Although I'm slowly getting back into it, for about the last nine months I was off boxing for a bit, but I think it's cleared up my judgement to near impeccable standards :yep I've come to the conclusion that the best boxer of all time, ability wise of course, was Roberto Duran. Who do you think was the best? If you say anyone other than Duran you are wrong. I'm joking, no, who do you think was the best?
It becomes clearer and clearer to me that it must be Robinson. The man had flawless abilities as a fighter and an almost flawless record. Would like to see some footage of a prime Charles, though.
From the footage I've seen I'd say Duran too, but Robinson, Pep, Driscoll, McFarland, Gans, B. Leonard, Griffo or Greb may have been better for all I know.
Robinson, cliche but the truth, you have to be doing something right to be considered the P4P GOAT in an era with Pep, Armstrong, Charles, Moore, Marciano, Louis
Can't forget his struggles along the way though, even at his peak. He did fight more regularly and against generally tougher opposition, though. Ezzard Charles trounces him in that department though, even if Duran doesn't. Charles beat an astonishly tough selection, and they covered all styles (whereas the best fighters Robinson beat up were typically brawlers/swarmers). Robinson, Charles, Duran, Pep, and perhaps Whitaker... Are my top four or five for ability in the modern age ('30s onwards).
I understand Manassa, lately i too feel my knowledge of boxing skill has improved. The emphasis of skill in the past has always been on flash, for a lot of people, but now i really understand skill more i feel. Skill on the inside, to really know skill on the inside, or at mid-range say, or even on the outside, is worlds apart than simply recognising speed. Duran was so skilled it gets silly, on the inside his skillset is through the roof. Someone like Hector Camacho is nowhere near Duran for pure skill for me, or Oscar De La Hoya, they had very fast hands though. It's hard to say, but Robinson might be the best, his outside game and footwork are of the highest standards of skill ever, and the kind of ripping shots that disposed of Bobo Olson where well.....
