Who Had/Has a Better Jab than Larry Holmes?

[Sugar Adam Ali]

Tommy Hearns probably is the only guy I would put ahead of Holmes,,, hearns dominated fights behind the jab and was never outboxed by anyone ever as a pro

Not sure if better, but equally as dominant in fights would be

Lennox
Winky
Ike quartey
Pinklon
golata
Ali


Honorable mention:
Oscar (when he used it and not tired and abandoning it)
Hopkins
Floyd
Barrera later in his career

[Tony Trick-Pony]

Tommy Hearns probably is the only guy I would put ahead of Holmes,,, hearns dominated fights behind the jab and was never outboxed by anyone ever as a pro

Not sure if better, but equally as dominant in fights would be

Lennox
Winky
Ike quartey
Pinklon
golata
Ali


Honorable mention:
Oscar (when he used it and not tired and abandoning it)
Hopkins
Floyd
Barrera later in his career

That's a great point about Golota. I never would consider him a great fighter, but when he was on, he was on. Technically better than many heavyweights of his time. You're another one to bring up Pinklon. I got to look him up and watch more of his fights now.

[LacedUp]

Tommy Hearns probably is the only guy I would put ahead of Holmes,,, hearns dominated fights behind the jab and was never outboxed by anyone ever as a pro

Not sure if better, but equally as dominant in fights would be

Lennox
Winky
Ike quartey
Pinklon
golata
Ali


Honorable mention:
Oscar (when he used it and not tired and abandoning it)
Hopkins
Floyd
Barrera later in his career

Probably Golota had a better jab than all of the other guys you mentioned, except for prime Ali.

I think prime Ali's jab was better than Holmes' as well. Tommy Hearns definitely had a great jab, so does Mayweather and it was even better in his earlier career.

There's been many. Sonny Liston & George Foreman also both had incredibly hard jabs.

[deathofaclown]

hearns dominated fights behind the jab and was never outboxed by anyone ever as a pro

These kind of statements are a bit ****** i find. Maybe he never lost a points decision but he certainly got knocked out. So obviously those times he was clearly outboxed as they got through his jab, defence etc. outboxed him and stopped him.


like Amir Khan says he's never been outboxed. Well he quite clearly has because Canelo and Garcia timed him and knocked him out. Timing shots is a big part of boxing, hence he was outboxed. They outboxed him to such a level that they didn't need to go 12 rounds.

[soul_survivor]

Imo Wlad and Lennox come pretty close to Holmes..

I feel like both guys pawed with their jabs. It often looked lazy and weak and was just there to use their height to fend off shorter guys. They could definitely put some power in it but they didn't do it often, Lewis probably was more attack minded than Wlad so he did it more often but they weren't great jabbers consistently enough.

The only heavy who challenges Holmes for a great jab is Ali but he didn't have the same oomph as Holmes, although it was quicker. Thinking about it, Foreman could utilise is jab really well too, setting up some good power shots. And let's not forget, a prime Tyson could use his own jab well too to work his way inside.

[Cyberspace]

Ali's was faster than Holmes but no where near as hard.
Liston's was harder than Holmes but no where near as fast.

So probably not better.

[BoxingFan85]

I feel like both guys pawed with their jabs. It often looked lazy and weak and was just there to use their height to fend off shorter guys. They could definitely put some power in it but they didn't do it often, Lewis probably was more attack minded than Wlad so he did it more often but they weren't great jabbers consistently enough.

The only heavy who challenges Holmes for a great jab is Ali but he didn't have the same oomph as Holmes, although it was quicker. Thinking about it, Foreman could utilise is jab really well too, setting up some good power shots. And let's not forget, a prime Tyson could use his own jab well too to work his way inside.

C'mon bro, Wlad put enough in his jab.. And he always jabs before setting up right hand.. He used to mark the faces up with his jabs alone.. Lennox did have a good jab but not as good as Holmes, I agree that's why I said they come close..
Coming to Ali, I always feel during his initial fights he had a very good jab and power shots that followed it but after his first title reign he changed his style a bit and used jabs more for decoy and more a positioning reference for his right hooks, straights, upper cuts.
Big George was generally heavy handed, his jabs had to have enough venom in them..
I'm sorry but Tyson doesn't qualify to me as a good jabber.. I have barely seen him put it out to good affect. That's also because of his height disadvantage and the guys he fought.
Now Holmes was the best known jabber to that date, yes We had better boxers but not the best jabs.. His Jab, much like Wlad had enough power, kept the opponents at distance, stop them in their tracks and start marking them up good. And most important it was non-stop, like always in your face type..

[New England]

ali and liston. i don't think they're better, neccessarily, they're just the three guys hwo i think are the best jabbers ever. no surprise thay they're Hw, where guys stand at arms length and set up big punches

[M Bison]

Felix Sturms jab is very nice, he's a linear type of fighter but he utilized that jab very well his jab is menacing and it can inflict a lot of damage obviously as time has crept up on him its obvious he isn't doing as well as he use to with it.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

Felix Sturms jab is very nice, he's a linear type of fighter but he utilized that jab very well his jab is menacing and it can inflict a lot of damage obviously as time has crept up on him its obvious he isn't doing as well as he use to with it.

Good call,,, sturm did have a very good jab, I forgot about him