The jab. Best you've seen? Current best?

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Originally Posted by beenKOed

Everyone knows what a jab will or could do for them, why don't more fighters concentrate on their jabs?

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I think it's probably a case that a jab is great, but if the guy across from you has a better/quicker/longer/ect jab, your jab is going to be nullified. We saw that with Malignaggi/Khan, Paulie makes his living off his jab but Khan's was so much better it just completely nullified Paulie's.

So a lot of guys (mostly the slower/shorter/swarmers/inside guys/ect) say fuck it, I'm not built/stylistically inclined to be a great jabber and don't put the work in. But that's just a guess on my part obviously. It's a shame because everyone here who has watched a lot of boxing's history knows that a lot of pressure guys/inside fighters have done great business with the jab.

Muhammad Ali gets credit as one of the best jabs in the history of boxing, and rightfully so, but the slower Ken Norton was able to win the battle of the jabs against him and ultimately (in mine and a lot of people's opinion), beat Ali 3 times. He gave Ali fits with his jab.

Lamotta was fantastic at it and often out jabbed SRR, again the much quicker and more skilled fighter. He would double and triple up his jab to get on the inside, or hook off the jab while coming in to big success.

And we even saw Maidana bother Floyd with his newly-discovered jab recently.

There's no excuse for not having a good jab IMO

It's not a "sexy" punch. Booming rights, powerful hooks, etc. are the attention grabbers. But the great fighters and trainers know that it is the most important punch in boxing.

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Originally Posted by Master

I think Roy Jones did not use it much because it makes you predictable and you can time a counter punch to it. That is the only disadvantage I can think of a jab, which is why you should vary the speed, intensity and target when using it.

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Best example of that ;D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGIUQ1mcZ_U

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Originally Posted by Beanflicker

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Originally Posted by Master

I think Roy Jones did not use it much because it makes you predictable and you can time a counter punch to it. That is the only disadvantage I can think of a jab, which is why you should vary the speed, intensity and target when using it.

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Best example of that ;D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGIUQ1mcZ_U

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As a result he taught Tyson to jab hard with the chin down. :cool:

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Originally Posted by Master

As a result he taught Tyson to jab hard with the chin down. :cool:

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Cus' peek-a-boo style doesn't look quite as menacing when it's a skinny, balding Irish dude doing it does it? ;D

That was a cracking right hander.

Froch has a difficult jab to get around. It's not stylish but it's useful.

Larry Holmes fantastic jab, also Marvin Hagler would brake his opponents up with his ram rod jab,
current Paul Butler has a nice snappy jab, Kel Brook powerful smash you up type of jab.

Great thread topic! I would say my top picks, in no particular order, are:
1) Larry Holmes: When his legs were still fresh he was able to dominate and control a fight with that jab. Lump guys up, control the pace/distance...etc. He would use it to set up his right or combos. Strictly my opinion, but I think he beats out the other great jabbers in heavyweight history (Bowe, Lewis, Ali, Wlad, Liston) as far as jabs go. All of those guys mentioned though had GREAT jabs. Side note: in my opinion Tim Witherspoon n Ray Mercer had very underrated jabs, when they used them.
2) Oscar n Ike Quartey. Both had great jabs and could dominate a fight with them. Oscars was a little faster in my opinion, but Ike's was stronger and came from an unorthodox angle. I really enjoyed their fight and thought that each guys biggest issue was the other guys jab.
3) Sweet Pea Whitaker: Great Jab and could control larger fighters with it, keep distance, set up combos, break the other guys rhythm, use it offensively or defensively...etc. Great jab.
4) Virgil Hill: Was a long time and multiple weight titlist with little more than a jab.
5) Floyd, Hop, James Toney. All use the jabs similarly in my opinion, but Floyd's is the fastest n best, especially his effectiveness with it to the body. Hop used it to perfection vs Tito and in my opinion only loses to Floyd because of speed n use to the body (jab). James used his less than the other two, but like everything else he does, is textbook perfect when he does use it. Well, everything except train n stay quiet, not too textbook at those things. I lump them together because all three have dominant jabs and use them effectively but often "blade" their bodies n prefer to slip n counter or lead with the right (Fkoyd n Hop) or left hook (Floyd).

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Originally Posted by zhubin

It's not a "sexy" punch. Booming rights, powerful hooks, etc. are the attention grabbers. But the great fighters and trainers know that it is the most important punch in boxing.

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That's what I was going to say "not sexy". I talk far too much about the dwindling number of fighters leading to less trainers leading to less good trainers leading to an erosion of skill. The jab, the staple of boxing, should not be a fading art. But we are certainly not in a great era for jabs.

Ali had great jab because it was like a whip and cut you if he connected with it and he had great balance and was able to hit you going away for points. Foreman's jab was like getting hit with a club. Roberto Duran had a great jab but the first one to really feel it was Esteban Dejesus after he knocked Duran down in the first round of their second fight, the announcers and I believe one of them was Cosell stated in disbelief that Roberto Duran had a great defense an complimented his use of the jab. Whitaker should be thankful he had a jab, he was small. I saw him entering the Madison Square Garden and I thought he was a kid that looked like Pernell Whitaker. Alexis Arguello had a stiff punishing jab. It wasn't the fastest but he hurt you with it. Larry Holmes threw straight thudding jabs and his left bicep would swell up as the rounds went by. Jose Napoles the former welterweight champ had a jab smooth as butter and you couldn't see them coming. Mantequilla was what they called him. John Stracy of England was overlooked but nice jab. Mike Tyson wasn't too bad either. By the way Stracy beat Napoles for the title.

Not the best but Junior Jones had a killer jab..

So many fighters with so many variations of jabs that are as random in style as the way you may knock on a frontdoor. Some are used by as a punch of preservation, a feeler and literal point scorer barrier. Or the hurt punch through a target shot..a power shot in and of itself that kicks in the door as a package deal with combos to follow and included...sniper jabbing like a fencer working cuts and painting a canvas. A solid stick jab to the midsection is great as a positioner. Guys like a later Camacho, Yuri Foreman, Hill, Winky, Manuel Medina or a Wlad were masters at winning full rounds with it. Guys like Quartey or return Foreman could punch your chin into the back of your neck with it. Jeff Chandler, Tapia, Finito would roll off hurting combinations. Watching a master jabber can be love or hate, all in application. The only thing that may be entertaining than a ko is watching a guy break a guy, literally minute to minute with a concise sharp accurate jab that leaves them looking silly and stunned.

Great thread. Wish I had time to play here more but summer is short.

You did say "seen"

Some great picks already like Ike, Tommy, Hagler, Winky etc.

Oscar. The guys jab was unreal. Power on the end. Maybe its because he was a converted southpaw.
Lewis. Fighters said that his jab was like getting hit by a mack truck and before the cob webs were shaken off the right came.
Liston
Benny Leonard. Not lots of footage on the guy buy Ray Arcel said he had the best jab he had ever seen and that was when he trained Duran. Here is a glimpse. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hrAs0Tyo5g
Louis. Not many hevs in history with such a sound jab
Morales
Loughran
Ray Leonard. Had a great jab and largely overlooked.
Jofre
R.Gonzalez
Wlad. Even if you hate the way he uses it.
Thomas. Incredibly fast for a hev
Gans. Maybe the father of the punch on this continent along with Langford and once again limited footage although available

Best I have ever seen?

Holmes (top jabber, ever) and Tommy Hearns.

Good jabbers- Lennox Lewis, Bruce Seldon and Wladimir Klit.

Good jabbers still fighting- Felex Sturm (the best in the business to day), Floyd Mayweather and Bermane Stiverne.