The Best Counter-Puncher Of The Past 50 years??

Good pick Duo, he definately comes to mind.

 

I'd say Sanchez and Mayweather are the best two I've seen in the last 50 years.

 

My tendency is to think primarily of retreating counterpunchers, or boxing off the ropes, JT. However, along the lines of Jose Napoles, Dwight Qawi actually was a similar style of counterpuncher. Never taking a backwards step, Ike would slip punches coming in, while automatically countering his opponent's jab with his own. Arguello and Louis were also counterpunchers who slipped shots and countered as they advanced. (One thing that sets Arguello apart from Louis is that Alexis could also be extremely dangerous when backed up against the ropes, as Roberto Elizondo found out when Arguello busted his jaw.)

Victor Galindez had a counterpunching style all his own, laying back against the ropes, then winging away in a manner of steel chinned macho guerrilla warfare peculiar to him.

 

Nice post, and i'll add my piece.

I think Sanchez reminded me of Napoles more than most in that he eased forward, forcing his opponent to lead and then copuntered, just like Napoles. Arguello used his jab a little more i think. Sanchez and Napoles are prime examples of pro-active counterpunchers.

 

Sal's counterpunching and superior handspeed were ruinous to Danny Lopez in their two title fights. Not really a big puncher himself, Sal obliterated Wilfredo Gomez by drawing him in, getting Bazooka to initiate action, then fracturing his cheekbone by using Gomez's own momentum to magnify the impact of Sal's countershot. Sal's systematic dismantling of Gomez was an all-time masterpiece of ring generalship. Over the entire course of a 15 round match, Sanchez was known for occasionally spotting a lead before the inevitable comeback.

Early on, bridesmaid contender Ruben Castillo was all hyped up and inspired by a supportive crowd when challenging Sanchez. The match was going really well for him, but I suspect that just about everybody viewing it on television knew that Sal would overtake him towards the championship rounds with his counterattack. (That seemed as inevitable as Saad Muhammad's comebacks after trailing world title claimants and top contenders in about a dozen matches.) Not only did Sal come from behind against Castillo, he passed him on the scorecards as though Ruben was standing still, and won a very comfortable UD. (The idea of Salvador Sanchez boxing 12 round world championship bouts is unthinkable to me. He was a 15 round boxer, through and through, and represented what exemplary aerobic physical conditioning was all about.)

 

How could I forget Napoles? In his prime, he might even top the list. Not as slick as the Whitakers and Mayweathers but far more damaging.

 

Evander Holyfield was pretty quick with a counterpunch. Or a counteheadbutt.

 

To be honest i am shocked you forgot him, with you being a very big fan and him being ranked by quite a few as possibly the best counterpuncher in modern history.

 

Actually I thought he was faster with his head than his punches.

 

Harold Johnson.

 

Kalule.

 

Salvador Sanchez, Jose Napoles, Nicolino Locche, Wilfred Benitez and Antonio Cervantes.

 

Maybe Mike McCallum.

 

Excellent post. I gave it a deserved “like, albeit 17 years after the fact. Unfortunately I couldn’t index and/or include due interest.

What’s a 2007 “like” worth in 2024 anyway? Perhaps something to ponder on if not worthy of a thread in its own right. Maybe just correlate it with the increased value of the dollar.