I like Benitez due to the fact that he made guys miss with so little effort. This skill allowed him to remain in position to punch back effectively. I rate Canto over Locche for a similar reason. I just think he was a little more offensive off of making a guy miss.
Spadafadora did not impress me vs Leonard Dorin. In fact I scored that fight live for Dorin. Alot of good choices here, I like Willie Pep because he had the dazzling footwork the others did not possess.
I think the '70s and '80s may have been the best period for great defensive fighters. Locche still around, plus Benitez, canto, Zapata, Starling, Lora, Whitaker, kalambay...
70s and 80s were a great era but Pep is still the best IMO his footwork has never been surpassed i know not an ATG defensve wizard but what do you guys thuk of Jose Napoles
A young Tyson was incredible. Balance, timing, power and reflex, combined with evasion and precision made a perfect picture for defensive attack. ..... then, by the time of 23, his brain was mentally mushed-up emotionally.
'Peerless'..... lol. P.S. sent that tape off to be burnt this morn. Please make it available to everyone free of charge. You'll be a better man for doing so. Cheers mate.
Pep is the greatest fighrter of all time known primarily for his defence. Locche had the best defence of all time for me.
Sweet Pea Whitaker that man would stand in front of you have 8-10 punch combinations thrown at him and avoid them all and make the other man pay the epitome of the sweet science.
Benetiz and Whitaker are the best of more modern times, but going back into WW2 era and prior, Pep was arguably the best of the bunch.
Composing a list of the greatest "whatever", in this case greatest defensive fighters is not too satisfactory in that MANY great fighters are shortchanged in the process, like Napoles, Driscol, Canto, Ortiz, etc.,..as well as great fighters who may not be credited as much for their defensive capabilities like the top 5 everyones mentioning, who nevertheless, over a longer period, over the length and breadth of their careers were absolutely defensive masters, maybe in a less picturesque, less spectacular way, that had more to do with sound technique and less from natural gifts, like Billy Graham, Joe Maxim, Joe Giardello, Carlos Monzon, Sammy Angott, Tommy Loughran, etc,....