Who is the most skilled fighter of all time?

[Link]

I'm sorry but a guy who holds his hands low can't the most skilled. Ali was super quick, but I think his skills were actually not so good. He's still one of the greatest fighters ever though...

Huh? That was like the most unexperienced comment I've heard in a while. How long have you been watching boxing? I literally only hear things like that when I'm at those rich upperclass boxing gyms on the rich parts of town that have snobby people who never spar. Having your hands low does not necasserly mean that you are a lazy fighter. A lot of punches fly better from lower positions, the left hook is more blind, the jab comes upward and hits you at a different angle. Rolling with punches is more effective with your left hand low. Did you notice that Ali's hands would come up when he knew a punch was coming. He knew exactely where is hands were at. BTW, I think that Sugar Ray Leonard was the most skilled. Some people say that fighters from like 1920 were the Best ever but if you actually watch the tapes you can clearly see that boxing back then was not the boxing now. They boxed totally different from the fighters today, the rules were much different and when you knock someone down you could just stand over him and knock him down again if he tries to get up. You can't compare fighters from like 70 years ago to fighters now.

[bonafuwa]

Sugar Ray Robinson and Sugar Ray Leonard IMO. Can't go with Ali for a few reasons. He lacked some fundamentals that came back to bite him when the relexes slowed (ala Roy Jones Jr.): moving straight back, keeping hands low, never body punching etc.

[jabsRstiff]

What are the skills you are referring to ?

If it's the ability to hit & not get hit...it's Pernell Whitaker.

If it's the abilty to hit, not get hit, & actually hurt the opponent....Leonard, Robinson, Jofre.

If it's the ability to be aggressive & defensively/offensively effective....Duran.

[jack_the_rippuh]

Jabs, again, I think you're going overboard to say that Whitaker was not able to hurt opponents. He just wasn't a big finisher.

[jabsRstiff]

Jabs, again, I think you're going overboard to say that Whitaker was not able to hurt opponents. He just wasn't a big finisher.

He could occasionally hurt a foe....but, look at his title defenses.
Most went the distance....& a lot of the guys lost every round, while not so much as blinking.

It doesn't matter, as it's apparent Whitaker never needed a big punch.
He's one of the most unbeatable fighters in the history of the sport.

[LuKahnLi]

Most skilled offense-Tommy Hearns
Most skilled defense-Pernell Whitaker
Overall-Sugar Ray Robinson

[jabsRstiff]

The most skilled offensive fighter of all time, is Joe Louis.


He threw every punch perfectly, & with deadly power.
He had a jolting jab, put his shots together perfectly to the body & head. His punches were super-short, accurate.
He's as great a finisher as there ever was in the sport.

[LuKahnLi]

The most skilled offensive fighter of all time, is Joe Louis.


He threw every punch perfectly, & with deadly power.
He had a jolting jab, put his shots together perfectly to the body & head. His punches were super-short, accurate.
He's as great a finisher as there ever was in the sport.

Oh yeah.....you are correct.

I saw alot of Louis thanks to this documentary my sister bought me for Christmas.

I was just thinking about Hearns ability to fire devastating shots from long range.

[LuKahnLi]

When Louis made Schmeling scream with that bodyshot....damn.
And poor Jimmy Braddock....

[KJ]

I have not seen the all time boxers (also it hard to compare Heavy Weights with Light Weights) just want to add that:

Marvin Hagler is one of the best all round boxers.