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

[Beanflicker]

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.

Best example of that

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

[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.

Best example of that

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

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

[Beanflicker]

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

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

[Spicoli]

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.

[IamInuit]

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.
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

[ykdadamaja]

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.

[jon09]

Holmes and Quartey come to mind off the get go. Mayweather has 1 of the best jabs currently and the late Vernon Forrest had a decent 1 also.

[holmcall]

Holmes had the best I have ever seen. GGG has a fine one now but so does George Groves.

[Primo Carnera]

Holmes was renowned for his jab, Wlad's is pretty good , but Tommy Hearns's jab was a serious weapon. Awesome power and spite in it with ridiculously long reach.

[Beanz]

[QUOTE=Primo Carnera;1249677]Holmes was renowned for his jab, Wlad's is pretty good , but Tommy Hearns's jab was a serious weapon. Awesome power and spite in it with ridiculously long reach.[/QUOTE

I agree Hearns threw it like a steam driven piston and it kept everyone he faced honest. Hagler threw his with purpose and venom too. Joe Louis was a masterful operator and so much of what he did started with that great jab. Currently ? Wlad's has been pretty devastating and useful for him more so even than Lewis. It is no coincidence that Hearns,Lewis and Wlad had the privilege of learning how to throw one properly under Manny Steward.

[beenKOed]

The recent Donaire fight reminded me just how versatile the jab is. It's the perfect punch to keep a bruised and tender cheek swelling, a damaged eye swelling, a cut open and bleeding into the eye, and of course the bleeding, stinging nose screaming for relief.
Oh yeah, boxing is the sweet science!

[Beanflicker]

Cheap plugging motherfucker

[Vendettos]

Best currently: I'd say Floyd for the sheer pace and effectiveness.

Notable mention: Froch when it's working.

Best ever: I can't see many better than Larry Holmes.

[Beanflicker]

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

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.

[Beanflicker]

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