Art of the Jab..

[imp]

What is the Jab for?

Who used it the best in the past and who does it the best in the present?

Jab is a massive part of boxing..we should applaud it and not forget it.

[Master]

Ali, Holmes, Liston, Louis, and Wlad had the best for heavyweight champions.

From point scoring to setting up big combinations.

[imp]

Wlad can still come back now and win another belt.

[Master]

Wlad can still come back now and win another belt.

If he could he would but he can't and so he won't.

I was hoping he would have taken on Wilder beat him and tried to unify against AJ.

[imp]

He could come back easy..he just doesn’t need to..

[Master]

He could come back easy..he just doesn’t need to..

All roads go back to AJ and at his best that he could be for his age he could not beat AJ.

Joshua will be better with the experience and Wlad's chance is realistically gone.

[mikeeod]

So many ways to break this down and answer... Some initial thoughts:

Best Power Jabs:
1. Liston
2. Foreman
3. GGG
4. Ike Quartey
5. Larry Holmes

Best all around jabs:
1. Larry Holmes
2. Oscar
3. Pernell Whitaker
4. Benitez
5. Finito Lopez

Classiest jabs
1. Roger Mayweather
2. Junior Jones
3. Kennedy McKinney
4. Macho Camacho
5. Floyd Mayweather

Underachievers with beautiful jabs
1. Michael Moorer
2. Jermain Taylor
3. Virgil Hill
4. Bruce Seldon
5. Mark Breland

Sporadic users of formidable jabs
1. Floyd Mayweather
2. Roy Jones jr
3. BHop
4. Tito Trinidad
5. Gabe Ruelas

Dominant jabbers:
1. Lennox Lewis
2. Wlad
3. Barrera
4. Tommy Hearns
5. Marvin Hagler

Workman-like jabs
1. Glenn Johnson
2. Erik Morales
3. JC Superstar
4. Hasim Rahman
5. Mickey Ward

The above were in no particular order, and the following fighters with great jabs are in no particular order either:
Ali, Buster Douglas, Riddick Bowe, Herbie Hide, Kid Gavilán, Carlos Monzon, Emille Griffith, Ray Leonard, Willie Pep, Terry Norris, Winky Wright, Fernando Vargas, JMM, Raph Marquez, Izzy Vasquez, and Johnny Tapia.

[Master]

You know who you have missed from that list of great jabbers?

Mike McCallum. The bodysnatcher had a beauty of a jab which could do all the things you described. His jab was truly artistic.

[Memphis]

I wish ICB was here so he could tell us how he had a chat once with Larry Holmes about jabbing. It's got to be like a whip you know.

[El Kabong]

There are different uses for the jab scoring points, setting up combinations, controlling distance, temporarily blinding an opponent so you can move or attack. The BEST jabs can do damage by themselves without the help of the right cross coming right behind it.


Holmes, Lewis, Wlad, Hearns, Liston all had great jabs for doing damage, they controlled the pace and distance of the fights they won, and they all set up their attacks behind that jab.



Floyd Patterson, Mike Tyson, and Rocky Marciano on the other hand would jab their way in and let loose after landing the jab. Their jabs were overshadowed by the power they had in hooks and crosses, but all of them when they were winning landed good solid jabs to work inside or just to move a defense around as their opponents feared everything other than the jab from them so they would leave the front door open and BOOM a hard jab sends their opponents into immediate damage control and the shock of landing clean could stagger the opponents before the big punches land.

You can also use a lazy jab to invite or incite a right cross....you see guys like Ali, RJJ, Floyd will shoot the jab and drop the hand to invite their opponent to attack them so they can counter, that too is a way to use the jab.


There are many ways to utilize the jab effectively smart fighters will keep their opponent guessing as to how they'll use it....Wlad was amazing at that and I don't just say it because I'm a big fan of his I say it because 100% of everyone knew the jab was coming, but you didn't know when it was going to turn over into a powerful hook OR be used as a big bear paw to swat the guard down and land the big right cross....also there's no telling will it be a quick jab or a jab with force will it be doubled or tripled up but 100% of everyone knew the jab was coming.....they just didn't know how or what was behind it and THAT my friends is the complete mastery of a punch as it was tactical, powerful, and seemingly unstoppable.

[Master]

May as well close the thread now.

[Memphis]

Have you not got a link to an msn article on jabbing?

[mikeeod]

You know who you have missed from that list of great jabbers?

Mike McCallum. The bodysnatcher had a beauty of a jab which could do all the things you described. His jab was truly artistic.

Body Snatcher is a great call, and DEFINITELY NOT the only one I missed. There are just too many examples of fighters with great jabs. McCallum is one of my favorite fighters ever, and what I would consider a true pro and complete fighter. I miss the 80s and 90s...

[Master]

You know who you have missed from that list of great jabbers?

Mike McCallum. The bodysnatcher had a beauty of a jab which could do all the things you described. His jab was truly artistic.

Body Snatcher is a great call, and DEFINITELY NOT the only one I missed. There are just too many examples of fighters with great jabs. McCallum is one of my favorite fighters ever, and what I would consider a true pro and complete fighter. I miss the 80s and 90s...

It was a great list and Sambu Kalambay had a good one. You nailed the best ones there.

[Yuzo]

well, it gives you something to do while you wait around for something to come in. a right hand. a left hook. something. anything. you throw it just short, so he cant counter it. he cant counter you, so he has to lead. so thats what you wait for. maybe you can get him to run into a big counter, or maybe he knows better, and will throw something at you just to get you to counter so he can counter your counter. may luck be with you. but its good to be able to have something to do in the mean time.