Greatest Offensive Boxer Ever?

[Mugwump]

Accept no substitutes: Duran.

[tonysoprano]

Prime Tyson was an offensive beast. He came out bombing hard from the first bell in a way few fighters do.

Also Gerard McClellan didn't fool around. Very aggressive fighter.

[Rusty Tromboni]

Accept no substitutes: Duran.

There's really no measuring stick for this accolade. I do think there are better finishers than Duran, though.

Sure, he was an absolute monster at Lw. I don't think anyone could beat him at that weight. I am not really sure that anyone even makes it terribly competitive. (That is saying a lot - maybe too much - when you consider 135 is probably the best weight class in the history of the sport). It's just that Duran wasn't simply a come-forward fighter. That's more, in my mind & probably per the consensus, what a great offensive fighter is.

With Duran so much of his success was his blend of boxing and punching. I think Robinson, and even, Ike Williams can be considered better offensively. Armstrong, too, beat men just by accumulating punches. Look at Duran's performance against Palomino - he makes up for lack of raw power w/ in-fighting.

I think a lot of the reason Robinson gets the P4P mantle that Duran doesn't is owed to Robinson's ability to end a fight. Same w/ Louis and Holmes... and for some people, Ali. I respect people who vote Louis over Ali and Holmes, but I strongly disagree with them. Those men were also capable finishers, but they didn't push the offense exclusively like Louis, and have the fight-ending power.

Arguello and Mayweather would be another good comparison. Even when Mayweather was more offensively oriented, he didn't develop the reputation Arguello has because he was a boxer-puncher w/o that legendary one-punch power.

[Rusty Tromboni]

Prime Tyson was an offensive beast. He came out bombing hard from the first bell in a way few fighters do.

Great call on Tyson. I don't think he was that much bigger than Patterson. But through experience and advances in science and medicine, his team crafted him into a bulked-up Hw. He had the chin and punch that Floyd didin't to make the peek-aboo style really work. He really had exceptional technique and focus. It was the perfect harmony of training, genetics, and game-plan.

I know people will try to point out others, but the dude was a lot like Lomachenko in his ability to bring the fight to bigger men.

Tyson should at least get recognition.

[KidDinamita]

Roberto Duran & Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.

[billeau2]

Roberto Duran & Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.

Chaavez! Another great one.

[Mugwump]

There's really no measuring stick for this accolade. I do think there are better finishers than Duran, though.

Sure, he was an absolute monster at Lw. I don't think anyone could beat him at that weight. I am not really sure that anyone even makes it terribly competitive. (That is saying a lot - maybe too much - when you consider 135 is probably the best weight class in the history of the sport). It's just that Duran wasn't simply a come-forward fighter. That's more, in my mind & probably per the consensus, what a great offensive fighter is.

I disagree on this point. Whilst Duran could flip the switch from flat-out brawling to counter-punching (like no fighter I've seen since BTW). Even when he was fighting off the back foot he was doing so not just positively but aggressively. A great example is the first Leonard fight in which he flipped styles two or three times in the match and yet never once let up the pressure on his opponent.

Floyd is/was an outstanding exponent of fighting defensively - but even at the peak of his powers he was prone to fighting within himself and allowing the pace to drop out of the bout. Not so with Duran who could fight as aggressively on the back foot as going forward.

I can't recall a more complete fighter than Duran. Maybe Robinson - but he was before my time.

[Granath]

Most of the guys I thought would be mentioned already have been, but a couple names I havent seen that I think could make the list:

Hearns- Dynamite puncher and incredible build. Can keep you at bay with the jab, and put you out with the right.
Finitio- I know, not a lot of competition at his weight, but a technical punching marvel.

Do these two belong in the discussion?

Hearns is the guy who immediately comes into mind for me. 6'1", 78" reach, sledgehammer right. At 147 he's an absolute terror on offense. The whole time you're worried about getting crushed with his right the left jab keeps mashing you in the face.

Of course, SRR is in the discussion. Louis is too. Aaron Pryor is another one that jumps out. RJJ (when motivated to do so) had all the gifts and I can't think of any other fighter who had the combination of power in both hands, unsurpassed hand speed and the ability to go to the body or head. Just all too often he was willing to sit back and pile up the points.

[Dempsey19]

Robinson comes to mind.

[ron davis]

How about a guy who had over 300 fights, amateur and pro and never suffered ( over 10,000 punches) a cut. It wasn't Arguello, Jofre, Robinson, Duran, Julio Chavez,Sr. and through in all the Champions and contenders, before the Golden Age of Boxing and after, till now. He wasn't a jumping around boxer, wasting energy and throwing punches into the air. He was over enthusiastic, a sharp shooter and came right at you, with chin sunk into chest, throwing damaging punches that could paralyze. Armstrong, Ambers, Montanez and all the rest found that out. Go to EBAY, search under Henry Armstrong, Davey Day, Ambers, all together and read the narrative, including pictures of the (history) fights and fighters. Davey Day Exhibit card 1933. "It won't hurt to know the truth". Cheers.