Rate them only based on their technical boxing abilities. Primo Carnera, Abe Simon, Nikolai Valuev, Arslanbek Makhmudov, Jess Willard.
What a weird bunch! 1) Nikolai Valuev 2) Primo Carnera 3) Abe Simon 4) Arslanbek Makhmudov It would be excruciatingly difficult to rate Willard in with these. Basically his techniques are different, and for a very different version of the sport. He's doing things like bracing, wrestling, catching, that these other guys didn't do. They are doing things he didn't do. If there's two fights worth of Willard and in each he's fighting fundamental and opposing opponents and he looks different how he fights. The footage is grainy and difficult. I don't think it's a sensible comparison without serious study, and who, really, wants to study Willard and Valuev? That said, I do think Valuev has the best jab here and he was actually hte best organised too I feel. He had a very steady style that was highly cultivated. But again, i mean what's in it? Arslanbek employs techniques too, falling in is a technique that he's mastered that Valuev never ever tried once...and he has a better right hand. Again, it's very difficult to compare across eras, who here can claim to know Abe Simon intimately from seeing him get thrashed twice? So nobody knows, is the best answer.
Carnera Abe Simon Valuev Willard Makhmudov I put Simon ahead of Valuev and Willard because he retired at an age before their top flight careers began.
