Top 5 defensive fighters since Pep

Always thought Graham was more show than go. Kind of that Chris Byrd varietty of fighter that emphasises defense, but still isn't that proficient in it. Lots of exaggerated movement, but still quite hittable at the end of the day.

Don't get me wrong, I think he had good defense, but I wouldn't put him up there with the best of the sport myself.


Perkins is an interesting pick, rarely see him mentioned in defense threads.... There is a fight in particular that won you over?

 

Jones and Kalambay both used their legs a lot more that Winky and Mooch. But for how close the latter two often stood in, they rarely got hit clean. Kalambay and Jones would often scamper away and retreat to safety before fire was returned, which is impressive in itself, but I find it better when a fighter can remain in close and not get hit. Jones and Kalambay of course had vastly superior offenses to Wright and Starling, which helped in giving them room for evasion....


Toney and McCallum were both more hittable than Wright and Starling for mine...

 

1. Jimmy Young was more effective overall defensively than Byrd. 2. There also seems to be a bit of bias against defensive masters who rely on their legs here.

 

Benitez
Pea
Mayweather
Toney
Hopkins
Wright

I'm picking six in no specific order; sue me

 

Would a prime Jones Junior merit consideration?

 

Those that are using them to stay out of punching range rather than to step out and counter, yes. Actually slipping shots is the best form of defence IMO, other than being so far away only Inspector Gadget could hit you.

 

Niccolino Locche
Pernell Whitaker
Floyd Mayweather
Wilfred Benitez
Roy Jones(not in the conventional since like the others but 35 and younger you'd be hard pressed to see Jones get hit solid, reflexes, legs, rolling with punches,

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n,rolling with punchs and parrying) Jones regardless if his hands was up was always prepared to slip roll and counter truely gifted

 

Have to disagree on Jones jr not being included...defense doesnt have to be the conventional since...Jones is the only fighter in history to go a full round and not get hit, in his prime you could probably count on one hand how many times he got hit clean, buzzed, or stunned...what made Jones special wasnt his speed or power...it was his reflexes and counterpunching

 

Starling was impossible to hit even though he was never pushed back and always came forward. Far more impressive than running away.

 

Had more than a little to do with fighters being **** scared that a laser beam punch would come from nowhere if they tried to punch him and exposed themselves to his counters.

A case of the best form of defense is offense, if you will....

As I view it, I put it down to Roy's offense more than purely his defensive skills.

Great reflexes and reaction times sure, still, not a great defensive fighter in the purest sense of the word imo...

 

Amazing how few clean shots he really took giving his proclivity to get in fighters' faces. Wasn't like they had to be that weary of his offense either.

 

Agreed. Ridiculously strong though.

 

I see what your saying but when guys rushed him in his prime he still didnt get hit clean...Merqui Sosa tried and he spent most the fight against the ropes, Bryant Brannon was all over him and landed little to nothing..You cant talk about defense and not include reflexes and reaction....Benitez and Whitaker werent great defensive fighters in the conventional since they had great reflexes head movement and since of spacing just like Jones, also Offense is a part of defense they go hand in hand...Jones wouldnt have been able to counterpunch if he wasnt making them miss

 

Notice how those guys put on defensive clinics against far better fighters than Bryant Brannon.

 

I guess Virgil Hill, Reggie Johnson, A heavyweight John Ruiz, Bernard Hopkins, James Toney all champions dont count either...i brought him up to illustrate that Jones was elusive on the inside as well as mid range and outside