Best I've faced! Boxers top ten they faced..

[AztecWanker]

Morales really hates Barrera.

I also lol'd at MCallum saying "oh Toney this but..Toney that but.." Just admit Toney was the best you fought!

[J.Dempsey]

great thread green k sent

i like hattons one, which goes from mayweather, to pacquiao, to mayweather, to pacquiao to mayweather....

[Simurgh]

Toughest fight: I don't really remember the people I fought. They're all the same to me.

Best boxer: Once again, when you're on the top of all of sports and is as great as I am, you don't pick up on the good things about others, but concentrate on yourself.

Best Puncher: Mosley hit me with a good shot once. I'm the best of the sport and I don't really get hit. There's nothing cool about taking shots. But you know, it comes with the territory.

Best Defense: Myself, shadow boxing in front of the mirror.

Smartest: Well.. I'm truly blessed with great ring intelligence. I'm working with great trainers like my dad and Roger and they are truly smart guys. Ellerbe as well. We are a very smart team, so I have to say myself and my team. We are the best to ever do it.

But you know, 'comes with the territory.

LOL, great stuff!

[Public_Enemy]

Toughest fight: I don't really remember the people I fought. They're all the same to me.

Best boxer: Once again, when you're on the top of all of sports and is as great as I am, you don't pick up on the good things about others, but concentrate on yourself.

Best Puncher: Mosley hit me with a good shot once. I'm the best of the sport and I don't really get hit. There's nothing cool about taking shots. But you know, it comes with the territory.

Best Defense: Myself, shadow boxing in front of the mirror.

Smartest: Well.. I'm truly blessed with great ring intelligence. I'm working with great trainers like my dad and Roger and they are truly smart guys. Ellerbe as well. We are a very smart team, so I have to say myself and my team. We are the best to ever do it.

But you know, 'comes with the territory.

Lmao I can see him saying a lot of this stuff too. I think his co(c)ky demeanor is a shield so to speak. He will probably be more candid once he retires.

[LacedUp]

Lmao I can see him saying a lot of this stuff too. I think his co(c)ky demeanor is a shield so to speak. He will probably be more candid once he retires.

Haha, me too.

But you know, that comes with the territory.

[fish262]

Tarver

The last time fans saw Antonio Tarver in a prize fight was 18 months ago when the former light heavyweight champ fought to a draw with fellow cruiserweight contender Lateef Kayode in Carson, Calif.

The bout was rendered a no decision after Tarver tested positive for a banned substance and he was suspended for a year by the California State Athletic Commission for the infraction, which the veteran vehemently disputes.

“A ‘banned substance’ could be a lot of things but I‘ve never cheated, taking steroids,” Tarver told ******.com. “When all the smoke cleared I asked them what was the percentage they found in my system and later when all was said and done they said they found traces of ‘something.’

“How you get a year suspension for ‘traces’ I don’t know. I sent them a list of everything I was taking. I couldn’t prove what they were saying was wrong so I took my medicine like a man. I kept quiet (and) they took my job with Showtime.”

altTarver had been serving as a commentator on Showtime, the same American cable network that televised his fight with Kayode.

“The Magic Man” never felt as though he’d be indefinitely banned from boxing, however he did question his own motivation for the sport.

“I never thought they could stop me from fighting again when they put that year’s suspension on me,” he said, “it was whether I wanted to do it again because boxing’s not easy.”

Many fans believed Tarver was a natural commentator and would commit to a new line of work.

“Commentating is something I love to do,” he said. “I was picked by NBC (to commentate on their Fight Night series), that broke my heart to be sidelined and not participate but I have a new fuel in my heart to right that wrong and I‘m going to do that by being successful and by being a winner and that‘s how you kill your critics.”

When asked if his ban is up and whether he’d be back on the Showtime airwaves any time soon Tarver said “That’s up to Showtime.

“I know I was a very good commentator and if the opportunity presents itself I’ll be right back in there doing what I do. I’m still living so who knows? Everything is possible. That’s why they call me the Magic Man. If I can do it again I’ll bring the same personality, the same flair and the same professionalism. If not Showtime, someone else.”

It would be remiss to not remember what Tarver, who turned 45 just a few days ago, achieved in his career.

He had a decorated amateur career that saw him win gold at the 1995 world championships in Berlin, Germany, before representing the U.S. at the ’96 Olympics Games where he won bronze. He turned pro at the rather advanced age of 27 with a reported 158-8 amateur record.

Three years into his pro career he took on Eric Harding in an IBF title eliminator, losing a unanimous decision and getting off the canvas in the process. Few predicted a bright future after his first loss, however three fights later, all wins, he again met Harding and whilst struggling on the cards he rallied to stop his adversary in the fifth round. The revenge victory set him up for bout against former champ Montell Griffin for the vacant WBC and IBF crowns. He won a shutout decision.

But there was one fight he had long craved, even obsessed over, against Roy Jones Jr., then considered the pound-for-pound king of the sport and some believed the greatest boxer ever. They met in the fall of 2003 and Jones, who had dropped down from his history making heavyweight pit stop, struggled to cope with Tarver, eking altout a majority decision. Six months later they met in a rematch. Tarver infamously said to Jones moments before the opening bell “You got your excuses tonight, Roy!” midway through the second stanza Tarver uncorked a devastating left hand that knocked Jones cold and vaulted Tarver into a different tax bracket, whilst stunning much of the boxing fraternity.

Unsurprisingly, Tarver listed the Jones victory as his best career win.

“Of course being the first guy to ever knock out Roy Jones was a feather in my cap,” he said.

When asked what fight he wished he could have the Florida native said a rematch with Bernard Hopkins, lamenting his 2006 unanimous decisionloss to “The Executioner.”

“First and foremost, the rematch with Hopkins,” he said. “That never materialized because Hopkins has never been one to make foolish decisions. I think it was smart for him to ride out on that victory and not give me that rematch because it would take away everything he accomplished beating me the first time.”

Tarver considers the one that got away to be Joe Calzaghe.

“I think that would have been a very good fight,” he said. “I think I had everything in my arsenal to beat Joe Calzaghe, this is a guy that has never defeated, he beat Hopkins, Roy Jones, but we know styles make fights and I think I would have been a nightmare for him.

“Just being southpaw, but not only that, speed and having power. I think I would have gave him fits and I think if I would have caught him. He’s been knocked down by both those guys, if I had caught him with my left hand who knows if he could have got up. I know he couldn’t hurt me to the point that he’s stopping or knocking me out, I don’t see that.”

After the Jones rematch, Tarver won and lost the 175-pound title in two fights with Glen Johnson, beat Jones in a rubber match, lost to Hopkins, and won the IBF light heavyweight belt besting England’s Clinton Woods. Following two loses to Chad Dawson he made a brief foray into the heavyweight division before heading to Australia when he stopped Danny Green in nine rounds at cruiserweight before his last appearance verses Kayode.

Having appeared alongside Sylvester Stallone in the motion picture Rocky Balboa, where his character Mason “The Line” Dixon was heavyweight champion ,Tarver quipped “I’ve already auditioned for it so I’m getting ready to make it a reality!”

Ahead of his ring return on Tuesday on Fox Sports 1, Tarver, who meets Mike Sheppard in a heavyweight bout, took part in ******.com’s “Best I Fought” series.


Best Overall - Roy Jones Jr. – Jones was the best boxer, but the hardest fighter I ever faced was Eric Harding. He was the toughest. Roy was the most gifted, the most talented, and I had to really step my game way up in order to beat him. He brought out the very best in me.

altYou had to go to the mountain top with Roy Jones or he’ll outclass you and run you out of the ring, if you didn’t get yourself in peak condition. Everything connected when I fought Roy. I didn’t have any distractions. It was tunnel vision on what was in front of me. It felt sometimes like I was in the matrix ‘cause everything pretty much came together for me at that moment. I had to climb that mountain and really challenge myself to find out what I was made of and to go to the peak and only certain fighters can bring that out. You can’t do it every fight. I wish I could but I’m only human. You have to face a guy like Roy Jones. You have to raise your level, sometimes you have to be better than even you thought you can be to be competitive or to beat him. I challenged myself in ways I didn’t think I could and I became better than a lot of people thought I could be because I was facing such a great fighter.

Boxer - Eric Harding - I would say Harding. He had more crafty moves and I had to figure him out and I really had to catch him with a punch to knock him out. Skill for skill he was a tough, tough puzzle to solve.

altJab - Harding - I have to say Harding. He was a southpaw, he was very deceptive. He threw his jab from all types of angels and he caught me with a lot of jabs. Even when I knocked him out the first two or three rounds didn’t really go my way. I was in the best condition, I was sharp and I had to catch him with a counterpunch to change the outcome of the fight. I think he was ahead on the score cards at the time of the stoppage. It was the rematch and I was at my peak and still had problems solving the puzzled.

Defense - Bernard Hopkins - I’ll have to give that to Hopkins because even though I feel I wasn’t at my best or even near the best I could be he was still difficult to hit. I wasn’t at my best for whatever reason. I had just come off a long layoff and came out from the movies but that night I didn’t show up to fight and it showed. He outclassed me and beat me handily. It doesn’t seem like I laid a glove on him in that fight. It felt like an outer-body experience and it was my worst performance.

Chin - Glen Johnson – Undoubtedly, Glen Johnson. I hit him with everything and the kitchen sink and he was still there after 12 rounds so he had a granite chin.

Puncher - Harding - Again I would have to say Eric Harding. He broke my jaw with a right hook. Everybody felt he didn’t have any power cause he didn’t have any knock outs but I felt every punch. He was a deceptive puncher; very crafty southpaw from Philly.

Hand Speed - Jones - He was the fastest person I faced. His speed was incredible. I saw everything coming but I was on top of my game. He made you raise your level.

Feet - Jones - I have to say Roy Jones again. A lot of times I had to trap him in so many ways. He was so mobile, moved around a lot, danced a lot. You had to be patient, you had to wait your turn because a lot of times he’s moving when you begin your offensive strategy and he’d be out of the way.

[fish262]

Traver Cont.

Smartest - Hopkins - Because he was so crafty. Like I say we have to put an asterisk by that because I just don’t know if I had been at my best how that fight would have went. I still feel today I have everything to beat him. I would say it was one of the most depressing moments I’ve had in a boxing ring because it made it look like I wasn’t at the same level as him and I think everyone knows that’s not true. Whatever reason that I didn’t perform that night made Hopkins look like a great fighter, which he is but I am too and you didn’t see two great fighters in the ring that night, you only saw one and unfortunately it was him.

Strongest - Johnson - He was the most determined fighter I faced. We went 24 rounds, each round was like hell for me. I had to really dig deep in order to beat him. He brought out the best in me. I had to go places internally I didn’t know I could go. I beat him at his own game when I beat him in Memphis. A lot of people didn’t think I could do that toe to toe. Sometimes you have to gut it out and be mentally strong and Glen Johnson brought that out of me both times we fought

[fish262]

Nigel Benn

There was never any pretense about Nigel Benn. The magnetic two weight world champion captured the hearts of millions during arguably the most enthralling period in British middleweight history and his own heart was always splattered across his sleeve.

“The Dark Destroyer” won his first 22 fights by knockout and, during that run, was only extended beyond two rounds on three occasions. Mean and merciless, the former soldier attacked the opposition with lethal power shots and when he was hurt himself, there was no fighter more dangerous.

Talented and ill-fated middleweight, Michael Watson, sensationally upset him in May 1989 but Benn regrouped by venturing to the United States to capture the WBO middleweight crown from teak tough warrior, Doug DeWitt, in eight savage rounds.

In his first title defense the trigger happy Brit was pitched in against the equally explosive American veteran Iran Barkley. “The Blade” was installed as favorite, having recently stopped Thomas Hearns in three rounds and he had also pushed Roberto Duran and Michael Nunn to the limit in close decision losses.

Benn destroyed Barkley in the opening round and sent shockwaves through the sport.

In November 1990, Benn suffered his second defeat at the hands of enigmatic showman, Chris Eubank, and one of the most turbulent rivalries in British sporting history was born. Like Ali and Frazier, both were the polar opposites of the other but what they shared was immense fighting heart and insurmountable pride.

Shortly thereafter Benn moved to super middleweight and the drama continued. He was on the unlucky side of a draw in a rematch with Eubank and the finest victory of his career, against the rampaging Gerald McClellan, was over shadowed by the bout’s tragic aftermath.

“The Dark Destroyer” closed out with a pair of losses to Irish gladiator, Steve Collins, but the sad ending could never detract from what was an amazing success story.

******.com spoke to Benn (42-5-1, 35 knockouts) about some of the men who impressed him most.



Best overall: Gerald McClellan by far. He had an incredible knockout ratio and he was a prolific puncher. There was a mile between him and anyone else. I came out of that fight with a damaged nose, a damaged jaw and I was urinating blood. I was in bed for three days afterwards and I had a shadow on my brain. That shows you how powerful a champion that man was.

Best boxer: Sugar Boy Malinga springs to mind but he wasn’t the classiest of fighters, he was just my bogeyman. Malinga was very difficult for me and even though I won the first fight I could easily have lost it. I think I got the decision because I was on home soil. In the rematch I trained so hard for him but I was knackered and just completely jaded. He is one of the only fighters to really hurt me and he did it with a punch to the mouth which split my tongue and my lip. I was over trained in the second fight but I can’t really take anything away from him. Give me a guy who stands there and wants to fight and I’ll be victorious but I knew this guy was slippery. I could see Malinga’s punches coming but I couldn’t do anything about it. Even when I knocked him down I was shattered and I knew I was in for a long night. He deserved to win the rematch and he was a lovely man so I only have good things to say about him. He met up with Richie Woodhall after me and lost the title (WBC super middleweight) straight away.

Best puncher: Gerald McClellan. As I said the gap between him and the rest, in terms of power, was huge. He was in a league of his own but I had to win that fight because everyone thought I was going to lose. What happened was I was due to fight Michael Nunn and it got back to me that I would have to take £100,000 less and I said; “Are you mad?” Michael was a slippery southpaw, his name was “Second to” Nunn and I’ve to take £100,000 less? That could have been my last fight because Michael was one of the best around at that time, so I said no chance. The answer I got was fight Nunn or we’ll bring over a mini Mike Tyson (McClellan). Now, you have to understand I was in the army and had a ton of street fights, so I’m not scared to take on anyone. I’m not made that way but once my fight with Gerald was over I should have retired.

Best defense: Michael Watson. When we fought in 1989 I was like a bull in a china shop and my trainer at the time said; “Nigel, just go out there and steam him.” I’ve read a lot of boxing books in my time but I have no idea what steam him means. I’ve yet to find an explanation of that term anywhere but that was the type of corner I had at the time. I’d thrown everything at Watson over the first five rounds and I couldn’t damage him and I also found out later that Michael gave a wink to my corner as if to say “I’ve got your boy!” Michael had Mickey Duff and a good team in his corner and they had a lot of experience. It was my first loss and I was devastated and all that was left in the changing room was me and my jockstrap. Everyone deserted me.

Fastest hands:I can’t recall who excelled in that area to be honest. They probably beat me and I’ve did my best to forget (laughs). I can’t even say there was anyone in sparring because I didn’t do a lot of fighting in the gym. I maybe did twenty or thirty rounds in training because I only wanted to establish my distance. A lot fighters like to have wars in the gym but that wasn’t for me because I would just burn myself out. That changed when I went to the Fifth St. Gym in Miami and I was forced to do more sparring. I worked with a guy called Adolpho Washington who was a cruiserweight and the double of Mike Tyson when he put on the head gear. I found myself trying to be friends with him so he wouldn’t want to spar with me anymore (laughs).

Fastest feet: Dan Sherry had good feet. He ran right into an awesome right hand but he had good feet (laughs). He could switch hit, chop and change and his hands were fast so he was able to keep me turning.

Best chin: Chris Eubank and you don’t even need to ask me that (laughs). I could hit Chris’ chin with anything and it wouldn’t even move. It was like hitting a lump of granite but to be honest I enjoyed pummeling that chin (laughs hysterically). Look, I love Chris and we’re old men now so I can laugh and joke about it. I needed him as much he needed me.

Best jab: Nicky Piper kept leaning back and picking me off with the left hand, until I caught up with him. Sugar Boy Malinga was very effective with the jab and another American by the name of Lindsay Morgan was tall and used that punch pretty well.

Strongest: Robbie Sims was good inside but I would say Juan Carlos Gimenez. He also fought Eubank and Calzaghe and only Joe managed to put a dent in him. He was always ****ing his hands together wanting more and he was so strong. I’m talking as strong as an ox. As soon as I hit him I knew I wasn’t stopping him - he was going nowhere.

Smartest: (Long Pause) Reggie Miller. He was the first fighter to almost take me the distance but I finally stopped him. It was my twelfth fight and I was on my last legs just prior to the knockout. He was a really good fighter and an effective switch hitter. He was cute defensively but he thought he had me and left himself open.

***



Nigel Benn has been to the dark side, in the ring and out, but re-invented himself when his professional career came to an end in 1996. “The Dark Destroyer” is a born again Christian who has spent years preaching and he credits both his faith and a strong family unit for overcoming some stark personal problems.

The former champion still exudes a charismatic and likeable quality but that fierce humanity, which he carried in his fighting years, has been replaced by a warm and gentle nature. That said he still keeps a keen eye on the sport which brought him fame and fortune and his interest has been peaked by two pending British super fights.

“George Groves isn’t going to be easy for Carl Froch,” said the ex-champion. “Even James DeGale could present problems for Carl because he’s a good mover. Anyone with good lateral movement will create problems for The Cobra in my opinion.”

Benn continued; “Tyson Fury will have a go against Haye. He might get knocked down but he’ll get back up, although he hasn’t mixed with anyone who punches as hard as David. I won’t pick a winner but I can’t see this one going the distance.”

Benn now resides in Sydney and sounds completely at peace.

“I absolutely love Australia,” said the former champion. “To be honest we’ve lived in Miami, L.A., Barbados, Jamaica and we were 11 years in Spain. Australia is fantastic and it’s a great place to bring up my kids.”

[KingTito]

Great thread. I enjoy reading these.

[El Gitano]

Best I’ve faced: Jose Luis Castillo


lol @

BEST CHIN

Mayweather: Floyd Mayweather Jr. had the best chin because I couldn’t hit him.



It has been 10 years since Jose Luis Castillo battled Diego Corrales in their classic first encounter. The lightweight beltholders waged war, fighting each other to a standstill for 10 brutally frenetic rounds before the most dramatic of conclusions to a bout that is considered one of the greatest of all time.

Both Castillo and Corrales had aggressive boxing styles, were big for lightweights and known to have fight-ending power, so the fight was well received by the fight public. However, nobody knew just how well.

From the very beginning each went at the other. As the rounds passed the action ramped up to another level, and after a fantastic ninth innings, the legendary 10th took place. Midway through Round 10, Castillo broke through, dropping Corrales with a left hook in the center of the ring. The game Californian rose on unsteady legs as the end looked imminent. A second knockdown took place, this time “Chico” spat his gumshield out to buy precious time. Referee Tony Weeks took a point from Corrales but let the fight continue. Then, out of nowhere, Corrales landed a monster left hand that visibly moved Castillo towards the ropes.

He followed with a combination that had Castillo out on his feet, head rocked backwards, eyes rolling to the back of his head, forcing the referee jumped in to halt the bout. It was a fight ending akin to a real life Rocky movie.

Looking back on the fight, Castillo isn’t bitter. He’s proud to have been involved in a historic fight. “I made it an attractive fight and exciting fight with Corrales to please the people,” Castillo told ******.com through translator Abraham Darwish. “After that fight I was still satisfied even though I lost because I won a lot of fans after that fight.”

Promoter Bob Arum CEO of Top Rank, who has been around boxing since the 1960s, ranked it among the top three fights he’s seen along with the Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier rubber match and Marvin Hagler-Thomas Hearns.

“People understand this is something special,” the hall of fame promoter said. “Books will be written about this one.”

The two met five months later, this time each struggled mercilessly to make the 135-pound limit, Corrales just made it but Castillo was two pounds over. He never made the weight. This time, Castillo exacted a measure of revenge stopping Corrales in four rounds. Neither fighter was ever to really the same following that brutal, fight of the ages in May 2005.

Castillo now 41, continues to fight, losing his most recent fight against Ruslan Provodnikov last November. Corrales tragically passed away in a motorbike accident two years to the day removed from the first meeting with Castillo.

Early in his career Castillo worked with his legendary countryman Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., learning how important it is to work hard. He says nobody worked harder than the Lion of Culiacan. That experience cleared served him well.

As Castillo made his way through the tough Mexican scene he lost on four occasions when he challenged for the national title. Undeterred, he continued his progress when in September 2000, as a rank outsider, he surprised Steve Johnston winning ta majority decision to claim the WBC 135-pound title. The victory earned him THE RING magazine ‘Upset of the Year’ award.

He went on to retain the title three times, including a draw with Johnston in the former champion’s hometown.

In April 2002, Castillo looked to defend his title against Floyd Mayweather Jr., who had risen to lightweight from junior lightweight. Many believed at the end of 12 rounds that Castillo had done enough to beat the unbeaten rising star. However, the judges all voted for Mayweather. The rematch took place eight months later, this time Mayweather had the better of things winning a clear decision.

The Mexicali native says his proudest moment was winning the world title and that his best win was when he regained his WBC lightweight title against Juan Lazcano on the undercard of Oscar De La Hoya-Felix Sturm in June 2004.

“During the press conference, he was talking a lot of s__t…and I really developed a hate feeling toward him and wanted to hurt him,” reminisced Castillo. “But Lazcano turned out to be a lot tougher than I expected. To win the fight and to become world champion was quite satisfying.”

Castillo bested Olympic gold medalist and two-weight world champion Joel Casamayor and stopped Julio Diaz in 10 rounds before the legendary fight with Corrales.

Castillo would lose to Ricky Hatton at junior welterweight in the summer of 2007 in what is viewed as his last significant fight at the top level. Castillo (66-13-1, 57 knockouts) graciously agreed to speak with ******.com about the best fighters he fought during his 80-fight career that has spanned 25 years.

BEST SKILLS
Floyd Mayweather Jr.: The best skills were none other than Floyd Mayweather Jr. He kept me at distance so I really couldn’t get to him.

BEST JAB

Mayweather: Floyd again, his jab was long and it was fast.

BEST DEFENSE

Mayweather: I couldn’t hit Floyd clean… so he had the best defense also.

BEST CHIN

Mayweather: Floyd Mayweather Jr. had the best chin because I couldn’t hit him.

BEST PUNCHER

Juan Lazcano: Juan Lazcano had a very hard punch.

FASTEST HANDS

Mayweather: Floyd Mayweather Jr. had the fastest hands.

FASTEST FEET

Mayweather: Because he moved a lot during his fight with me… and really couldn’t set to punch away.

SMARTEST

Mayweather: Because he changed his style when he needed too.

STRONGEST

Lazcano: Juan Lazcano was the toughest fighter I ever faced. He was just a strong fighter.

BEST OVERALL

Mayweather: Floyd is best overall. For all the attributes I just mentioned.