I'm not trying to start another P4P denate here. I would like to hear the Classic Forum's opinions on which fighters stand up as examples of the complete fighter and what it takes to be considered as such. Obviously there are the prerequisites of an excellent resumé, natural talent, skills both in attack and defense, Power, Heart, Mentality/Ring-smarts, and a good chin but also the intangibles of charisma, as well as a crowd pleasing and entertaining style. My own limited knowledge on the subject has brought me the following list off the top of my head, feel free to disagree: SRRobinson, Ali, JCC, Benny Leonard, Salvador Sanchez, SRLeonard, & Arguello. Of today's fighters: Pacquiao. Other examples please...
Wlfredo gomez pre sanchez at 122 was as compete as the come, olivares at 118. ricardo lopez deserves a mention as well
Whitaker didn't really have power, and as great as he was, can we really consider him complete without it?
Joe Gans, Ricardo Lopez, Julio Cesar Chavez, Sugar Ray Leonard (wow, that hurt to admit), Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, Pernell Whitaker, Benny Leonard, Sam Langford, prime Mike Tyson, Gene Tunney, Jose Napoles, Arguello, Charley Burley, Marvin Hagler, Joe Calzaghe...
Pernell sat down on his punches later in his career and if not KO'ing guys in the first, he was stinging them and keeping them honest. Throughout his career, he used his power to very good effect. It was an integral part of his effectiveness when mixed with his other fantastic attributes.
Yes. Complete to me is could they do everything within the ropes on a regular basis. Knocking someone out is the end result of a punch landing. Some fighters don't have chilling power. Whitaker IMO is more complete than Leonard as a fighter. Better balanced across the board. A better pure boxer, better defense, and offensively just as good apart from the end result of knocking an opponent out. Whitaker was a great offensive fighter, no question. It's just because he never had power that his offense is forgotten about.
Alright then, for me completeness is a stylistic thing, like Robbi says, they have a bit of everything in their locker, an 'all-rounder', not a pure boxer and definitely not a one dimensional slugger. I like Hagler here, though a bit like Hopkins he tended to be one or the other depending on what segment of his career you look at. But that would be a bit harsh i admit, even at the end of his career Hagler could adapt well, and was a switch hitter, very nice. Yoko Gushiken Carlos Ortiz Marco Antonio Barrera
Pernell had enough power to get respect, and he was also an underrated body puncher...Just because his KO% doesnt high doesnt mean hes "feather-fisted".. Crazy how someone who rarely threw under 80 punches get their offense over looked so often... I guess thats what happens when their defense leaves you in awe. haha
Duran's long range ability is somewhat limited. Great at coming forward behind long range punches, yes, but very limited at boxing strictly at long range. He wasn't great at backing-up and throwing at the same time. Whitaker could punch coming forward, laterally or going backwards. He's a more complete fighter in my eyes. IMO, Whitaker was a better aggressive/brawler type than Duran was a boxer. I'll finish with this, both were very complete.