Best defensive fighters NOT named Whitaker, Pep, Locche, Mayweather

[Flo_Raiden]

Whitaker, Pep, Locche, and Mayweather are almost always known as THE best defensive fighter in the sport. Who else, besides those guys, would you also say has the best defensive abilities?
For me the guys listed below were as technically defensively sound as you can get. Although most of these guys listed have their major flaws such as lack of dedication or lazy performances their defense were nonetheless extraordinary. Outside of Whitaker, Pep, Locche, and Mayweather which boxer would you say had the best defense and who was more technically skilled and gifted?

James Toney
Bernard Hopkins
Wilfred Benitez
Miguel Canto
Miguel Lora
Hilario Zapata
Sumbu Kalambay
George Benton
Marlon Starling
Guillermo Rigondeaux

[IronDanHamza]

Good question.

I'd go Benitez.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

Winky wright needs a shout out..

The only defender besides toney that is pretty stationary, yet almost impossible to hit clean

[NChristo]

Winky wright needs a shout out..

The only defender besides toney that is pretty stationary, yet almost impossible to hit clean

Winky should definitely be on the list but I disagree with the 2nd part, most of the names on that list could stand still and make the opponent look foolish

[{Pito}]

Where's JCC Sr.?

[Sugar Adam Ali]

Winky should definitely be on the list but I disagree with the 2nd part, most of the names on that list could stand still and make the opponent look foolish

True but the others also had the ability to get on the proverbial bike.. I never saw winky nor toney ever "get on the bike"

[NChristo]

True but the others also had the ability to get on the proverbial bike.. I never saw winky nor toney ever "get on the bike"

Watch some Marlon Starling, similar style too Winky, high guard walk the opponent down type, rarely got hit clean n rarely got on his bike, Benton loved to stay in the pocket, prime Hopkins walked hos opponents down n mauled them, rarely got on his bike.

[rightsideup]

Where's JCC Sr.?

if you include jcc sr than you would have to include duran

[SplitSecond]

mikey garcia has a very impressive fundamental style and defense, very good at parrying

his weakness seem to be the southpaw though, far as i've seen

[Sugar Adam Ali]

Watch some Marlon Starling, similar style too Winky, high guard walk the opponent down type, rarely got hit clean n rarely got on his bike, Benton loved to stay in the pocket, prime Hopkins walked hos opponents down n mauled them, rarely got on his bike.

Marlon starling is a good one..


My whole point is that nearly all the truly great defenders have multiple styles of defense.. Guys like hopkins or floyd, etc can stand in the pocket, or walk guys down, or get on their bike.. Whatever the situation calls for they can adapt..
With toney and winky, they really only had one way to defend and weren't as versatile, yet they were so good at the one way they defended, it didn't matter that they were one dimensional in the defense department..