Rate Mayweather's defense (All Time)

Pernell was more flashy, without a doubt. But that cockiness also caused him to get dropped over 10 times throughout his career. In terms of effectiveness, Mayweather > Whitaker. Whitaker also got hit a lot more. I don't think these two facts are even debatable. You can't just say because Whitaker has been dropped this makes Mayweather's defence better. Alot of Whitaker's knockdown's (not all) but some were due to being off balance and his feet getting muddled. I also belive due to Whitaker's abuse with alcohol and drugs, this contributed to at time's his poor punch resistance, which it's been proven Alcohol and drug abuse effects your punch resistance. Mayweather has the better chin/punch resistance than Whitaker, you don't think Mayweather had defended every punch, he has been hit a good few times, but stayed up. So just because Mayweather's punch resistance was better than Whitaker's dosen't mean Mayweather had the better defence. Jackie Graves decked Willie Pep 2 times in their bout in 1946.Nicolino Locche has been hurt and buckled. Wilfred Benitez was decked also alot of times in his career. So this is a prime example just because these defensive specalist's get hurt or dropped the odd time, it dosen't mean there defence should be questioned, as it can happen to the best of fighters.

I really like the highlight against Oscar at 1:13. He rolls and counters 2 rights from Oscar and on the second one he lands a great right hand in return. That clip to me is classic Mayweather. Lampley and Steward didn't notice it at the time. They noticed it, believe me.. Lampley is too blinded by bias when it comes to Delahoya and other fighters he likes. Not only that, but he is one of the worst blow by blow commentators I've ever seen. He'll call punches that clearly don't land. Stewart is just a yes man who always has an agenda when he calls fights. All three of them(including the usually good Merchant) did a terrible job calling that fight because they were so biased towards Delahoya.

I picked top 10 to be safe... he might be top 3 though. Pep, Whitaker are 1 and 2 (not saying which is which). Loche, Wright (say what you want, but he blocked 19 consecutive punches in combination by Mosley without throwing anything back in round 9 of the rematch... probably my favorite boxing highlight ever), Mayweather, Jones Jr. (who isn't often mentioned here, but... really, did he get hit in his prime? Not that I can recall) should all be mentioned for the area below the top two. Roy got hit quite a lot in some of his fights (in his prime) relatively speaking. I wouldn't rate him as one of the greatest defensive artists. I remember Griffin, Castro, Hopkins, Harding, McCallum landing a fair amount of punches on him although I should probably rewatch those fights to make sure of it.

Pernell was more flashy, without a doubt. But that cockiness also caused him to get dropped over 10 times throughout his career. In terms of effectiveness, Mayweather > Whitaker. Whitaker also got hit a lot more. I don't think these two facts are even debatable. Whitaker's knockdowns happened later in his career. Mayweather also has been bloodied and marked more than Whitaker ever was.Prime Whitaker was NEVER hit as much as Mayweather was against Emanuel Burton and Demarcus Coley. That's not debatable.

First of all, his elbow isn't anywhere near Hatton's throat. Second of all, that looks like he's putting his forearm between him and a guy who's trying to make out with him, which you are allowed to do. And finally, name a single fighter that hasn't held. Jim Jeffries has the IQ of a pile if shit. So his distortion of facts is not shocking.

First of all, his elbow isn't anywhere near Hatton's throat. Second of all, that looks like he's putting his forearm between him and a guy who's trying to make out with him, which you are allowed to do. And finally, name a single fighter that hasn't held. Jim Jeffries has the IQ of a pile if shit. So his distortion of faces is not shocking.

top 3 next to pep and sweat pea IMO. I wouldn't even try to put them in order, floyd can be 1st, 2nd or 3rd when compared to those 2 fighters.

Top 3 Pep Whitaker Floyd

I picked top 10 to be safe... he might be top 3 though. Pep, Whitaker are 1 and 2 (not saying which is which). Loche, Wright (say what you want, but he blocked 19 consecutive punches in combination by Mosley without throwing anything back in round 9 of the rematch... probably my favorite boxing highlight ever), Mayweather, Jones Jr. (who isn't often mentioned here, but... really, did he get hit in his prime? Not that I can recall) should all be mentioned for the area below the top two.

I really like the highlight against Oscar at 1:13. He rolls and counters 2 rights from Oscar and on the second one he lands a great right hand in return. That clip to me is classic Mayweather. Lampley and Steward didn't notice it at the time.

Pernell Whitaker Pernell was more flashy, without a doubt. But that cockiness also caused him to get dropped over 10 times throughout his career. In terms of effectiveness, Mayweather > Whitaker. Whitaker also got hit a lot more. I don't think these two facts are even debatable.

the man just flat out does not get hit. did Hatton land one clean punch on him? Castillo landed less than 10, and Corrales didn't land anything significant. I don't think Gatti landed more than 5-6 flicking jabs. He's flat out the best defensive fighter I've ever seen, not sure about all time but certainly the last 20 years

Pernell Whitaker

Footage of Willie Pep: Nicolino Locche: I find it really tough to rate one's defense so I'll just say that Mayweather's belongs among the best. I can say that Willie Pep was the best defensive fighter there ever was because he achieved the most with a defensive style of fighting. I noticed you missed out a video showing Whitaker's defensive skills, here's a video showing just how good of a defensive fighter Whitaker is

1.Sweet Pea 2.Pep. 3.Benitez Winky, Hop, Toney, calderon can definitely be in there too

top 10 is sensible, but top 3 is just downright outrageous. Its not best boxer of all time. its defense. Top 3 is fine. You dont find many defensive fighters on the level of Mayweather. Undefeated, had about 2 cuts ever, rarely hit flush. Stands in the pocket and doesn't get hit flush. That says.... top 3. its just opinion though. so im not doggin you or anything.

top 10 is sensible, but top 3 is just downright outrageous.

To say with certainty that "Willie Pep is the best defensive fighter there ever was because he achieved the most with a defensive style of fighting", is flawed reasoning and inaccurate on a holistic level of a complex sport. You probably did not understand what I meant. I didn't say that Pep had the greatest defense because I find it impossible to measure how great one's defense is compared to another great defensive artist. All of them know the moves and rarely get hit cleanly. What I meant was that since Pep achieved the most out of the lot with his abilities, I'd have to rate him as the greatest defensive fighter of all time. The fighters whom I rate above him are offensive fighters such as Robinson, Armstrong, Greb who did not depend on their defensive ability. Pep achieved the most compared to Whitaker, Mayweather, Locche, Benitez whom I think of as defensive fighters which is why I say that Pep was the greatest defensive fighter of all time. This doesn't necessarily mean he had the greatest defense, it only means that he achieved the most out of them with what he had.

I think Mayweather's defense is arguably the best. If not the definately top 3. The only person I can think of (and yes I watched those videos a couple of posts up), is Pernell Whitaker. Even with that said, I think Whitaker has taken alot more damage in his career then Mayweather did. 1a) Whitaker 1b) Mayweather JR any order.

Yes. I've seen every single one of those youtube videos you posted. Watching various super low quality youtube videos is not the best of mediums when watching a fighter that fought almost 70 years ago. I guess so. I've seen whatever film there is of Willie Pep in good quality and I can say that he is up there as far as defensive ability goes. Locche I've seen less of but I know that there is more film of him out there which I'm always looking for. From what I've seen he cannot be counted in discussions such as this. Great defensive artist who was not the most gifted boxer physically which makes his performances all the more impressive. Dominated a hall of famer like Kid Pambele for 15 rounds and didn't lose a round on the judges' scorecards. That is impressive.