Who is the most skilled fighter of all time?

Gene Tunney has got to be mentioned. Right now James Toney is a great technician.

No he's not. We can argue about that, but he has beaten your all time most skilled fighter! :p

Wilfredo Benitez in his prime was the most skilled fighter of all time. He was so fast, and was the best pure boxer of all time. He could make you miss like no one I've ever seen. He was fast as hell.

That's nice.

Hey!!! I'm not racist.I just frefer whites!

Forgot to say: fight effectively from both the orthodox and the Southpaw stance. Nobody did it better than he.... Most guys do it out of desperation, & never look comfortable or natural. Hagler did it smoothly, intelligently......& he looked like either stance was natural for him. In fact, his finishing blow was usually a RIGHT CROSS.

Haglers defense became sustpect by choice: In the beginning of his career hagler was an effective boxer-boxer. He fought mostly in his reverse gear, making angles and counter punched. Almost only came forward when the other guy was in trouble. Roughly from the Minter fight on (after the draw against Antuofermo) Hagler became in general more of a pressure fighter. This is the style he mostly used during his middleweight title reign (and at the end of his career he had by choice (almost) become an effective slugger, and as a result of this style he was getting hit more often). Having been effective in both the extreme opposite boxing styles, and also using and being effective with ALL the different punches and mixing them up in his combinations, having good power, good speed, good defense, great chin and heart….and the thing I might have forgotten to name here for an all round fighter make: Hagler one of the best ALL ROUND fighters in my book. Forgot to say: fight effectively from both the orthodox and the Southpaw stance.

Haglers defense became sustpect by choice: In the beginning of his career hagler was an effective boxer-boxer. He fought mostly in his reverse gear, making angles and counter punched. Almost only came forward when the other guy was in trouble. Roughly from the Minter fight on (after the draw against Antuofermo) Hagler became in general more of a pressure fighter. This is the style he mostly used during his middleweight title reign (and at the end of his career he had by choice (almost) become an effective slugger, and as a result of this style he was getting hit more often). Having been effective in both the extreme opposite boxing styles, and also using and being effective with ALL the different punches and mixing them up in his combinations, having good power, good speed, good defense, great chin and heart….and the thing I might have forgotten to name here for an all round fighter make: Hagler one of the best ALL ROUND fighters in my book. Hagler was still quite the boxer after the Minter fight. He sliced & diced Hamsho brilliantly in their first fight. His best performance was against Tony Sibson....& he followed that up with a similar performance against Scypion. Hagler was a terrific technician, a great fighter, & my favorite fighter ever. But I keep it objective enough to realize he had just a few too many lapses, in fights & in his style, to keep me from putting him with the ABSOLUTE best.

Hagler was highly skilled, no doubt. He threw great combos behind one of the best jabs in boxing history. He was an excellent counterpuncher. His defense became suspect during prolonged exchanges. In general....he was a terrific technician....but I wouldn't say he's one of the very best ever. Haglers defense became sustpect by choice: In the beginning of his career hagler was an effective boxer-boxer. He fought mostly in his reverse gear, making angles and counter punched. Almost only came forward when the other guy was in trouble. Roughly from the Minter fight on (after the draw against Antuofermo) Hagler became in general more of a pressure fighter. This is the style he mostly used during his middleweight title reign (and at the end of his career he had by choice (almost) become an effective slugger, and as a result of this style he was getting hit more often). Having been effective in both the extreme opposite boxing styles, and also using and being effective with ALL the different punches and mixing them up in his combinations, having good power, good speed, good defense, great chin and heart….and the thing I might have forgotten to name here for an all round fighter make: Hagler one of the best ALL ROUND fighters in my book.

i can't beleive no one thinks of JCC the man was great all around. i would also add Holmes for HW, one day James Toney will be on that list

The most skilled fighter of all time p4p would have to be Sugar Ray Robinson I believe. He had it all! Among the heavyweights it would be Joe Louis.

Best skilled boxer of all time I would say was Sugar Ray Robinson. The man could do just about everything.

among the most skilled figthers that i have actually seen figthing are ALI and SGL ...

what about my boy ray leonard

Great combos YES but great all around fighter hell no!

Hagler was highly skilled, no doubt. He threw great combos behind one of the best jabs in boxing history. He was an excellent counterpuncher. His defense became suspect during prolonged exchanges. In general....he was a terrific technician....but I wouldn't say he's one of the very best ever.

Marvin Hagler is one of the best all round boxers. No he's not.

I have not seen the all time boxers (also it hard to compare Heavy Weights with Light Weights) just want to add that: Marvin Hagler is one of the best all round boxers.

When Louis made Schmeling scream with that bodyshot....damn. And poor Jimmy Braddock....

The most skilled offensive fighter of all time, is Joe Louis. He threw every punch perfectly, & with deadly power. He had a jolting jab, put his shots together perfectly to the body & head. His punches were super-short, accurate. He's as great a finisher as there ever was in the sport. Oh yeah.....you are correct. I saw alot of Louis thanks to this documentary my sister bought me for Christmas. I was just thinking about Hearns ability to fire devastating shots from long range.