Top 10 Defensive Boxers of All-Time (P4P)

[cameronpaul]

ok ok if your gonna have a little rant then you might aswell just agree mayweather is the most defencive, ie - he spends the most amount of time per fight thinking about avoiding punches and not throwing much, anyone who fights more defencive than him wouldnt throw punches at all.

[JK1700]

Chris Byrd has got to be considered one of the greatest defensive boxers of all time. I dont care what anyone says, When he was in his prime it was almost impossible to hit him. Just check out the fight with Holyfield, Evander only landed about 3 jabs the entire fight when Byrd was hitting him at will. Evander was restricted to throwing about 25 punches a round. For sure Holyfield wasnt in his prime, But Byrd made a one of the greatest Heavyweights of all time look like an amatuer.

He also gave David Tua a boxing lesson, He didnt run. He stood in close quarters and made him miss and made him pay. I know alot of people didnt like Byrd because of his style but I have alot of respect for him because he wasnt a natural Heavyweight and did very well for himself.

[JK1700]

I dont see benny leonard and pep

Pernell Whittaker
Floyd Mayweather Jr
Winky Wright
Roy Jones Jr
Andre WardOmar Narvaez
Sergio Martinez
Mohamed Ali
Nicolino Loche
Bernard Hopkins or James Toney or Arthur Abraham

Since when is excessive holding regarded as a form of defence? Ward doesnt have defensive skills like Byrd or Toney, He used his athletism to get away from shots (A little bit like Roy Jones Jr), It's effective but I dont consider that to be a form of real defence.

Here are the best defence boxers I have ever seen. I will try and put them in order of who I think has the best defence.

1. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
2. Pernell Whitaker
3. James Toney
4. Chris Byrd
5. Winky Wright
6. Bernard Hopkins
7. Mike McCallum
8. Sven Ottke
9. Cristian Mijares
10. Montell Griffin

I know some people might argue with my choices but these are based on when these guys were in their prime they were excellent defensive fighters. Montell Griffin gave Toney and RJJ alot of trouble with his elusive style and Cristian Mijares although he has lost 3 of his last 6 fights was an excellent fighter when he was really on point. Just watch his fight with Jorge Arce and you will realise he was very, very good.

[Obama]

Only Philadelphia fighter mentioned has been Hopkins, sad. Very sad. The city that re-invented defense in the mid 20th century gets no love.

[NChristo]

Only Philadelphia fighter mentioned has been Hopkins, sad. Very sad. The city that re-invented defense in the mid 20th century gets no love.

Dwight Qawi could be called a Philadelphia fighter, he started learning in Philly at the Joe Frazier gym and was sparring partner for Bennie Briscoe whose defensive technique Qawi most resembles, Qawi's version was much better though imo.

Been mentioned twice.

[IMDAZED]

How the hell did Winky Wright get on that list?

[Obama]

Dwight Qawi could be called a Philadelphia fighter, he started learning in Philly at the Joe Frazier gym and was sparring partner for Bennie Briscoe whose defensive technique Qawi most resembles, Qawi's version was much better though imo.

Been mentioned twice.

His nickname is the Camden Buzzsaw. That disqualifies him right away. Can't be reppin South Jersey and call yourself a Philly fighter.

But even if I was going to pretend he's a Philly fighter, he wouldn't make my top 5 as far as defense goes.

[JK1700]

How the hell did Winky Wright get on that list?

The guy was a defensive genuis. You can't look at the Williams fight and say he wasnt a great defensive fighter, He was 38 years old and coming off a 2 year layoff.

Watch some of his old fights like Angel Hernandez, Adrian Dodson, Fernando Vargas and Felix Trinidad. Then judge him.

[JAB5239]

Do you see Locche and Whitaker being competitive and sometimes winning against fighters like Joe Calzaghe or James Toney ? because this is what you should compare Byrd and Norris' fights to.

Both Byrd and Norris chose to fight at heavy, neither had to. And when they did fight at the lower weights neither was comparable to a Whitaker or Locche in terms of defensive greatness.

[frankenfrank]

Both Byrd and Norris chose to fight at heavy, neither had to. And when they did fight at the lower weights neither was comparable to a Whitaker or Locche in terms of defensive greatness.

Who are Whitaker's best wins above 135 ? that's right , Buddy McGirt .
Norris' (above 200) ? Tucker , McCall , Greg Page and Jesse Fegusson.
Byrd's (above 200) ? Vitali Klitschko (by far)
So ? should I explain it for their great offensive prowess ?