Top 5 most skilled and talented over the last 30 years

Who are you're top 5 most skilled and talented fighters over the last 30 years?

Fighters who's careers started or won their first world title after 1978.


1. Roy Jones jnr
2. Pernell Whitaker
3. Floyd Mayweather jnr
4. Sugar Ray Leonard
5. Bernard Hopkins

Number five was my toughest pick. Tyson, Hearns, Nunn, Marquez, Hopkins, etc could well have had my 5th spot.

 

Roberto Duran doesn't count. His career was well underway before 1978 and he won his first world title in 1972.

 

Leonard is my number one choice for "P4P" over the last 30 years. But not when it comes to outright talent and skill.

Mayweather is better all round. I believe offensively he's equally as good, even though he doesn't quite have the same power. Obviously Leonard could punch better as he started off at welterweight. Mayweather started at super-featherweight. But when Mayweather's power was at it's most fearsome at 130lbs and 135lbs, he never punched as hard as Leonard did at welterweight. Punch power isn't talent and skill, although both shine more with power behind it.

And when it comes to defense, Mayweather has much more variety than Leonard. While Leonard had superb ring generalship and was defensively very good, he was mainly a mover when it came to defense. The rematch with Duran and the Hagler fight. If Mayweather slowed down and was caught against the ropes like Leonard was against Hagler, lets say Mayweather in a similar situation, trust me he'd be tougher to hit. Leonard picked his opportunties as well as any fighter in history. But that would come under intelligence between his ears rather than outright physical skill and talent.

Leonard's defense was basic against Duran, well basic compared to Mayweather's. Move, flurry, move. If you notice Leonard was straight up and down; simple. Mayweather's one sided boxing display against Corrales involved more complex and varied defensive moves. His ability to duck down to waist height underneath punches, and also his usual shoulder blocking technique.

 

Russell. Toney's just outside the top 5. Not sure exactly where I'd place him, but he'd be in my top 10. You could make a good case for Mayweather, Leonard or Whitaker, being number 2. I've went with Whitaker. Not because of his superb defensive skills, but his offense was awesome as well, even though the consequences weren't devasting when he landed. His jab may well have been the best of my top 5.