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Most guys who are new to boxing like to emulate their favorite fighters in the ring. But while some boxers have styles that are good for beginners to learn from, other boxers have styles that will likely get you KTFO if you try to emulate them. IMO:
Good boxers to learn from:
Oscar, Cotto, Marquez, Winky, Mikey/Danny Garcia, GGG, Holyfield, Joe Louis, etc.
These fighters do not necessarily have extraordinary physical gifts, but instead they rely on their rock solid fundamentals- good jabs, combinations, bodywork, high guards, good balance, good pacing, etc, to win fights. All qualities that are crucial for new boxers to learn. They also have relatively simple styles that are easy for new boxers to understand and employ.
Bad boxers to learn from:
Roy Jones Jr, Ali, Vitali, Hamed, Martinez, Pacquiao, Tyson, David Haye, Wilder, etc.
These fighters may have been extraordinary, but they are horrible for newbies to learn from. They mostly relied on their insane physical gifts to excel, such as crazy reflexes, speed, athleticism, or power. As a result, they tended to do extremely unorthodox things in the ring such as having their hands down, or leaping in and out with power shots. A new fighter trying to emulate this is going to get KTFO because he likely won't have the same physical gifts as the above fighters.
Somewhere in between:
Mayweather, Sweet Pea, Pep, Toney, Hopkins, Ward, Loma, Rigo, Crawford, etc.
These defensive technicians may seem like they would be good to learn from. But in reality, their skills may be too advanced for the average boxer to learn. A beginner trying to shoulder roll or pot-shot without knowing why and when to do these things is going to look a fool. A beginner will also likely be confused by Lomachenko's footwork or Crawford's switch-hitting. It may be better to stick to the basics.
I'm sure I left a lot of fighters out, but these are just the ones off the top of my head.
Good boxers to learn from:
Oscar, Cotto, Marquez, Winky, Mikey/Danny Garcia, GGG, Holyfield, Joe Louis, etc.
These fighters do not necessarily have extraordinary physical gifts, but instead they rely on their rock solid fundamentals- good jabs, combinations, bodywork, high guards, good balance, good pacing, etc, to win fights. All qualities that are crucial for new boxers to learn. They also have relatively simple styles that are easy for new boxers to understand and employ.
Bad boxers to learn from:
Roy Jones Jr, Ali, Vitali, Hamed, Martinez, Pacquiao, Tyson, David Haye, Wilder, etc.
These fighters may have been extraordinary, but they are horrible for newbies to learn from. They mostly relied on their insane physical gifts to excel, such as crazy reflexes, speed, athleticism, or power. As a result, they tended to do extremely unorthodox things in the ring such as having their hands down, or leaping in and out with power shots. A new fighter trying to emulate this is going to get KTFO because he likely won't have the same physical gifts as the above fighters.
Somewhere in between:
Mayweather, Sweet Pea, Pep, Toney, Hopkins, Ward, Loma, Rigo, Crawford, etc.
These defensive technicians may seem like they would be good to learn from. But in reality, their skills may be too advanced for the average boxer to learn. A beginner trying to shoulder roll or pot-shot without knowing why and when to do these things is going to look a fool. A beginner will also likely be confused by Lomachenko's footwork or Crawford's switch-hitting. It may be better to stick to the basics.
I'm sure I left a lot of fighters out, but these are just the ones off the top of my head.
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