..Why Is Your Favorite Fighter, Your Favorite Fighter?...

[Hagler★]

Bernard Hopkins:

Constantly underappreciated (until lately), been the underdog so many times in his career, his ring smarts are phenomenal, he may not have all the physical gifts in the world (except a rock solid chin) but he was forced to compensate by acquiring masterful technique, he has a win by any means necessary attitude, and i find his loud and abbrasive persona entertaining

......

Hagler
Did it the hard way didnt duck or dive tough as nails and was basically a true warrior

[Brother Naazim]

Bernard Hopkins - The consumate underdog. Completely unappreciated throught most of his entire career. Blessed with an amazing brain for boxing, he actually switched styles late in his career and went from a sucessful wrecking ball, to an even more sucessful technician. Not to mention the fact that he's a hometown hero of mine, and grew up a short distance from my neighborhood.

Joe Frazier - Almost always overlooked when it comes to great Heavyweights. Everybody mentions Louis, Ali, Foreman, Johnson, Holmes, Tyson, Lewis, and very few mention Joe. He had a pretty short career but he had an amazing run as Heavyweight Champion and fought the latter part of his career with arthritis and horrible vision. Also posessed the greatest left hook of all time IMO. Very underrated defense as well, his head movement made him a very hard target to hit. Another hometown hero.

Meldrick Taylor - This kid had it all. Handspeed like you wouldn't believe, he put together combinations that would make Ray Leonard blush. And he wasn't afraid to scrap either, had tons of heart, could take a hell of a shot, and he was just there to fight. Another hometown hero.

Those are my top 3.

[elgaringo]

Joe Calzaghe because he's so fast so skillfull and exciting to boot

[Kivian]

Roy Jones Jr - he's fast, very entertaining, had a good bit of power in him as well and man those reflexes...

[sunny31]

Naseem Hamed was the reason I started watching boxing, for obvious reasons!

My fav current fighter is ricky hatton cos I like the way he conducts himself and although doesn't have the skill level as many fighters at the very top, he competes through raw determination. Also I remember coming on these forums years ago and people saying hatton wouldn't ever win an alphabet title and never come to america and fight, so I like the fact that he has proved a lot of skeptics wrong.

Close 2nd - miguel cotto, just never been in a bad fight so exciting and I believe is underrated

[THe TRiNiTY]

My favorite fighter at this particular point would probably be a toss up of the Juan Manuels. I just think Lopez and Marquez have a great mixture of mixing it up and tremendous boxing skills.

[Bushbaby]

Now,Paul Williams,campaining in 3 weight classes just to stay active,avenging his 1 off night by complete and utter,Ko,willing to fight anyone,out working the welterweight workhorse,the man is a monster!!

Alltime,Marvin Hagler-heart of a champ and a take it out on the world aproach to boxing,it was violent to see him work,then I'd say B-Hop,but he is in a state of"now and then"!!He will be an ATG!!

[oldgringo]

Pernell Whitaker - He was my favorite fighter as a little kid after my dad showed me tape of him ducking and dodging out of the way of his opponents punches. He was my dads favorite fighter, so I just mimicked that and proclaimed him my favorite. As I got older and developed a better understanding for the sport I really began to understand what an incredible talent he was. He's the greatest defensive fighter I have ever seen and maybe the greatest I ever will see.

James Toney - Like Bringer said before, this guy is somewhat of a hometown hero. I remember him running around downtown A2 when I was a boy. I remember getting my wig split next to him at Roseys. James is about as naturally gifted as they come. Some hate his attitude, some think he's a cheater, some think he lost to scrubs, but I don't care. He could hang with every fighter throughout the history of the sport from Middle to Cruiser at his best. One of the last old school fighters to do it...he probably has more wins than your favorite fighter has fights.

Erik Morales - One of Mexico's greatest warriors, perhaps the most fan friendly that I can remember. Erik had the tools to fight a boxers fight, but he preferred to give his fans a show, often going to war with his left capable opponents. Morales is the second greatest 122 pound champion ever in my estimation and he has earned universal respect because of the way he fights. Erik ducked no one and left everything he had in the ring. He probably could have hung em up after his Featherweight campaign, retiring a hall of fame fighter. Instead he went on to unify titles at 130, capping it with a classic performance against the young, hungry Manny Pacquiao. Hopefully one day I'll be telling my boy about Erik turning Southpaw in the 12th round just to show Pacquiao who the man was on that night.

[Live Dog]

BHop

He was and is the most intelligent fighter in the game.