Champions who represented the biggest qualatative advance over what had gone before

Griffo has to be mentioned... unfortunately no film is a vailable, although all press releases, veiw points from those who witnessed him and those fighters of the day, from lower to heavies, claimed he was a freak.

Mike Tyson deserves credit also. In his early days, he changes the manner of 'small man vs big man' fights. His style (bob and weave) was not unique, but the boxing skills/reading his opponent allowed him to fight much better up close. He countered in a better fashion than Frazier, as Tyson didn't recieve a dozen blows before countering.... His style was unorthodox, yet extremerly effective...until his post prison/Douglas/Givens/Car crash/****/management split career situations.

I don't believe any man has accomplished as much, prior to the personal difficulties, as Tyson, without being messed up/ knocked down. Ali boxed brilliantly.. yet Tyson used a very unique, or POLISHED style to get this far. He may not be the 'greatest', just a fine agruement for this thread.

 

Corbett

 

I'll give the obvious, which is, Ray Robinson, combining use of distance, jab and move, with devastating compact combination punching all with beautiful technique, timing and athleticism. I don't think there was a similar boxer before him.

 

Nice to see my "evolution as adaptation to one's environment" isn't only held by myself. I also agree with your pics, Chris.

I think some of the swarmers of the 1930s and 1940s deserve a lot of credit as well, adapting as they did to shorter scheduled distances (for title fights, particularly) by putting up workrates that would have previously been unwise. Henry Armstrong comes to mind, but I'm sure there were others.

 

afew people have mentioned Pep

Pep didnt really creat his own style he mixed fighters like Benny Leonard, Jim Driscoll into 1 so in away its an advance but i dont thinks its that much but Pep is my favourite fighter ever and the best defensive fighter ever.

Locche anyone he had his complete own guard that i havent seen anyone since or else do

 

as said before ali is the one that stands out.

 

If you go all the way back, I think Daniel Mendoza would probably be the greatest step forward in skill.

Of the gloved fighters, I agree with Corbett.

Tunney's movement could be traced by to Corbett, but he did seem to take the jab to another level.

Jeffries introduced the crouch. Dempsey the more aggressive bob and weave, and combination punching.

Louis took combination punching to a new level.

Ali took the speed and movement of the smaller men up into the 210 pound class. The earlier quick movers were lightheavyweights or pocket heavyweights.

 

Salvador Sanchez, Broke the mold of stereotypical Mexican fighters, who just come out & throw bombs. His technical style & great boxing ability literally changed the way of thinking of fighters in Mexico. Inspiring fighters to come out with power & also good boxing ability. like , Barrera, Morales, Humberto Gonzalez, Carbajal, Zaragoza, Medina & others.

 

brillaint shout

 

Corbett's boxing ability ended the era of brute's ruling the sport with sheer power, like John L. Sullivan.

 

every fighter develops a new style IMO from watching other fighters and employing moves in different ways and mixing moves together and their natural style.

look at mayweather hes a defensive pryor