Who is the greatest defensive fighter of all-time?

The boy doesnt get hit. And it aint because people arent trying. Call it Flomo or whatever the hell you want. This conversation should include Floyd. If someone had mentioned an old timer then you wouldnt have gotten mad huh? Floyd's name shouldnt strike that kinda emotion in you. Do you know why these old timers get more respect, look no further than the sheer volume of fights they've been through. Hell Toney and Wittaker are proof of this concept. Early in their careers they were untouchable but after time in the ring, age, reflexes and wear and tear broke down their defenses. All of these guys had their defenses tested far beyond what Mayweather ever will both in terms of opponent quality and quantity.

as much as i hate to say it - none of the above. . . floyd jr. is probably the best defensive fighter of all time. . . "era for era" it's probably pep since he basically had to figure out everything on his own without 100 years of pugilistic evolution as precedent. . . but the sport has just evolved so much, and floyd had the advantage of being GROOMED from the day he came out the womb to be a defensive wizard. . . i can count on one hand the amount of times floyd has been hit cleanly with a power punch. . . You could do the same for Pep or Locce if you only counted 41 of their fights.

Flomos make good lab specimens :jerk0ff9: I actually dislike Floyd greatly. But what he does in the ring defensively is nothing short of brilliant. A lot of boxing fans have a love fest with the guys in the past. Truth is if Pep were fighting today, he'd be labeled a runner. Locche, no doubt a hall of famer, fought a lot of C and D level opposition. He also used his elbows to create space much like Floyd does. His defense only appears to be so great at this stage of his career because he has refused to face the most credible threats to him. Instead, he fights older, out of prime guys, or guys who are out of their weight class. No Margarito, no Cotto, No Williams on his resume. All guys who were in their 20s when Floyd was in the welterweight division at its hottest moment. All guys who were fighting each other with no qualms about or that. This is one of the reasons i dislike the guy. I wish he fought those guys(maybe not williams because he honestly isnt that good). He had a chance to really cement his legacy and he chose to go through a bogus retirement. But really outside of this, the man fought a lot of good talent. He went through the superfeatherweight division and the lightweight division fighting the top guys. at 140 he was the underdog and people wanted to see him fight Gatti. He killed him and called out Cotto then. 147 people wanted to see him fight both Judah and then Baldomir. He did. And how soon we all forget that Ricky Hatton was actually the fight most of the boxing community wanted to see. He comes back from his bogus retirement, fights another welterweight ppl wanted to see matched up with him. He destroys Shane. Now he's taking on Victor Ortiz. impressive. I wish he'd fight Pacquaio, and i'm mad at him for the way he brought up the drug testing, not the drug testing itself. And to me that could kill the biggest ppv fight of all time. So yea i dislike the guy, but i cant hate the man's talent.

some one has to give duran his props.... he fought very agressivly but was very hard to hit cleanly.... he is one of the 10 best imo

willie pep was ahead of his time. nope.... the sport devolved a little.

Mayweather is prob the best defensive fighter ever. The fact that he's not on the poll is ludicrous. Not only does he have reflexes, he has technique and skill. He can bob and weave and block. I have never seen anyone and that includes Pernell who can just stand in front of his opponent, not duck or weave and litterally block every single punch his opponent throws. Mayweather is so good defensively its scary. There is a reason ppl on this board and the boxing fans around the world go absolutely crazy when Mayweather gets hit clean, its because it RARELY happens. His defense only appears to be so great at this stage of his career because he has refused to face the most credible threats to him. Instead, he fights older, out of prime guys, or guys who are out of their weight class. No Margarito, no Cotto, No Williams on his resume. All guys who were in their 20s when Floyd was in the welterweight division at its hottest moment. All guys who were fighting each other with no qualms about or that.

willie pep was ahead of his time.

Mayweather is prob the best defensive fighter ever. The fact that he's not on the poll is ludicrous. Not only does he have reflexes, he has technique and skill. He can bob and weave and block. I have never seen anyone and that includes Pernell who can just stand in front of his opponent, not duck or weave and litterally block every single punch his opponent throws. Mayweather is so good defensively its scary. There is a reason ppl on this board and the boxing fans around the world go absolutely crazy when Mayweather gets hit clean, its because it RARELY happens. Unfukkingbelieveable. Wow.

Mayweather is prob the best defensive fighter ever. The fact that he's not on the poll is ludicrous. Not only does he have reflexes, he has technique and skill. He can bob and weave and block. I have never seen anyone and that includes Pernell who can just stand in front of his opponent, not duck or weave and litterally block every single punch his opponent throws. Mayweather is so good defensively its scary. There is a reason ppl on this board and the boxing fans around the world go absolutely crazy when Mayweather gets hit clean, its because it RARELY happens.

What's more impressive? Someone like Floyd who just buttons up and doesn't throw many punches? Or someone like Whitaker or Pep who'd make you miss while still throwing at a high volume? I know the answer. Do you? Poet benetiz could do simmilar things I believe

The great Sam Langford had a very good defence along with tremendous skill and power. Jack Johnson refused him a title shot and Sam was middle weight!

I feel like Bernard Hopkins is one of the greatest defensive fighters. It's the reason hes still able to box as well as he does at age 46.

love how people who have no clue who will o the wisp is are voting for whitaker ot you couldnt hit that man in the ass with a handful of rice, pep hands down

Whitaker, probably. On a personal note I'd like to at least mention Herol Graham. Maybe he takes the title of best British defensive maestro. If we're talking about all-time all-time, shouldn't there be a few more than three people in the poll? How about Charley Burley, Young Griffo, Miguel Canto et al?

I would say in terms of solely defense I would say Pernell Whitaker. But Floyd Mayweather is clearly up there with him, Pep and Locche IMO.

.......am I crazy for thinking Sweet pea is winning this because a lot of people haven't seen any Willie Pep videos? The question was who was the Greatest defensive fighter of all time which is clearly Willie Pep i would say the amount of posters on this board that has seen more than a highlight of pep on youtube is around 5%. If not less.

i would have thought locche would get more votes.

.......am I crazy for thinking Sweet pea is winning this because a lot of people haven't seen any Willie Pep videos? The question was who was the Greatest defensive fighter of all time which is clearly Willie Pep

If Floyd defense was so good than a 16 month inactive Shane Mosley wouldn't of hit him harder in the chin than Pacquiao has ever been hit. And Shane couldn't land anything on Pac who had leg cramps. Pacquiaos defense > Gayweathers I'm adding this to my Check_hooks quotes you're such a boxing scholar Check_hooks

locche for me...i've seen a few videos of him and that guy can fight in a phone booth and still avoid getting hit. that short of a distance from his opponent and he was still using pure defensive techniques. the same situation with floyd and he was already grabbing his opponent or using his elbows instead of using his reflexes.