b, Jul 14, 2025 at 3:54 PM.


  1. Mike_b

    Mike_b Well-Known Member Full Member

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    So basically if a fighter injures one hand/ arm or has shoulder injuries to one arm and it causes them to be a one armed fighter, or simply a fighter who never invested in using both of his hands and just heavily relied on one, who was the best at it and give examples:
     
  2. Mike_b

    Mike_b Well-Known Member Full Member

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    In my knowledge, Teddy Atlas used to berate Donny Lalonde for "having one hand" which is ok just as long as he didn't unalive him, that would be worse.!

    Also if memory serves me correct there was an old Erik Morales fight where he became a one armed fighter due to hand injury, methinks it was the Paulie Ayala fight, albeit he looked impressive if that was the fight... Using his hurt arm as a defensive ear muff while still giving er with the other hand, in fact he boxed beautifully even if his arsenal was lessened.
     
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  3. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Prayers for Pacman Full Member

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    McGirt later on in his career with the injury…
     
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  4. Mike_b

    Mike_b Well-Known Member Full Member

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    What about smokin Joe Frazier? David tuaman tua, who else was one armed? Maybe an Andre Ward before his shoulder surgery...

    Or lomachenko after he came back from surgery, he was having a hard time throwing his newly operated arm with ease.
     
  5. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I did a thread on boxing’s one-armed bandits a while back:

    https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/one-armed-bandits.585909/

    Virgil Hill

    John Conteh

    Donny Lalonde

    Yaqui Lopez

    (Quite a light heavyweight brigade)

    To a lesser degree (as in overly reliant on one hand but the other wasn’t completely useless)

    Gerry Cooney

    Ingemar Johansson
     
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  6. Bronze Tiger

    Bronze Tiger Boxing Addict Full Member

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  7. Noel857

    Noel857 I Am Duran Full Member

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    Not his whole career but who can forget Danny Williams in his fight with Mark Potter.He literally fought with one arm
     
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  8. Samart'sTeep

    Samart'sTeep Active Member Full Member

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    Andre Ward has to be in discussion. His right shoulder had been a problem since his amateur days and wasn't surgically repaired until the tail end of his career. He would still throw right hands sometimes, of course, but that arm was definitely seriously compromised throughout most of his career. It makes sense why his left hand was so incredibly educated and multifaceted. He wouldn't have survived in the sport without it.
     
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  9. Dorrian_Grey

    Dorrian_Grey It came to me in a dream Full Member

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    Joe Brown's right hand was broken in the second round in his bid for the lightweight crown against Wallace 'Bud' Smith and he had to jab his way into becoming a world champion.
     
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  10. young griffo

    young griffo Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Johnny Famechon seldom threw the right hand instead keeping it glued to the side of his chin.

    His left jab was a beauty though and his left hook was very good too.

    He won a Commonwealth and the World Featherweight title being essentially a one armed fighter.

    He did possess two very nimble and elusive legs though.
     
  11. haNZAgod

    haNZAgod Member Full Member

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    John Conteh would be my pick. One of the best jabs I've ever seen! He practically beat Yaqui Lopez with one hand
     
  12. AwardedSteak863

    AwardedSteak863 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I've got to go with Winky and his right jab. He dominated guys with that punch. The video below shows his brilliance with the jab combined with his stellar defense.

    This content is protected
     
    Last edited: Jul 15, 2025 at 5:05 AM
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  13. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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  14. dinovelvet

    dinovelvet Antifanboi Full Member

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    Wilder pasted Arreola with one arm dangling by his side
     
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  15. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Craig Gator Bodzianowski is the best one-legged fighter of all time.
     
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