Fighters with best balance

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by dmt, Feb 17, 2024.


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  1. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    Hard to think of a better balanced fighter than Joe Louis. He was never off balance especially when throwing combinations.
     
    dmt, Feb 17, 2024
    dmt, Feb 17, 2024
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  2. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Yeah Louis is definitely up there.

    There are many others, but I'll continue the thread by listing just 2, both of whom immediately jumped out in my own mind.

    Jose Napoles

    Yuri Arbachakov
     
    Greg Price99, Feb 17, 2024
    Greg Price99, Feb 17, 2024
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  3. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Louis is the epitome of putting them together in balance but his commitment when letting his hands go led him to to getting dropped a bit with his feet square if he took return fire. Nature of the beast as he sought exchanges knowing he would eventually come out on top.

    I love the footwork of Napoles and SRR among others. Napoles was always on balance and could rip into positions to take advantage of any mistakes. Durans footwork was on point too. Hopkins was another among many.
     
    JohnThomas1, Feb 17, 2024
    JohnThomas1, Feb 17, 2024
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  4. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    It’s been years since I have seen footage of Napoles. Beautiful boxer.
     
    dmt, Feb 17, 2024
    dmt, Feb 17, 2024
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  5. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    It's typical of the sport and a real distraction that the best balanced fighters in terms of positioning to punch are also the guys who are often most prone to being flashed. Juan Manuel Marquez, Joe Louis and Joe Calzaghe are the three best examples of this. These guys were always, always in position to punch but they were also liable to being flashed or surprised. When they come up against elite counter-punchers or true punchers it became apparent.

    That's because these are two different questions. Being balanced to punch and being balanced to avoid being hurt are two different thigns entirely. So Toney let opportunities pass him by but rode punches like an absolute god. Marquez missed so few chances to punch post-John, but got sat down a bit.
     
    McGrain, Feb 17, 2024
    McGrain, Feb 17, 2024
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  6. steve21

    steve21 Well-Known Member

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    Always thought Floyd Patterson looked extremely fluid and poised in his footwork and balance ...
     
    steve21, Feb 17, 2024
    steve21, Feb 17, 2024
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  7. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Hopkins is a great defensive mention and probably the most organised puncher of all the really defensively balanced fighters, which i'm not sure is a thing - dropped Calzaghe on his butt to make that fight really close and Calzaghe was a guy who was always always always in position to punch.
     
    McGrain, Feb 17, 2024
    McGrain, Feb 17, 2024
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  8. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Another one who took many opportunities to land surprising punches who was vulnerable to being caught over the front foot.
     
    McGrain, Feb 17, 2024
    McGrain, Feb 17, 2024
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  9. Fireman Fred

    Fireman Fred Active Member Full Member

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    I always liked Eusebio Pedroza. Seemed to have the ability to make you miss by a mile and then hit you with sneaky right hands or uppercuts to head and body.
     
    Fireman Fred, Feb 17, 2024
    Fireman Fred, Feb 17, 2024
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  10. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Pedroza is a great call, Saddler, too, was always able to make meatballs from unexpected placement.
     
    McGrain, Feb 17, 2024
    McGrain, Feb 17, 2024
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  11. Fireman Fred

    Fireman Fred Active Member Full Member

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    I think he doesn´t get the credit he deserves because Salvador Sanchez was favoured to beat him in an Unification but he was a very talented fighter though a tad dirty!

    Him and Marcos Villasana would have been a classic low blows rumble like Saddler-Pep IV.
     
    Fireman Fred, Feb 17, 2024
    Fireman Fred, Feb 17, 2024
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  12. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    :lol: new genre "Classic Low Blows Rumble".
     
    McGrain, Feb 17, 2024
    McGrain, Feb 17, 2024
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  13. Fireman Fred

    Fireman Fred Active Member Full Member

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    I got carried away!
     
    Fireman Fred, Feb 17, 2024
    Fireman Fred, Feb 17, 2024
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  14. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Totally agree. He snuck a good one on a completely out positioned Tarver too. Sure as far as KD's go it was lame but the caniness was notable. Hopkins would have been absolute hell to fight. So awkward and effective.
     
    JohnThomas1, Feb 17, 2024
    JohnThomas1, Feb 17, 2024
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  15. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Did you do a Calzaghe-Hopkins scorecard?
     
    McGrain, Feb 17, 2024
    McGrain, Feb 17, 2024
    #15
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