The ten most intelligent fighters ever

I'd probably have them around 11-15. Whitaker in particular was one of the premier strategists of his time, which is why he was able to stay competitive long after he'd past his physical prime.

 

I dont really know if you can consider whitaker to be very intelligent. He was a brilliant defensive fighter and very complete but to me i dont think he was very clever or creative. Instead I see him as very talented and well schooled. On the flip side i see Pep as the more intelligent but less complete of the two. Pep was always coming up with brilliant, creative, unorthodox moves in his fights whereas whitaker was incredible as well but seemed to fight a similar way in most of his fights.

 

If this has to do with being all time scholars and gentleman, then I so choose:

1. Mike Tyson

2. Tex Cobb

3. Rubin Carter

4. Carlos Monzon

5. Jake Lamotta

6. Sonny Liston

7. Michael Dokes

8. Trevor Berbick

9. Leon Spinks

10. Roy Williams

 

Whitaker
Pep
Hopkins
Mayweather
SRR
SRL
JMM
Ali
Benitez
Ezzard Charles

 

I interpret this to mean who could 'design' and carry out the best plan to thwart the fighter in front of him.

This approach will leave off all the fighters that were 'specalists' who performed their style and simply did it well enough to win with it.
Joe Frazier and Willie Pep are awesome fighters. Talented, sucessful and by no means stupid men but they fought 'their' fights (almost always) and didn't much care who you were or what you did. Joe was Smokin' right at you and Willie was giving you your "dancing with the fighter" lesson. They are both great but in very different ways and since they didn't change much against whoever was in front of them they don't place on this list...

1. Benny Leonard (pinnacle of boxer/puncher IMO)
2. Gene Tunney (Once out fought - never out thought)
3. Sam Langford ("Whatever the other guy wanna do - Don't!")
4. Archie Moore (outpoint you or KO you - usually the latter)
5. John Edward Kelly (could do it all from welter to lightheavy)
6. Ray Robinson (only man to outbox boxers and outslug sluggers - unearthly talent)
7. Barney Ross (looks like 3 different men against Jimmy, Tony and Billy)
8. Jack Johnson (amazing defense - powerful punch, knew when to use each)
9. Joe Louis (10-0 in rematches!)
10. Joe Gans (Truly - The Old Master)
11. Fritzie Zivic
12. Abe Attell
13. Billy Conn
14. Marvin Hagler
15. Benny Lynch
16. Les Darcy
17. Lennox Lewis
18. Salvadore Sanchez *****<Marco Antonio Barerra (when he retires - or higher depending on his success vs PACMAN)
19. Pete Herman
20. Mickey Walker

 

No brawler/pressure fighters allowed here. this is about not making mistakes, making the most from talent, outhinking the opponent and adapting in the ring

1 Mayweather
2 Pepp
3 Leonard
4 Whitaker
5 Ali
6 Camacho
7 Tunney
8 B Leonard
9 Jack Johnson
10 Charles

 

I DON'T KNOW IF WOULD RATE HAGLER UP THERE. HE MESSED UP BIG TIME AGAINST LEONARD BY TRYING TO BOX