Highest ring IQs

Ezzard Charles
Miguel Canto
Eusebio Pedroza
Veeraphol Sahaprom
Emile Griffith

That's just from my favourites, there's obviously tons more. Since I've watched the majority of film on him the other day, I'll say El Ñato too, and **** it, I watched him recently too. Salvador Sanchez is up there.

 

Andre Ward
Tyson Fury
Tony Bellew
James Toney

 

My guy Juan Manuel Marquez has to be in here. Loved the way he would never panic after losing the first few rounds, even if he'd been hurt or dropped in them. Took his time, cracked his opponent's code and by the end was usually dominating (first two Pacquiao fights, Casamayor, first Diaz fight etc.).

 

Jofre for sure is right up there.

Juan Manuel Marquez was a very smart fighter too. Hopkins too. Benny Leonard and Joe Gans if you wanna take it way back.

 

Yeah, both of those guys are worthy.

Saldívar always impressed me with his waiting/baiting feint game. When he fought Winstone, he sat back and opted to bait him into attacking first, then let loose his offence on an approaching target, before deciding to hunt for his prey as the fight progressed. His whole shifting in and out style of footwork is cute too, since it basically trapped world level opponents. I love how he peels away fighter's guards too, especially from a southpaw perspective. Very underrated fighter.

Jofre is the poster boy for underrated. Be it from his entire career to his bone shattering power, it's all underrated! Look at him when he pieced Medel, the guy was simultaneously switching from trading at mid range, to dictating the range and pace of the fight to making one of the all time masters of fighting with the back to the ropes, look like a fool with his back to the ropes. Another amazing fighter.

Another one who won't get mentioned much is Fighting Harada. As he grew into his most polished form he was truly stunning technically. His know-how was through the roof. Look at his constant bobbing, he edged ever so slightly closer to people as he did it, and it completely threw ATGs off. He learned that fighting fire with fire as a smaller guy wasn't really smart, and so learned to switch it up and control the range with his feet and slow the pace down. Particularly when Medel had him hurt later on. His entire defensive variety was easy to see when he went up to featherweight (vs Famechon, a fight which he should've won and if he did would've been the only man to ever win the Flyweight, Bantamweight and Featherweight title). He'd slowed down by that point and his parrying, slips and just overall ability was shown. You don't do things like that without some unbelievable boxing brain.

The Canizales brothers should be mentioned here, Lora too. **** it, make it a bantamweight event and drop Rose in too.

 

Lots of good ones already listed. I might add Mike McCallum and Bernard Hopkins

 

What now?

 

Pretty good list. I would add BHOP, Arguello and Ali.

 

Bellew had a genius level ring IQ.

 

Oh yeah, both of those are definites.

 

Wlad Klitschko. He figured out how to have one of the longest title reigns despite having limited punch resistance and poor infighting.

John Ruiz. Made the most out of nothing. (I know he isn't an ATG.)

Guillermo Rigondeaux.