Teddy Atlas “ top 10 defensive boxers” list etc - what’s yours?

Mayweather is likely the most consistently great/responsible defensive fighter on film.

Duran as a come forward fighter exhibits the greatest degree of technical defensive abilities that I've seen on film.

It's very easy to look remarkable against inferior opposition when you're faster, taller, bigger reach. It's insane to make Leonard miss flurries of punches when fighting in the pocket.

 

I find most of Atlas's lists bad. This one is the worst. No Benitez lol and look if FM is on the list then George Benton needs to be on it IMO

 

Hmmm, depends on what you're looking for.

In terms of reflexive subtle head movement, they're very close. In terms of foot placement and balance, whilst Duran was clearly quicker of foot than Mantequilla, both fighters have superb balance and ring positioning.

Here's where Duran trumps Mantequilla, for me - his inside skills and grappling prowess allowed him to be super aggressive and consistently in pockets of danger, whilst minimising his opponent's offence with subtle level changes, head placement and trapping of forearms, pinning of elbows and subtle shoulder charges to offset balance, whilst simultaneously offloading his own offence.

I don't think that Mantequilla blended his offence and defence in the danger zone with the variety and multi-layers that Roberto did - however, I concede that Mantequilla did many, many things with subtle brilliance that I hope my post doesn't diminish as that is certainly not my intention.

 

I do see Ali on the list. A prime Ali, of course, not the older fighter who couldn't be bothered ducking and slipping. But Ali, yes. I also see Benitez, who was remarkable at evading punches. Also I would have liked to have seen fighters such as Nicolino Loche, Eddie Perkins, Ralph Dupas and Herol Graham on there. Also, an underrated facet of ones technique is footwork and let me tell you, Joey Archer was a master of using the ring. He could move in and out of trouble, not by running, but simply moving in and out to his advantage.

 

Yes! Finally. WIlfred Benitez! He was as good defensively as anyone I have seen. Duran couldn't touch Benitez when he was JMW champion. Took out the highly accomplished Antonio Cervantes at the age of 18. Great head movement. Very good when he was up against the ropes. Leonard? He was good at everything. A great athlete and a smart man. You could say the same about Ali. To me, Duran was an all-rounder too. I never thought of him as a defensive fighter.

Another fighter I have read about but never seen was Vilomar Fernandez. I heard he was very good defensively, going 15 rounds with Duran and was never seriously hurt. Duran just outworked him is what I surmise.

Another guy that impressed me was 34-0 Tony Tucker. He had broken his right hand in preparation for the Tyson fight, but took the fight anyways, for the money. Tucker did the rope-a-dope all fight long and was unruffled after the fight. Tyson wins on agression.

Teddy Atles is a renowned trainer and pundit for sure. Respect to Atlas, but here he is full of crap. Looks to me that he put that list together just to make money. I agree with the OP that the list stinks. All old-school fighters. WIth time brings progress. These guys had monster records because they did not make a lot of money. They were just trying to make a living. A comparison of the two Sugar Rays is apples to oranges. I am sure that Leonard could have compiled such a record if he wanted to.

A lot of the same old Duran hero-worship here. Respect to Duran. The same kind of worship that makes Jimi Hendrix the automatic pick as the greatest guitarist of all time. That's a crock too.