when it comes to pure defensive ability

[Beercules]

Floyd needs distance to be 'slick' and he relies on distance to land his favorite punches. Pull counters lead right hands lead left hooks. He doesn't show lateral movement often



Pernell was much better at picking off shots, and just plain avoiding shots. Especially in the pocket


Sweet Pea would woop Floyd's ass to be honest. I've been watching a bunch of his fights today

[lolpz]

Had whitaker not abused all the drugs a fighter could possibly abuse, he could've certainly retired undefeated and been top 5 ATG much easier than floyd. He had more power than floyd by far, he had a LETHAL straight right. He could've knocked out most of his opponents if he wanted to, but he just wanted to mess wit them most of the time.

He was probably more physically gifted than floyd was, as was roy jones. But clearly, floyd was smarter than both. Roy jones was probably the most physically gifted fighter of all time though.

maybe something similar could be said about de la hoya, he could still be fighting today and would still have a world title. To do what DLH did with a ****ed up body like that is truly deserving of ATG status itself, but shoulda, woulda, coulda doesn't count in this sport. So all of this is irrelevant. Floyd ranks above everyone else I mentioned in this thread.


EDIT: lethal straight left, whitaker was a southpaw.

[AgainstTheRopes]

Whittaker was more elusive. Mayweather has greater IQ and is better at utilizing his defense to set up his offense.

[Cinci Champ]

We're talking about peak 4 peak, defense. I gave you an example of an out of prime Whitaker vs. a prime Oscar, and a prime Floyd vs. out of prime Oscar.

How are you even twisting this?

I don't care how he looked against certain fighters.

Floyd looked like crap against JLC, and Pernell shut out a JCC Sr. What's your point?

Pernell's shown at his best, no drugs, no BS, no outside the ring stuff, that his peak defensive abilities are unmatched.

You can't cherry pick a few fights, and act like that's what made Pernell. I guess Floyd sucks because Chop Chop, Zab and Shane rocked him. You see how dumb that sounds?

ya pernell was unreal but its known that floyd out classed him in sparring a few times when floyd was still with team usa.

[RINGG]

Whitaker and against better opposition.

[straightleft]

Floyd or Pernell.... only 1 choice

who had superior defensive skill

Pernell many miles away! Although I must admit Floyd is p4p #1 duck cherrypicker.

[New England]

mayweather has better defensive skills, and is a better technician.


whitaker fought better opposition, which is obviously a factor. he was also a southpaw, which means he's naturally more difficult to hit.

[MDPopescu]

The right answer for this thread is: Andre Ward.

[IronDanHamza]

Whitaker has the better defense IMO but he get's hit more, if that makes any sense.

Whitaker can stand infront of you and fire combinations and still avoid most of the punches coming back.

He got hit more because he threw a lot more, but he threw a lot more and still avoided most back. That's why I'd say his defense is better.

Floyd got hit less because he's a lot more safety first.

[djtmal]

Both are at the top I guess its a matter of styles.

Pernell for me. He was great at frustrating the best of his era.

Floyd gets major props too. After Shane nailed him with the two big shots,
he couldn't touch Floyd for 10 rounds, and Shane is a pretty accurate puncher.