Define what a Pure Boxer is

Tommy Loughran-then
Chris John-now

 

i dunno.


maybe hopkins modern era
archie moore past era

??


i say i dunno because i have heard a lot of people define a 'pure' boxer as one that hits and doesnt get hit...so you could just as easily then ask who were the best defensive boxers....for to be a great defensive boxer, or to be called great at all, they must have hit back.

i like the idea of a pure boxer as being an all round boxer, good in every technical field.

 

It's a dubious term really.

I think it's come to be usually used as a catch-all term for various defensive specialists and fighters that relied on textbook mastery, finesse and scoring points from the outside\mid-range to win.Usually in the absence of power and consistent aggression\pressure.

Boxing in it's purest form as a refined technical exercise and as far removed from the actual "just fighting" or "just two guys throwing punches at each other" component of things as it can get while still being just inherently about that.

 

today - mayweather
history - pep

 

Harold Johnson-then
Andre Ward-now

 

A pure boxer practises the art of boxing...the way that it's classically defined..to hit and not be hit. He outmaneuvers and out thinks his lesser skilled opponents using defensive techniques like the parry and blocking punches his foe fires at him. He slips, ducks, and otherwise deflects incoming fire while staying in range to counterpunch in return. Some boxers utilize their legs to move them out of harm's way while others remain "in the pocket" to coin a popular term..that is remaining somewhat stationary and utilizing upper body moves to outfinesse the other guy. Not always, but most of the time, the pure boxer sacrifices power for speed and accuracy.

 

Marvin Hagler

 

^This.
'Hit without being hit' : any boxer who endeavours to obey that rule above all else, at all times, is a 'pure boxer'.

KO artists, aggressive pressure fighters and huge punchers don't count because, whatever defensive skill and nous they possess, inevitably there comes a point where getting rid of the man in front of them in their central concern/aim/ambition.

 

so...a pure boxer is essentially a high level defensive boxer ?

 

Johnny Famechon with the "method".

 

Ali, Mayweather, Toney, Whitaker, Tyson (Trained by Rooney). Boxing, is about hitting and not being hit, these guys were quiet good at that.

 

Yeah, it you mean a guy who hits back enough to win rounds as well (as I think you implied earlier).

There are of course other types of defensive boxers, who can be rather successful. 'Spoilers' who make the opponent look bad (and who are too untidy to rate as 'pure boxers', imo) and might nick enough untidy rounds to win fights ... and the defensive fighters who lose score late stoppages most often behind on points.

A 'pure boxer' , I would say, tends to always box to go in front winning rounds from the very beginning.

 

An example of the quintessential pure boxer would be Miguel Canto. I don't know who would be his counterpart today.

 

fair enough. :good