Is PBF the best counterpuncher in boxing history?

Arguably

 

I think Finito Lopez might have a better argument for the simple fact that he countered a whole lot more.

 

You can make an argument for it...

 

I might get flak for this, but I think Juan Manuel Marquez is the best counterpuncher of our era.

Floyd's close though.

 

No way. Marquez gets hit too much. Countering is making them miss and making them pay. Marquez only has the making them pay part figured out.

 

No. In fact he's not even the best counterpuncher in recent years from the state of Michigan.

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"Technical" counterpuncher, perhaps. Not every fighter has Floyd's otherworldly speed and reflexes.

Edit- Ohhhhhh good call, James Toney. How could I have forgotten him? Goddamn.

 

Not "the best", but he's certainly belongs in any discussion of top counter-punchers.

 

Marquez in his prime was simply outstanding.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pn--_0kXt8&feature=fvw[/ame]

 

Toney counters more often than Mayweather. He uses less movement, especially as he got older and fatter, and often just stays in one spot, slipping and rolling with shots, and looking to counter. That's when he's at his best IMO, against aggressive guys who throw shots and leave openings.

Mayweather uses more movement, and leads more often. He's a very good counterpuncher too, but often likes to lead with his jab, or leaping left hooks (and rights).

 

Floyd is one of the best thinkers in history and one of the best at keeping the strategy simple but delivering absolutely effectively.

You'll never see Floyd throw flurries of punches, he pinpoints two to four shots in an exchange and bounces out again. He even showed coming forward that he has the ability to spoil the boxing of his opponent due to his subtle abilities with range and deliver his shots without much resistance.

I think what makes Floyd special is that he rates exceedingly high in every regard in boxing with the exception of powerful punching, which combines with one of the smartest brains ever to step in that ring.

Take a look at him in the first two rounds against Mosley, he didn't catch the rythym of Mosley, the jittering put him off and he was moving his head constantly thinking a shot was about to land - by Round 4, he'd mastered the rythyms, his head movement was superb and he was starting to pick the guy apart.

That showed me everything I need to know.

 

Roy can be put in this category but Floyd might be a lil better, but overall Roy was a whole different beast and a whole lot better IMO.

 

Marques does things by the book he just doesn't have the natural gifts that floyd does and therefore is not as good.