Best at controlling distance.

In this recent era Klitchko brothers Floyd Hopkins Winky Calzaghe Barrera

To create a distance you need to have a very good jab.

Ward (which helped him survive being dropped but also working his way back into the fight with Kovalev REGARDLESS if you thought he lost). Another guy hard to get inside on is Rigondeaux, he doesn't have long arms to stick out a jab but what he does have is amazing reflexes and quick feet. But the very best at it today...Erislandy Lara NO DOUBT! He is Masterful off of his backfoot, might be too good at it actually which is why he been arguably ROBBED twice vs Paul Williams and Canelo. But only fighter I've seen been able to get inside on Lara Consistently was Carlos Molina on Friday Night Fights years ago but Lara has improved since that fight which I thought he lost to Molina honestly. He also has a 74' Reach which is FREAKISHLY LONG for his size http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view4/20140710/5067570/lara-vs-angulo-o.gif https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/POl2BazwDmjNis4Pu-ac-WFWbhI=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2532226/Lara_Movement.0.gif https://media.giphy.com/media/ngcZNfvHIPseA/giphy.gif Normally I'd agree with ward being a master at controlling distance, but the kovalev fight wasn't the best example of that. It was a better example for kovalev actually, cuz he had more of the fight where he wanted it.

Offensively GGG is the best. He never smothers himself while he pins a guy in the ropes. Most pressure fighters always smother themselves but GGG always keeps a range where he can get a lot of leverage to swing those hammers. That's what separates him to other offensive fighters.

Golovkin controlled distance very well against Lemieux. Not the conventional distance fighter, but he does control distance in a way...he's good at getting close to his opponents when they don't want him there.

Ward (which helped him survive being dropped but also working his way back into the fight with Kovalev REGARDLESS if you thought he lost). Another guy hard to get inside on is Rigondeaux, he doesn't have long arms to stick out a jab but what he does have is amazing reflexes and quick feet. But the very best at it today...Erislandy Lara NO DOUBT! He is Masterful off of his backfoot, might be too good at it actually which is why he been arguably ROBBED twice vs Paul Williams and Canelo. But only fighter I've seen been able to get inside on Lara Consistently was Carlos Molina on Friday Night Fights years ago but Lara has improved since that fight which I thought he lost to Molina honestly. He also has a 74' Reach which is FREAKISHLY LONG for his size http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view4/20140710/5067570/lara-vs-angulo-o.gif https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/POl2BazwDmjNis4Pu-ac-WFWbhI=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2532226/Lara_Movement.0.gif https://media.giphy.com/media/ngcZNfvHIPseA/giphy.gif That's a great mention. His whole entire game is based on his ability to control distance. It's what allows him to remain a top fighter in this sport despite being one dimensional offensively and lacking inside fighting skills.

why would ward deserve a mention? he was at the end of kovalev's jab the entire fight. is this another lets give him credit for surviving type of thing? :lol1: :lol1: ok

I'd say Wlad, Rigo & Floyd

Inside fighting will happen Sakio Bika was able to get inside on Ward that is part of boxing you're NOT going to be able to keep EVERYBODY from getting inside. Overall and majority of his (Lara) fights he control distance VERY WELL! Molina got inside on him and yes Angulo pressured him to fight and dropped him a couple of times. But I can list you way more fights where he controlled distance like the Williams fight, Trout fight and others Good points, I just thought that was an unusual occurrence since Lara is great at controlling distance as you stated.

Cave-man Angulo got inside quite easily and was getting in that arse. Sure, that tactic caused him a butt whooping but he was getting inside as he pleased. Inside fighting will happen Sakio Bika was able to get inside on Ward that is part of boxing you're NOT going to be able to keep EVERYBODY from getting inside. Overall and majority of his (Lara) fights he control distance VERY WELL! Molina got inside on him and yes Angulo pressured him to fight and dropped him a couple of times. But I can list you way more fights where he controlled distance like the Williams fight, Trout fight and others

Ward (which helped him survive being dropped but also working his way back into the fight with Kovalev REGARDLESS if you thought he lost). Another guy hard to get inside on is Rigondeaux, he doesn't have long arms to stick out a jab but what he does have is amazing reflexes and quick feet. But the very best at it today...Erislandy Lara NO DOUBT! He is Masterful off of his backfoot, might be too good at it actually which is why he been arguably ROBBED twice vs Paul Williams and Canelo. But only fighter I've seen been able to get inside on Lara Consistently was Carlos Molina on Friday Night Fights years ago but Lara has improved since that fight which I thought he lost to Molina honestly. He also has a 74' Reach which is FREAKISHLY LONG for his size http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view4/20140710/5067570/lara-vs-angulo-o.gif https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/POl2BazwDmjNis4Pu-ac-WFWbhI=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2532226/Lara_Movement.0.gif https://media.giphy.com/media/ngcZNfvHIPseA/giphy.gif Cave-man Angulo got inside quite easily and was getting in that arse. Sure, that tactic caused him a butt whooping but he was getting inside as he pleased.

williams fight was a robberty, but the canelo fight was not only not a robbery, it was a situation where a guy wasn't able to control distance well in spite of his physical advantages. if you thought he won, and there's an argument there, you still can't convince me that you thought he won by a lot. he left that fight awful close in spite of the fact taht he was a more accurate, faster fighter. lara's not a good ring general. being a ring general is a 12 round affair, and he's never shown to have a true professional command of the ring over 12. he's just a very good counterpuncher and front runner. fights with molina, angulo, and even freddie hernandez will show you what it looks like when lara's ring command comes up short. he ends up on the ropes where he can be made to take punishment. We're talking strictly about CONTROLLING DISTANCE! Controlling Distance is when a guy is hard to corner, hard to get inside on while living space between him and his opponent to still get off his punches so we can agree to disagree I guess I think Lara does well maintaining distance and SPACING. Where Lara struggles at is on the INSIDE, he doesn't have a inside game at all which is why I thought Molina beat him and also why Angulo gave him so much trouble. He doesn't have much to his game besides the Back Foot Fighting, I wish he had a better inside game and fought in the pocket more. Because he doesn't fight in the Pocket enough is why he will likely ALWAYS lose Decisions in Big FIGHTS!

Ward (which helped him survive being dropped but also working his way back into the fight with Kovalev REGARDLESS if you thought he lost). Another guy hard to get inside on is Rigondeaux, he doesn't have long arms to stick out a jab but what he does have is amazing reflexes and quick feet. But the very best at it today...Erislandy Lara NO DOUBT! He is Masterful off of his backfoot, might be too good at it actually which is why he been arguably ROBBED twice vs Paul Williams and Canelo. But only fighter I've seen been able to get inside on Lara Consistently was Carlos Molina on Friday Night Fights years ago but Lara has improved since that fight which I thought he lost to Molina honestly. He also has a 74' Reach which is FREAKISHLY LONG for his size http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view4/20140710/5067570/lara-vs-angulo-o.gif https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/POl2BazwDmjNis4Pu-ac-WFWbhI=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2532226/Lara_Movement.0.gif https://media.giphy.com/media/ngcZNfvHIPseA/giphy.gif williams fight was a robberty, but the canelo fight was not only not a robbery, it was a situation where a guy wasn't able to control distance well in spite of his physical advantages. if you thought he won, and there's an argument there, you still can't convince me that you thought he won by a lot. he left that fight awful close in spite of the fact taht he was a more accurate, faster fighter. lara's not a good ring general. being a ring general is a 12 round affair, and he's never shown to have a true professional command of the ring over 12. he's just a very good counterpuncher and front runner. fights with molina, angulo, and even freddie hernandez will show you what it looks like when lara's ring command comes up short. he ends up on the ropes where he can be made to take punishment.

you'll get a lot of the standard answers. tyson for coming forward but not getting smothered duran for cutting off the ring, but also having hte ability to create angles and negate an opponent's offense and land his own floyd mayweather with his timing and accuracy carlos monzon with his pace setting and his jab joe frazier cutting off the ring and taking your legs away tommy hearns with his jab and right hand behind it. joe louis keeping you exactly where he needed you to be in order to drop the right hand. these guys will probably get nods from other guys in the thread, and they should. i want to mention a very underrated ring general that probably won't get a nod in the thread: vitali klitschko. used his height not only to move, but also to position for later offense and to be able to stay "tall" and above his opponent's ability to punch hard, or sometimes even land. underrated fighter in general. had a bad career for a very good fighter.

Ward (which helped him survive being dropped but also working his way back into the fight with Kovalev REGARDLESS if you thought he lost). Another guy hard to get inside on is Rigondeaux, he doesn't have long arms to stick out a jab but what he does have is amazing reflexes and quick feet. But the very best at it today...Erislandy Lara NO DOUBT! He is Masterful off of his backfoot, might be too good at it actually which is why he been arguably ROBBED twice vs Paul Williams and Canelo. But only fighter I've seen been able to get inside on Lara Consistently was Carlos Molina on Friday Night Fights years ago but Lara has improved since that fight which I thought he lost to Molina honestly. He also has a 74' Reach which is FREAKISHLY LONG for his size http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view4/20140710/5067570/lara-vs-angulo-o.gif https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/POl2BazwDmjNis4Pu-ac-WFWbhI=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/2532226/Lara_Movement.0.gif https://media.giphy.com/media/ngcZNfvHIPseA/giphy.gif

Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Kiltschko, Vitaili Kiltschko..

Mikey garcia controlled distant perfect in his last fight against the southpaw dont no his name

oh right ward neutralized kov by sticking his face repeatedly into kov's jab. no they didnt. Ward always eats a lot of jabs, even against Barrera. Having said that, per stats, he outjabbed Kovalev. But all of that is besides the point. The majority of the fight was fought on the inside. That's Ward's strength, which means he controlled the distance.

Fury is one fight where Wlad didn't look like himself. In the rest of them, he was a master at controlling the distance. Kovalev did not neutralize Ward, it was the other way around. Kov likes to fight at a distance, and for the majority of the fight they fought on the inside, which means Ward played his game and controlled the distance. oh right ward neutralized kov by sticking his face repeatedly into kov's jab. no they didnt.

No such thing as best at controlling distance. If you have an opponent like Lamont Peterson, prepare to fight on the inside all night long.