Which Fighter Has Had the Best Defense of All-Time?

[Tony Trick-Pony]

When I think of great defense, I think of Willie Pep for one since he knew how to avoid punches like crazy. I also think of Nicolino Locche. And of course, the great Roberto Duran had an aggressive style and still knew how not to get hit- brilliant. Of course, Mayweather was always excellent at avoiding shots. Jack Johnson was quite a defensive as well. I'm not sure who ranks first, though. Any thoughts?

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

It’s between Pep, Sweet Pea and Mayweather IMO. Pep and Whitaker were probably the most elusive but Floyd was probably the most textbook.

I’d probably go Mayweather tbf, when you look across his entire career he barely took any serious damage.

I know they were past their peaks but Pep and Whitaker still had to take their licks against the likes of Saddler and Tito.

[GhostofDempsey]

I would say Pep or Locche. Whitaker had a great defense as well.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

It’s between Pep, Sweet Pea and Mayweather IMO. Pep and Whitaker were probably the most elusive but Floyd was probably the most textbook.

I’d probably go Mayweather tbf, when you look across his entire career he barely took any serious damage.

I know they were past their peaks but Pep and Whitaker still had to take their licks against the likes of Saddler and Tito.

That's true. Mayweather took his licks from Mosley and Corley, too. He was great but everyone gets lit up if they stay around long enough. To his credit, he won those fights, though. A lot of guys would have had a lot more trouble in there.

[RHETOЯIC]

Floyd.

He had all the elements of the great defensive fighters before him and then some.

He could use his feet to evade you, his head movement, his gloves, or his shoulders.

He also set traps to force an opponent to throw a certain punch that he was prepared to evade.

In some ways, he used his defensive abilities as an offensive tool.

[Matt60]

Mayweather easily. He's never been knocked down in his career. He's never really been rattled either. Can you remember a fighter getting good clean licks on Mayweather? The fact that people still talk to this day about one Mosley punch that made Mayweather twitch a bit shows how good Mayweather was. People have to point to that punch which really didn't damage Mayweather. They can't point to a knockout or a fighter getting 5 good punches in a row on Mayweather.

[Fanofreason]

Probably Getti had the best defense. He made FLoyd miss all night in their fight

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

That's true. Mayweather took his licks from Mosley and Corley, too. He was great but everyone gets lit up if they stay around long enough. To his credit, he won those fights, though. A lot of guys would have had a lot more trouble in there.

I just think Mayweather’s defence was a little more adaptable. When he was 37/38 he was just as hard to hit clean.

Obviously Pep and Whitaker weren’t as physically healthy as Floyd by that age for various reasons but once their legs slowed their defence wasn’t as effective as it once was.

[Mike D]

I'm gonna go with Floyd

And bro...why is my former coworker's husband your profile pic

[Tony Trick-Pony]

I'm gonna go with Floyd

And bro...why is my former coworker's husband your profile pic

Because it's legendary! That's why! Haha