Can we talk defensive boxing for a bit?

I had a question though, what is it that Floyd does that separates him apart from all other possible defensive fighters, as the best one? Floyd is among the fastest boxers, defensive or not. Here's my list: TOP 10 MOST POWERFUL PUNCHES 1. Earnie Shavers 2. Julian Jackson 3. George Foreman 4. Mike Tyson & David Tua 5. Hagler, Hearns & Duran 6. Sugar Ray Robinson 7. Bob Foster & Stanley Ketchel 8. Manny Pacquiao & Prince Naseem Hamed 9. Rocky Marciano & Joe Louis 10. Wilfredo Gomez & Felix Trinidad TOP 10 FASTEST 1. Roy Jones Jr 2. Sugar Ray Leonard 3. Meldrick Taylor 4. Sugar Ray Robinson 5. Manny Pacquiao 6. Willie Pep 7. Pernell Whitaker 8. Floyd Mayweather Jr 9. Muhammad Ali 10. Hector Camacho Sr. & Sugar Shane Mosley TOP 10 BEST DEFENSE 1. Willie Pep 2. Nicolino Locche 4. Benny Leonard 4. Gene Tunney 5. Billy Conn & Eder Jofre 6. Alexis Arguello 7. Pernell Whitaker, & Floyd Mayweather Jr. 8. Bernard Hopkins & James Toney 9. Ricardo Lopez, Wilfred Benitez, & Juan Manuel Marquez 10. Muhammad Ali TOP 10 MOST RELENTLESS 1. Rocky Marciano & Jake LaMotta 2. Rocky Graziano & Sonny Liston 3. Mike Tyson & George Foreman 4. Battling Nelson 5. Harry Greb 6. Henry Armstrong 7. Carmen Basilio 8. Roberto Duran, Aaron Pryor & Manny Pacquiao 9. Erik Morales & Barrera 10. Arturo Gatti & Mickey Ward

Joshua Clottey and Arthur Abraham too.... they take punches but never really been severely hurt.... it might save them from brain damage too since they don't get hit flush as much as other fighters

The radar - wilfredo benitez

James Toney was a superb defensive fighter. I dont mean running, or "boxing with your feet first" I mean...he came to beat your teeth out, but usually accomplished it by making you miss. Go watch his fights and you will see the difference immediately between Him and the other "defensive fighters"

Thanks for the replies so far. I've recently been watching Bernard Hopkins and Pernell Whitaker fights. I heard of Winky Wright and James Toney but never watched any of their fights. Though I'm going to go check this out. I had a question though, what is it that Floyd does that separates him apart from all other possible defensive fighters, as the best one?

I know that Floyd Mayweather JR is a "defensive wizard" or "master of defense" and when I watch other fighters try to be defensive, they dont look half as good or efficient as he does. It's almost like Floyd Mayweather has armor around him thats practically impenetrable. Though, I can't seem to find other boxers who have AS good defensive skills if not better. Only other person I can come up with is Pernell Whitaker and he was really elusive more than reflective or blocking. Call me new but I'm here to learn. So who else can there be? What makes em stand out too? look for some footage of nicolino locce... i feel you will do some serious reconsiderations after watching...:)

Yeah, I forgot about James Toney. Incredible talent.

If you are new to the sport go youtube a fighter named Winky Wright hes a more current fighter with a completly different defensive style than Floyd but just as effective. One of the best defensive fighters I have ever seen. Also : Charley Burley Willie Pep James Toney A Prime Tyson Jersey Joe Herol Graham Benny Leonard Niccolino Locche Archie Moore Bernard Hopkins Hers a nice vid for you:

watch a joan guzman fight, dude was telepathic, incredible reflexes

how many rounds did Roy lose in his prime? almost none he carried a lot of guys, but still didn't do just enough to win he beat the daylights out of his opponents and clowned on them he frustrated guys with his countering speed once they were frozen, he'd start leading more and rip them up another defensive guy who still punished his opponents elusive but not boring defensive guy, very entertaining

Hopkins is a different style but he rarely gets hit cleanly. Flush. In most of his fights, I'd say opponents land 20 solid shots AT MOST. In his prime, you could count those shots on two hands. Whitaker is up there. You can look into Willie Pep as well. Old timer, but a great defensive fighter. Winky Wright in his prime was VERY hard to hit clean. Few fighters had a chance of landing in any major way facing him in his prime. When he was at his peak, you had virtually no chance of knocking him out. Chris Byrd could be very elusive in his prime. Joan Guzman as well. All I got for you right now.

Winky Wright at his best didn't have fancy defense eluding punches he just blocked, but he was great at it he could defend brilliantly and press the fight simultaneously hard to break through his guard hard to get between or under his elbows to the body Winky a great defensive fighter and pressure fighter in one very accurate with his offense too

it's all about finding the right opponents to make you look good. sometimes you miscalculate and get roughed up by a castillo or judah but you take note of that and you don't see floyd fighting southpaws or dangerous pressure fighters anymore. even the face first one dimensional brawler pac had much better defense against common opponents delahoya, hatton, and mosley and no one calls him a defensive wizard. if you don't choose your opponents wisely you will suffer the consequences, look bad and possibly lose.