Is Bernard Hopkins the best technical defensive fighter in middleweight history?

Toney was more technically sound than Jones -who was not so good in close -he'd cover up and turn away, sometimes with his eyes closed... outside he's good, but that's easier.

Toney was also more agile than Hopkins could ever dream of being.

He combined technique with athleticism, and granted seem to be more comfortable and more effective at SMW and even LHW.

 

Of there is film of, I'd say yes.

 

Toney in no performance I have seen looked more agile than Hopkins. Far more stationary and simply no where near as adept at the tricks of controling opponents with footwork as Hopkins.

 

Beautifully stated. I couldn't have said it better myself, well not even as good, TBH

:good

 

He's the slyest, that's for sure. I don't think Jones is on his level for pure technique.

Kalambay was a good call; what a pity he's often overlooked.

 

Mike Gibbons:good

 

Jones could teach both Hopkins and Toney a lot of things about in-fighting. As good as both were at rolling with punches, neither mastered it as perfectly as Jones (who began his scholarship in the amateurs with his rope-a-dope tactics) and neither could create and use angles and space for counters both to the head and body as good as Jones when in close, while staying invincible.

 

What great Athleticism are you talking about ??. Toney was technically great when guy came after him then Toney could lure them into the trenches when Toney was actually forced on the front foot he was not that great.

 

RJJ TONEY HOPKINS

Two of these guys where still able to get wins on technical skills alone long past their physical prime .

One of these guys was brutally KO'd twice after he could no longer rely on physical skills alone.

i think i have made my point

 

agreed

 

Which of these two KO's have happened as the result of in-fighting? Neither? What a pity!

 

Most of the fighters at middleweight that have reputations for great defensive flair are ones that there isn't much footage available of sadly.Holman williams, Gibbons and so on.

Sticking just to what wa fighter was capable of in terms of technical defence and not letting the fact some fighters got hit more because of other holes in their game like lack of power, bad conditioning etc.

I've always thought Emile Griffith was a very talented technical defensive fighter.He does everything right, as did ayub kalule.Giardello on his night was excellent as well.

Kalambay is the closest thing to a classic no bull**** Canto-esque stylist we've seen in the division since the Burley and Williams era.Great radar, textbook upperbodymovement, footwork: can be very smooth and loose like napoles defensively then tighten things up in an instant with top-notch glove and parry defence.Defensively has all the tools, even more than Hops imo.Some may hold getting caught against Nunn against him though.

McCallum worth a mention though he gets hit more due to other non-D related deficiencies.

There's not been too many defensive specialists at middleweight in recent years.Most of the better defensive fighters are boxer-punchers.