Soft punchers that were successful

[Chino]

After watching Paulie get beat up last weekend I was wondering how challenging it would be for a boxer to not have a spark in his punches. Sure, its not all about brute force but you do need to have a pop in your punches, it helps wonders.

What soft punchers out there are Hall of Famers or had success (from past and present)?

The first ones that come to mind is Pernell Whitaker and Macho Camacho.

[Zilla]

From what little I know of Whitaker he was a soft puncher by choice. When he wanted to hit hard, he did.

I think people would have said Mayweather but in his more recent fights we've seen this clearly isn't the case.

[Nameless]

Considered generally as one of the top 3 P4P of all time, Gugliemo Papaleo also known as Willy Pep or Will o The Wisp. He was very quick and Floyd's defense often seems pale in compared to the elusiveness of Pep (hence the Will O the Wisp). He won a round on every 3 judges Card against Jackie Graves without throwing a single punch.... Graves never touched him despite throwing countless of shots. The most beautiful is that he did call the shot before the round to some journalists. The guy was fast and elusive, not much power though but he did compensate by being happy to touch you and then vanish. If you have no power, you gotta be quick and very elusive. The pep was

[CFH]

Calzaghe in the later stages of his career.

[Hunter]

Calzaghe in the later stages of his career.

I disagree with this....I think Joe hit harder than most people think.

He had roy jones face a mess, Hopkins turned to acting and running like a girl, and Joe hurt Mikkel with a body shot. Joe would brawl and come right at you, he was no defensive master like most light punchers, and if he couldnt punch people would have walked through and KO'd his ass.

[purtyboy]

Ivan Calderon

[No Contest]

Paul Spadafora, Emile Griffith

[ryanman]

Calzaghe in the later stages of his career.

I disagree with this....I think Joe hit harder than most people think.

He had roy jones face a mess, Hopkins turned to acting and running like a girl, and Joe hurt Mikkel with a body shot. Joe would brawl and come right at you, he was no defensive master like most light punchers, and if he couldnt punch people would have walked through and KO'd his ass.

Agree with both of you to some extent. For sure Calzaghe hit WAY harder earlier in his career, obviously his hands still put paid to that. But I think in the latter stages of his career he COULD still pop a bit if he wanted to/when he choose to, but a combination of a mental block (due to hands) and thought out decision to not throw bombs (also due to hands) meant he usually didn't. He pretty much said so - after the Hopkins fight he said he probably had gone too far with just throwing pitter pats and would have to put more into the shots against Roy Jones, and I think this was reflected in the fights.

Also, although he always had a tendancy to slap a bit this became a lot worse following hand problems. I'm sure that any of you that have had a painful hand injury can identify with the problem - however much you want to throw a proper punch with full power (and are willing to take the associated pain) you brain just stops you from doing it - and of course over time this becomes ingrained.

[jon09]

Willie Pep
The current version of Bernard Hopkins

[Dark Lord Al]

Chris Byrd , he couldnt hit like a HW , but was successful.

Earnie Shavers got by on skill even though he lacked power

[KKisser]

Chris Byrd , he couldnt hit like a HW , but was successful.

Earnie Shavers got by on skill even though he lacked power

i didn't get the joke with shavers.

[Violent Demise]

Chris Byrd , he couldnt hit like a HW , but was successful.

Earnie Shavers got by on skill even though he lacked power

i didn't get the joke with shavers.

[KKisser]

Chris Byrd , he couldnt hit like a HW , but was successful.

Earnie Shavers got by on skill even though he lacked power

i didn't get the joke with shavers.

yeah, like everybody knows.

[Jody Lane]

chris byrd , he couldnt hit like a hw , but was successful.

earnie shavers got by on skill even though he lacked power

al please quit drinking the bong water--that stuff will really get you high and scramble your brain cells!!!!!

[johnmaff36]

Considered generally as one of the top 3 P4P of all time, Gugliemo Papaleo also known as Willy Pep or Will o The Wisp. He was very quick and Floyd's defense often seems pale in compared to the elusiveness of Pep (hence the Will O the Wisp). He won a round on every 3 judges Card against Jackie Graves without throwing a single punch.... Graves never touched him despite throwing countless of shots. The most beautiful is that he did call the shot before the round to some journalists. The guy was fast and elusive, not much power though but he did compensate by being happy to touch you and then vanish. If you have no power, you gotta be quick and very elusive. The pep was

Thats heresay about winning the round without throwing a punch. At best, opinion is divided. But your 100% right in calling Pep. What a boxer!