Who is the most skilled fighter of all time?

[KJ]

Hagler was highly skilled, no doubt.
He threw great combos behind one of the best jabs in boxing history.
He was an excellent counterpuncher.

His defense became suspect during prolonged exchanges.

In general....he was a terrific technician....but I wouldn't say he's one of the very best ever.

Haglers defense became sustpect by choice:

In the beginning of his career hagler was an effective boxer-boxer. He fought mostly in his reverse gear, making angles and counter punched. Almost only came forward when the other guy was in trouble. Roughly from the Minter fight on (after the draw against Antuofermo) Hagler became in general more of a pressure fighter. This is the style he mostly used during his middleweight title reign (and at the end of his career he had by choice (almost) become an effective slugger, and as a result of this style he was getting hit more often).

Having been effective in both the extreme opposite boxing styles, and also using and being effective with ALL the different punches and mixing them up in his combinations, having good power, good speed, good defense, great chin and heart….and the thing I might have forgotten to name here for an all round fighter make:

Hagler one of the best ALL ROUND fighters in my book.

[jabsRstiff]

Haglers defense became sustpect by choice:

In the beginning of his career hagler was an effective boxer-boxer. He fought mostly in his reverse gear, making angles and counter punched. Almost only came forward when the other guy was in trouble. Roughly from the Minter fight on (after the draw against Antuofermo) Hagler became in general more of a pressure fighter. This is the style he mostly used during his middleweight title reign (and at the end of his career he had by choice (almost) become an effective slugger, and as a result of this style he was getting hit more often).

Having been effective in both the extreme opposite boxing styles, and also using and being effective with ALL the different punches and mixing them up in his combinations, having good power, good speed, good defense, great chin and heart….and the thing I might have forgotten to name here for an all round fighter make:

Hagler one of the best ALL ROUND fighters in my book.

Hagler was still quite the boxer after the Minter fight.
He sliced & diced Hamsho brilliantly in their first fight. His best performance was against Tony Sibson....& he followed that up with a similar performance against Scypion.

Hagler was a terrific technician, a great fighter, & my favorite fighter ever.

But I keep it objective enough to realize he had just a few too many lapses, in fights & in his style, to keep me from putting him with the ABSOLUTE best.

[KJ]

Haglers defense became sustpect by choice:

In the beginning of his career hagler was an effective boxer-boxer. He fought mostly in his reverse gear, making angles and counter punched. Almost only came forward when the other guy was in trouble. Roughly from the Minter fight on (after the draw against Antuofermo) Hagler became in general more of a pressure fighter. This is the style he mostly used during his middleweight title reign (and at the end of his career he had by choice (almost) become an effective slugger, and as a result of this style he was getting hit more often).

Having been effective in both the extreme opposite boxing styles, and also using and being effective with ALL the different punches and mixing them up in his combinations, having good power, good speed, good defense, great chin and heart….and the thing I might have forgotten to name here for an all round fighter make:

Hagler one of the best ALL ROUND fighters in my book.

Forgot to say: fight effectively from both the orthodox and the Southpaw stance.

[jabsRstiff]

Forgot to say: fight effectively from both the orthodox and the Southpaw stance.

Nobody did it better than he....

Most guys do it out of desperation, & never look comfortable or natural.

Hagler did it smoothly, intelligently......& he looked like either stance was natural for him.

In fact, his finishing blow was usually a RIGHT CROSS.

[Silverfox]

Hey!!! I'm not racist.I just frefer whites!

[jabsRstiff]

That's nice.

[Mr. Ryan]

Wilfredo Benitez in his prime was the most skilled fighter of all time. He was so fast, and was the best pure boxer of all time. He could make you miss like no one I've ever seen. He was fast as hell.

[psychopath]

i can't beleive no one thinks of JCC the man was great all around. i would also add Holmes for HW, one day James Toney will be on that list

Yes the very durable Jesus Cesar Chavez should be in that list. One of the most skilled fighters I have seen.

[KJ]

No he's not.

We can argue about that, but he has beaten your all time most skilled fighter!

[dodge]

Gene Tunney has got to be mentioned. Right now James Toney is a great technician.