Who is the best defensive slugger among the heavyweights?

Prime Tyson.

 

If "slugger" is taken to mean any big-punching guy who is known to knock his opponents out, as Mendoza clarified, then I'd say Sonny Liston.

 

I will go with Wladimir Klitschko. He is cautious yet at the same time aggressive. He fought a very measured and intelligent fight against Brewster and I expect he will fight in a similar agressive yet careful style against Ibraginov. Lennox Lewis is also a guy who was excellent at defensive boxing yet would be considered a slugger because of his huge punch.

 

George Foreman .....

 

good call......

 

Ironmike imo, it is the only real option really to say him , Foreman's defence was terrible , the only argument for him having a good defense is that a good offense mekes a good defense. Tyson imo

 

Prime Tyson

Lewis, or he would have been KO'd way more

Wlad, newer Wlad for same reason, that chin scares me

Marciano, underrated in pretty much every catagory, especially defense

 

Are we talking defensive slugger or defensive puncher, I think when a fighter is an aggresive slugger his best defence is a good offence but this type of fighting takes great condition and stamina,as well as a solid jaw, as far as defensive punchers think Lennox Lewis did very well, Jersey Joe Walcott and a controlled and unruffled Vlad has done well as of late. Vitali was on point vs Williams,Johnson others but could have en a bit more defensive vs Lewis and Sanders

 

My pick would be Dempsey.

If you combine the best elements of the defense of Mike Tyson, Joe Frazier and Rocky Marciano you would have something a bit like Dempsey.

 

He was very controlled, defensively aware, and technically sound.

 

Good question and I'm glad to see my original pick of Tyson, along with Dempsey, is favored here.

Let's remember Tyson modeled himself after Dempsey more than any other heavy, probably especially on avoiding the blow and at the same time getting into position to launch a devastating counterattack.

So Dempsey is the master and probably the most perfect example of the aggressive bob-and-weave style, but Tyson, in his aggressive peek-a-boo style, adds the element of his blazing speed, greater than Dempsey's, and thus to me is a hair more effective at capitalizing on mistakes and delivering an out-of-nowhere shocker.

 

Perhaps Floyd Patterson should be mentioned in this context.