Reflexes a-side, what is the best defence

[Taeth]

I think Pep was just lucky there wasn't any really quick fighters in his era for him to face because like Pernell Whitaker or Roy Jones Jr. their styles are so daring and open that somebody with even close to the same speed would give them hell. Even look at Montell Griffin who used an awkward style to keep Roy off balance.

I don't think there's much in common between Roy and Pernell.
Roy held his hands low, didn't really jab, he was extremely unorthodox.
Pernell was a textbook technical fighter. He could do flashy stuff too and showboat, but he was much more textbook than Roy.

Roy Jabbed enough. And Pernell is as far from a technical fighter as Graziano. He did throw good punches, but his defense style where he would go low and he would usually have his hands at his chest where Roy often had his. Anyways Pernell's defensive style was as far from orthodox as they came, and I doubt a handful of fighters could have foughten with his style.

I'm sure that most fighters couldn't have fought using Pernell's style.
My point was that Pernell's style didn't have much in common with Jones'.

All I said was both their styles have their hands down, and they are daring thats it. THey don't move around the ring like Leonard but stand in front of the opponent and use their reflexes to dodge and counter opponents. At points like Roy vs. Toney or Pernell vs. Chavez they have run, but not really. Mayweather could also be put in this category, but like I said he blocks more shots with his arms than either of them.