Least Skilled ATG?

[Rossman]

Sweat Pea? Overrated?

[Panamaniac]

Rather than "least skilled" I prefer to think of him as overrated: "Sweet Pea."

...that name doesn't belong anywhere near this thread. the man is not overrated and his skills were second to none for many years during the early 90's and late 80's

Sweat Pea? Overrated?

Seems like I've trampled upon a sacred cow. It's not gospel, just my personal opininon, and as you can see from my post above, I have no quarrel with his skills, which were almost solely defensive. As a southpaw defensive counter-puncher, his boxing style induced far more yawns than thrills. Whitaker's primary objective in the ring was to make his oponent miss, landing his own punches was merely an afterthought...

[Barn]

Seems like I've trampled upon a sacred cow. It's not gospel, just my personal opininon, and as you can see from my post above, I have no quarrel with his skills, which were almost solely defensive. As a southpaw defensive counter-puncher, his boxing style induced far more yawns than thrills. Whitaker's primary objective in the ring was to make his oponent miss, landing his own punches was merely an afterthought...

Whitaker had a very good offense.

I don't see how you don't notice that, he was very active and employed the role of slick boxer very well when not primarily defending.

[StarshipTrooper]

Whitaker had a very good offense.

I don't see how you don't notice that, he was very active and employed the role of slick boxer very well when not primarily defending.

Yeah, I really don't get that. In the vast majority of his fights during his prime years he threw a ton of punches and had a pretty consistent body attack. He would stand in the pocket, get off dozens of punches, and make an opponent miss all without hardly moving his feet.

Poet

[RubenSonny]

Yeah, I really don't get that. In the vast majority of his fights during his prime years he threw a ton of punches and had a pretty consistent body attack. He would stand in the pocket, get off dozens of punches, and make an opponent miss all without hardly moving his feet.

Poet

Could've sworn he set one of the highest total punches landed against Nelson, which was by no means an easy fight despite Peas clowning, Pea never was always offensively active.

[Panamaniac]

Whitaker had a very good offense.

I don't see how you don't notice that, he was very active and employed the role of slick boxer very well when not primarily defending.

Don't worry, I noticed. No one can win without any offense, let alone be an ATG, my only point is that defense was his main attribute. In terms of offensive output, on a scale of 1-10, Sweet Pea's featured boxing style is a 1, to Iron Mike's 10. Guys like Ali, Louis, Robinson, Duran, etc. fall somewhere in the middle (4-6).

[- Ram Raid -]

Frank Bruno.

. . . . . What!?

He's an heavyweight ATG on these shores.

I guess that's just the level we're operating at.

[Mintcar923]

Ah, I see, so you're saying Lewis is the best of his era during the '90s and early 2000s. Or, at least after the early '90s when Holyfield and Bowe were vying for the top spot.

Yeah, you could say so. Lewis technically did the best of my generation. But, I still gotta put Tyson higher because I really think prime for prime Mike would win. But, it would not be an easy night. Agree?

[Anthony342]

Agree that a prime Tyson beats a prime Lewis, but it's not easy. Yeah, with Rooney in his corner, I might give Mike the edge, but if Lewis is working with Steward, I could see Lewis using his reach and jabs to win a decision. I agree it wouldn't be easy either way, although Lennox could get caught, like he did against Rahman and then it's night night.

[Scott9945]

Agree that a prime Tyson beats a prime Lewis, but it's not easy. Yeah, with Rooney in his corner, I might give Mike the edge, but if Lewis is working with Steward, I could see Lewis using his reach and jabs to win a decision. I agree it wouldn't be easy either way, although Lennox could get caught, like he did against Rahman and then it's night night.

This is jmo, but I think a Lewis/Tyson match turns out the same no matter who is training the fighter. Especially concerning Tyson/Rooney. The time frame the fight is held in will determine how the fight goes.