Best Defensive Fighter Ever

[CletusVanDamme]

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.

I am gonna say Willie Pep and Pernell head to head. But Nicolino Locche is a dark horse and was virtually untouchable for a time at 140lbs. Wilfred Benitez considering he barely trained and did most of his excellent work before the age of 24. This should be a top four imo.

[-Hyperion-]

pernell ''sweetpea'' whitaker & ronald ''winky'' wright = best defensive boxers (for me)

i agree

[CoLd_WaVE]

i haven't seen Willie Pep, so i'll go with Sweet Pea...

[CletusVanDamme]

I am gonna say Willie Pep and Pernell head to head. But Nicolino Locche is a dark horse and was virtually untouchable for a time at 140lbs. Wilfred Benitez considering he barely trained and did most of his excellent work before the age of 24. This should be a top four imo.

I think Locche nickname was Spanish for Untouchable after sleeping on it.

[Terry A]

Willie Pep is the obvious first choice that comes to mind. But my 2nd pick would be Wilfredo Benitez aka "Radar". How soon we forget....

[oldgringo]

Pernell Whitaker....simply because I have practically seen his whole career and saw that great defense as it was going down. He was a genius. Slipping, feinting, ducking, dodging, blocking, jabbing, countering, rolling...he had all of that **** down to a science. After all of that he was just really awkward. That's what sets him apart from a lot of other defensive masters. He only ever really got caught when his giant ego got in his way.

I have never personally seen another fighter who was as hard to lay a glove on though.

[AJ53]

I think Locche nickname was Spanish for Untouchable after sleeping on it.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=10279

i was hoping somebody would mention locche, i think his record speaks for itself.
altough he is a fighter who i didn't know about till last year everything ive read about him exudes defensive master.
i would say tho that although their is alot of unknown names on his resume compared to somebody like sweet pea,
and he doesnt have the kind of legend surrounding him like willie pep and his zero punches winning round he definitley deserves a mention.
it's just a great shame that the guy didn't have any pop in his gloves to make more of a mark.
but that said he is probably the only post war fighter to have over 100 points victories on his record, that in itself is a great testament to his defensive savvy.

but i still would put pep and sweet-pea above him purely on the strength of their opposition.

[CletusVanDamme]

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=10279

i was hoping somebody would mention locche, i think his record speaks for itself.
altough he is a fighter who i didn't know about till last year everything ive read about him exudes defensive master.
i would say tho that although their is alot of unknown names on his resume compared to somebody like sweet pea,
and he doesnt have the kind of legend surrounding him like willie pep and his zero punches winning round he definitley deserves a mention.
it's just a great shame that the guy didn't have any pop in his gloves to make more of a mark.
but that said he is probably the only post war fighter to have over 100 points victories on his record, that in itself is a great testament to his defensive savvy.

but i still would put pep and sweet-pea above him purely on the strength of their opposition.

He has to be number three on this list though.

[Phantasm]

Sweet Pea and the Will o' Wisp. Winky is great with that turtle shell, but that's all he has. These two made slipping punches and dancing around opponents an artform.

[Yogi]

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.