Reflexes a-side, what is the best defence

[Taeth]

Roy Jones Jr.
Willie Pep
Mayweather Jr.
Whitaker
Winky Wright

all had/have great reflexes but that doesn't always mean everything. Ali had great reflexes, but when he fought flat footed he was relatively easy to hit footwork aside. Leonard also appeared that way. Michael Nunn, Meldrick Taylor, Shane Mosley all have great reflexes, but they could be hit. What of the top mentioned guys had the best defensive style in that the most people could use it effectively? I would say Wright.

[bigragu]

Roy Jones Jr.
Willie Pep
Mayweather Jr.
Whitaker
Winky Wright

all had/have great reflexes but that doesn't always mean everything. Ali had great reflexes, but when he fought flat footed he was relatively easy to hit footwork aside. Leonard also appeared that way. Michael Nunn, Meldrick Taylor, Shane Mosley all have great reflexes, but they could be hit. What of the top mentioned guys had the best defensive style in that the most people could use it effectively? I would say Wright.

that's a hard question.....reflexes are such a huge part of defense...no matter what kind of defense you're using....Mike Tyson in his prime had an awesome "Peek a Boo".......all great defenses require awesome reflexes...how else could you block the punches?....

[Wacko3205]

Hands down it would have to be a cross between Floyd & Wright. No doubt.

The shoulder roll (Floyd) & an impenatrable guard (Ronald) would have to go down as unbeatable.

[bigragu]

Hands down it would have to be a cross between Floyd & Wright. No doubt.

The shoulder roll (Floyd) & an impenatrable guard (Ronald) would have to go down as unbeatable.

B-HOP has an awesome shoulder roll...heck, he can hit you with it as well!!!

[Wacko3205]

Hands down it would have to be a cross between Floyd & Wright. No doubt.

The shoulder roll (Floyd) & an impenatrable guard (Ronald) would have to go down as unbeatable.

B-HOP has an awesome shoulder roll...heck, he can hit you with it as well!!!

Agreed...the thing you forgot to mention...he'd get away with it also.

[BoxingGorilla]

1 punch KO power

[Chris Nagel]

A defense like Charles Burley or the more orthodox fighter in that time Ezzard Charles is better. With these guys it's not unusual to see them constantly adjusting, even their rhythm of their defense/punches change according to flow of the fight. And against these guys you can't just pick your spot and name your shot.

Now Floyd looked impressive making Philip D. making him miss with his shoulder-rolls and ducking/weaving, but you look at a guy like Willy Pep and he does more than just wear you out. Let's put Willy in that position up against the ropes. For instance he'll miss a left and then lean back, now he's on the ropes. Let's say the poor sucker closes the distance and then-- Willy grabs him behind the elbow and spins him around. Now the positions are reversed and Willy is just beating the hell out of him. He'd do that sometimes or at least keep the guy away, feinting and working to set him up. Like any fighter of worth his defense was always changing.

You see what I mean? The guys with the great defenses were adaptable, had a big bag of tricks and never relied on one way of fighting a guy.

B-Hop is big time film-buff, he can thank Archie Moore and the other old-timers for showing him how it's done. He also knew the dirty tricks as well, he'd bang on you with his shoulders, hit you with fouls so that his opponent is between him and the referee, and most importantly he kept control of the fight.

The way you hold your arms isn't what defense in boxing truly is, it's adapting and setting your opponent up to fight your fight.

[bigragu]

Hands down it would have to be a cross between Floyd & Wright. No doubt.

The shoulder roll (Floyd) & an impenatrable guard (Ronald) would have to go down as unbeatable.

B-HOP has an awesome shoulder roll...heck, he can hit you with it as well!!!

Agreed...the thing you forgot to mention...he'd get away with it also.

cc #2800 bro....yeah...he would get away with it...like 20 times!!!

[Chris Nagel]

1 punch KO power

KO power isn't good enough by itself. Even a guy like Marciano was good at feints and suckering a guy so he could land his shots. Mike Tyson was also a counterpuncher.

[BoxingGorilla]

1 punch KO power

KO power isn't good enough by itself. Even a guy like Marciano was good at feints and suckering a guy so he could land his shots. Mike Tyson was also a counterpuncher.

You are correct, Sir.

[Wacko3205]

A defense like Charles Burley or the more orthodox fighter in that time Ezzard Charles is better. With these guys it's not unusual to see them constantly adjusting, even their rhythm of their defense/punches change according to flow of the fight. And against these guys you can't just pick your spot and name your shot.

Now Floyd looked impressive making Philip D. making him miss with his shoulder-rolls and ducking/weaving, but you look at a guy like Willy Pep and he does more than just wear you out. Let's put Willy in that position up against the ropes. For instance he'll miss a left and then lean back, now he's on the ropes. Let's say the poor sucker closes the distance and then-- Willy grabs him behind the elbow and spins him around. Now the positions are reversed and Willy is just beating the hell out of him. He'd do that sometimes or at least keep the guy away, feinting and working to set him up. Like any fighter of worth his defense was always changing.

You see what I mean? The guys with the great defenses were adaptable, had a big bag of tricks and never relied on one way of fighting a guy.

B-Hop is big time film-buff, he can thank Archie Moore and the other old-timers for showing him how it's done. He also knew the dirty tricks as well, he'd bang on you with his shoulders, hit you with fouls so that his opponent is between him and the referee, and most importantly he kept control of the fight.

The way you hold your arms isn't what defense in boxing truly is, it's adapting and setting your opponent up to fight your fight.

Pretty much agree with the entire post...cept for the high lighted part.

Wright totally debunks that statement. It's all in the wrists & forearms.

[armin]

Jeah wright does debunk that, I don't think he feels anything in those arms anymore, heck better than getting your head battered in on any day tho!

[yoitsdan]

Great defence is all about balance, keeping your feet in the right place at the right time, concentrating on the distance from the opponent, keeping your hands up, never taking your eyes of an opponent, leaning, bending your knees, many many factors, even biting on your gumshield correctly is part of a good defence, it can be the difference between getting knocked out and staying awake.

Winky Wright is blessed with huge forearms, he really is like a damn crab, and stands so upright and just protects everything, he has developed this over many years, he's adapted his style to his attributes and all the greats learn to do that over time, the legends find a way to be strong in more than their initial strength departments, like Lennox for example was nothing like the strong defensive fighter he is now, but he developed his jab, so offense and defense just moulded, making him the best.

[El Kabong]

well no reflexes it's got to be Winky Wright because he doesn't move he just covers up.

All around, I like Pep's the best

[yoitsdan]

James Toney circa Holyfield was probably the best defense in heavyweight boxing at that time IMO.