check it out some example of this monster in his prime ... Excelent deffense, footwork and head movement .... the best at cutting the ring... amazing combinations ... and a KILLER POWER!! just see what loud the punches sound when he hit mitchel... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnU7osQf76Q
Its certainly an aguable viewpoint, he wouldn't be my 1st choice but i have no real objection to seeing him ranked that highly. That clip showed a lot of chavez underrated boxing skills, deadly accurate punches and a great defence. The amount of Mitchells shots(who had great hand speed) he was rolling and ducking was superb. I've got to admit i'm in a JCC love in stage at the moment, watching loads of his fights and damn he was some fighter. That being said normally my number 1 for being a great finisher is ray leonard, when he had you in trouble you very rarely escaped, young tyson, louis, archie moore and wilfredo gomez are also deserving of mentions in this regard
I always thought that purely as a finisher, Felix Trinidad was one of the best i've ever seen, and in my own opinion better than Chavez. Joe Louis i might go as far to say is the best, but not to tale away from Chavez, look how he brutally finished Roger Mayweather the first time, brilliant that one. I think what helps the other two is the sleep inducing punch they had to match their accurate shots though.
Trinidad was certainly on the level of JCC as a finisher. Of today's fighters, JMM is an outstanding finisher. As a one-off finish, I was hugely impressed with Pavlik in the first Taylor fight, shifted Jermain into the corner and hit him cleanly with every follow-up punch.
I like the picks of Leonard and Trinidad, taking nothing away from Chavez. If I can coin a new phrase, Chavez was the greatest "patient dismantler" I've seen.
Chavez made you waste yourself on him, always marching forward with an elusive target. He picked his moments brilliantly and sunk in the killer shots - a cross and a hook to the body. It's very simple stuff, but crafted into a great formula.
In no order Duran, Louis, Tyson, Chavez, Arguello, Leonard and maybe Napoles. I don't think Foreman ever hurt anyone and didn't put them away. Archie Moore certainly new how to finnish his man off and maybe many murderers row contenders did.
Chavez is certainly one of them, its difficult to say anyone is no1 ahead of the other greats but he knew how to finish alright, precise, fast, hard, head & body, relentless.
Chavez is a great finisher, but in all fairness I think the pro-Chavez threads on here are getting a little out of hand now. He is not close to being THE best finisher ever IMO. JCC often delivered prolonged and methodical beatings rather than find that necessary punch or combination to get his opponent out of there as soon as possible.
Robinson must be up there based on the footage we have available, he rarely let a man off the hook when hurt + he DID stop Lamotta, thats major in itself. Didnt knock him down tho as Jake will tell you classic.
exactly that is the perfect phrase. I liked the way he just stalked patiently slipping and parrying the guys shots efffortlessly then he sees the opening and bang. :good amazing description every time i watch Chavez i get more impressed with his defence