Rate These Defensive Prodigies... Pep, Pea, Locche, Benitez, PBF

Hopkins, Jones, Toney, Wright, Ali...all deserve mention...but going by the guys you put in there, thats not a bad order.

 

1. Pep
2. Locche
3. Benitez
4. Pea
5. Mayweather

As far as head movement in his prime, Roberto Duran is extremely underrated. Anyone see Duran work the speed bag with his head?! Absolutely incredible! It's a shame he partied too much.

 

I don't think Ali deserves much mention, certainly not more than Jones. Ali made far too many mistakes, and had them capitalized on by mediocre opponents like Cooper and Jones(as well as many others, but not as seriously) too often to be considered here. Jones may not have been technically perfect either, but had far better success than Ali with it due to his tendancy to never overcommit(something Ali did often).

 

I agree with the list, but in my opinion one of the most underrated defenses in boxing is The Bronx Bull Jake Lamotta who I'd put 8 all time though nobady ever gives his defense recognition.

 

Also Lamotta, Duran ,and Frazier

 

If you want to get freaked out, find a video of Duran working the speed bag with his head! Absolutely incredible! You won't believe it!

 

His defense was underrated, but just because it's underrated doesn't mean you need to overrate the hell out of it by placing it #8 all time. That is ludicrous. I can name many better defensive fighters. You don't become known for having a granite chin by having great defense, you do it by taking a lot of flush shots, and Jake took A LOT of them. Underrated defense, but certainly nowhere near that high.

 

You seem to like the pressure fighters who have decent head movement. Frazier and LaMotta both got hit FAR too much to be considered among the best defensive fighters, even if they did showcase good bob and weave/head movement often.

 

The bob and weave style is very underrated style, these days you see the Upright style of Winkt Wright or the Counter Punching style of Floyd Mayweather. I don't favor pressure fighters but I think if it's done right they can be a sight to behold. And Maybe I did rate Lamotta a little to high but this guy really is underrated defensively.

 

You did a great list, mine will go as:
1. N. Locche
2. W. Benitez
3. Pernell Whitaker
4. Pep
5. Floyd Mayweather

 

I did see that video and I can do that too, just not as good.

 

People are putting Ali on their lists. Ali took so many shots and wasn't one of the greatest defensively.

 

Ali was excellent in his prime, moved a lot, but within his second part of his career he lost a lot, it's a shame.

Duran would move his on the ropes extremely well, also took the shock of a punch off.

 

Ali is what Boxers and trainers call a runner which means what it sounds he is constantly moveing, runnig not wanting to exchange and when you swing and miss he swarms with counterpunches.

 

Pep #1 hands down. This guy was so tricky. He won a round without throwing a punch. He could turn you and you and most of his KOs were because guys would collapse from fatigue. He was a boxing great.