Top 10 defensive fighters in boxing

hard to say but the top 2 are obvious BHOP and PBF

 

Pep
Benitez
Floyd
Whittaker
Locche
Roy Jones
Ali
Hopkins

Just some names. Don't have a top 10.

 

Mayweather, Hopkins, Bradley, and Vitali Klitschko are some guys that stand out in my mind. Clottey, Abraham, and Ward are pretty good as well.

 

definitely not Paul Williams

 

Mayweather
Hopkins
Winky
Wladimir Klitschko
Vitali Klitschko
Abraham
Clottey
Haye
Pacquiao
Calderon

Probably a few unusual picks in there, but I'm not just looking at defence purely gauged by punches avoided. There is more to defence than that, which is why Pacquiao got a mention.

 

Not knocking you, but can you explain how Pac is a good defensive fighter please?

 

atsch

Pacquiao and defense don’t mix like two dicks and no *****
Find yourself in serious ****

 

in no order

mayweathr, hopkins, winky, klitsckho sisters, clottey, haye, abraham, dirrel and hmm cant think of any others

 

Chambers comes to mind as somebody who could round out a top 10.

 

Pac is much more deserving of being on that list than Haye. That's the only one that I don't think is justifiable. I wouldn't put Wlad on there either.

 

Jacory, I can't believe I'm commending you on anything, but props on the "10 Crack Commandments" quote.

 

Mayweather
Hopkins
Calderon
Wlad Klit
Abraham
Guzman
Clottey
Vit Klit
Dirrell
Ward

 

If you think good defence is solely about not getting hit, you're wrong. I've covered the issue in depth previously, especially concerning Joe Frazier, who I rank as a very good defensive fighter despite him taking many shots in his prime. It's more than that. Henry Armstrong is another who is VASTLY underrated defensively by those who can't read boxing.

Pacquiao's footwork is part of his defence and he can be elusive at times, but the positioning and slipping of punches, is top notch. I think most top class agressive boxers are underrated defensively - It's not as clear cut as the punch avoidance rate at the end of a fight.

As for Haye, he has very good foodwork and upperbody movement. He does straight up avoid punches well. His movement in and out of range whilst avoiding taking clean shots is very good and he's shown in the past that when put under pressure, his blocking is impressive.

And Wlad? The guy gets hit clean less than Mayweather. It may be ugly but it's ugly and efective. Jim Watt's analysis of his defence is spot on, for once.