Best Defensive Fighter Ever

[The Raging Bull]

Props to Buddy for mentioning Locche, who may have put on the very best defensive exhibition I've ever seen from any fighter in history in his thorough dismantling of Fuji to take his 140 pound title.

Yogi's back

How are things mate?

[CletusVanDamme]

I have never seen films of his fights but it is said that the defensive skills of Gypsy Joe Harris were spectacular as well. He is the only non world champion or non heavyweight to ever appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated. He also fought most of his career with one working eye.

[QueensburyRules]

L

tyson. his defense was his offense also.

- -With his HOF team of Cus and Jacobs, he was about as untouchable as it gets all while pummeling the other guy into silly putty.

Wlad in his record setting dominant run was stylistically different with the same result.

[Rusty Tromboni]

L

- -With his HOF team of Cus and Jacobs, he was about as untouchable as it gets all while pummeling the other guy into silly putty.

Wlad in his record setting dominant run was stylistically different with the same result.

He got hit often enough. But yeah, it was very hard to land clean on him. And almost impossible to do it consistently.

I'd say his head movement was even better than Dempsey's.

[them_apples]

Ok but if we are talking defense that means who gets hit the least. Sweet pea was slick and counter punched well while making everyone miss, but he still got hit because he fought guys in the pocket.

George Benton, same deal. Really slick considering he stood right in front of you for sure.

Duran also gets a nod considering his violent in your face style, he rarely got hit flush. He used lots of old tricks like head placement near his oponents and rolling, feints to make his oponents weary of throwing. Hagler and Leonard both said he was incredibly hard to hit.

Roy Jones at his peak actually barely got hit. He wasn't making guys miss like Pea, but his legs and speed kept him out of trouble, much like A prime Ali.

Mayweather is the only one who made a career out of defense. From a skill standpoint he doesn't seem as good as pea, Duran or even a Toney. But Mayweather used every facet of defense, his legs, headmovement and rarely threw more than one punch at a time. So in that sense Mayweather is the hardest to hit. I mean, in his era I suppose. He mighta got koed in another era.

[Rusty Tromboni]

Ok but if we are talking defense that means who gets hit the least. Sweet pea was slick and counter punched well while making everyone miss, but he still got hit because he fought guys in the pocket.

George Benton, same deal. Really slick considering he stood right in front of you for sure.

Duran also gets a nod considering his violent in your face style, he rarely got hit flush. He used lots of old tricks like head placement near his oponents and rolling, feints to make his oponents weary of throwing. Hagler and Leonard both said he was incredibly hard to hit.

Roy Jones at his peak actually barely got hit. He wasn't making guys miss like Pea, but his legs and speed kept him out of trouble, much like A prime Ali.

Mayweather is the only one who made a career out of defense. From a skill standpoint he doesn't seem as good as pea, Duran or even a Toney. But Mayweather used every facet of defense, his legs, headmovement and rarely threw more than one punch at a time. So in that sense Mayweather is the hardest to hit. I mean, in his era I suppose. He mighta got koed in another era.

Archer was much better defensively than Benton. In fact, they fought... and Archer out-boxed him.

Archer really could've been the stuff of legends.

[Willie Pep 229]

I have been intersted for a long time on who the best defensive fighter was of all time. You have amazing fighters like Willie Pep who won a fight afternot throwing a punch for an entire round. But I'm looking for input.

To take the question literally not stylistically I propose: Kristian Laight "Mr. Reliable"

[QueensburyRules]

Ok but if we are talking defense that means who gets hit the least. Sweet pea was slick and counter punched well while making everyone miss, but he still got hit because he fought guys in the pocket.

George Benton, same deal. Really slick considering he stood right in front of you for sure.

Duran also gets a nod considering his violent in your face style, he rarely got hit flush. He used lots of old tricks like head placement near his oponents and rolling, feints to make his oponents weary of throwing. Hagler and Leonard both said he was incredibly hard to hit.

Roy Jones at his peak actually barely got hit. He wasn't making guys miss like Pea, but his legs and speed kept him out of trouble, much like A prime Ali.

Mayweather is the only one who made a career out of defense. From a skill standpoint he doesn't seem as good as pea, Duran or even a Toney. But Mayweather used every facet of defense, his legs, headmovement and rarely threw more than one punch at a time. So in that sense Mayweather is the hardest to hit. I mean, in his era I suppose. He mighta got koed in another era.

- -Castillo and Maidana BTFO him.

He ran from One armed Manny.

[Rick Taylor]

Ok but if we are talking defense that means who gets hit the least. Sweet pea was slick and counter punched well while making everyone miss, but he still got hit because he fought guys in the pocket.

George Benton, same deal. Really slick considering he stood right in front of you for sure.

Duran also gets a nod considering his violent in your face style, he rarely got hit flush. He used lots of old tricks like head placement near his oponents and rolling, feints to make his oponents weary of throwing. Hagler and Leonard both said he was incredibly hard to hit.

Roy Jones at his peak actually barely got hit. He wasn't making guys miss like Pea, but his legs and speed kept him out of trouble, much like A prime Ali.

Mayweather is the only one who made a career out of defense. From a skill standpoint he doesn't seem as good as pea, Duran or even a Toney. But Mayweather used every facet of defense, his legs, headmovement and rarely threw more than one punch at a time. So in that sense Mayweather is the hardest to hit. I mean, in his era I suppose. He mighta got koed in another era.

agree about duran and benton.

jones however didnt always fight great comp tbh
so harder to say how good his defence was.

mayweather is just overrated at everything tbh

[billeau2]

I hate the words "the best." Hard to measure really. Sweet Pea was incredible in his prime...

As far as specific defensive skills: Lou Genkins, the lightweight champ was said to have incredible lateral movement, head movement skills, honed in a carnival where people would be allowed to take a crack at him lol... Holmes also had great lateral movement skills.

Jack Johnson had great defensive grappling and movement skills that made him impossible to hit at times...

Tunney was also a great defensive fighter...really strong footwork, could fight off the back leg and avoid punishment.