Best pure boxer of the last 40 years

I remember when Camacho came on the scene, had a book with about 20 expert opinons on him. One said he was a cross between Wille Pep and some other notable

But yes, pre Rosario he looked incredible at times, so much speed and smoothness. Another of the endless who didn't quite reach the heights we hoped. As for Red's ratings, well he just goes berko over the 80's middleweights that most don't even know of now. Quite amusing tho. Davidson, Animarl, Green, Lee, the list goes on and on.

 

Unfortunately I haven't seen the likes of Hard Rock Green and Frank the Animal Fletcher to know just how absurd his praise of them is. Certainly sounds like funny stuff tho.

As for Hector, yeah he fell short of hefty expectations. Fighters like Willie Pep and that other notable only come around very rarely.

 

Just look at their measely records

I have a couple of pictures of Animarl, he's lying prone, utterly facefirst with blood stains on the canvas all around him against Roldan and you can see Bo Derek at ringside, hands up to her face and a look of absolute horror that's better than any she ever put on in her movies. Totally priceless picture and moment in time.

 

Why don't you tell the good folk of ESB how many fights Taylor had behind him when going into the Davis fight?

You could also tell them he was beaten and dropped twice by the most ordinary Joe Manley the year before. How come Macho couldn't drop him given his dominance? Feather fists?

Yes, he really showed them what havoc he could cause when losing to both

 

Ali kept winning thru sheer heart, will, durability and determination, the very things that stopped Camacho becoming and ATG.

 

Didn't Howard have the flu for the Camacho fight?

 

Leonard was a great boxer but he was getting out boxed by Hearns who had it all speed, jab, accuracy could fight forward and backwards he is my choice for the best pure boxer in the last 40 years.

 

And he also outboxed another pure boxer in Benitez.

Tommy is my absolute fave but let me cast this aside for a minute.

I think "most effective boxer" fits Tommy more than "pure". A SRL moved (especially laterally) and boxed more fluidly even if Tommy did outbox him. Napoled i would call "pure". SRL too. Tommy could be ungainly at times much like a young colt. The way a Leonard outboxed a Hagler against the odds had to be seen to be believed. It's of course a credit to Hearns he could outbox such a smooth resourceful foe with his own skillset and nuances.

Tommy - "Most effective"

Leonard, Napoles etc most "pure".

 

...............Merely offhand, I'd say Napoles. As I mentioned in a post in some other thread, his style demanded more skill than many boxers, because he was that rarest of birds; an aggressive counterpuncher. By definition then, he had to be right there in your wheelhouse and still look polished. Being always in harm's way and still looking untouchable as he did most of the time demands something extra. He was as polished a fighter as I've ever seen.

 

Camacho was head and shoulders above them all. Leonard, Hearns and Napoles aint in the same league as him.

Nobody was as "pure" as Camacho. Perhaps among the best ever, including Robinson.

 

........:blood