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I hate this miniature window that comes up for me to write in and will not be enlarged. How do I cure it? Is there a way?
Okay, those little up and down tabs in the upper right. But I like to make the frame wider too. Wait, it worked. Anyway...
Let's get down to business.
There are few if any categories in boxing where one can easily choose a greatest. Offhand, I can think of only one--CHIN. I am willing to say George Chuvalo had the greatest chin ever in boxing, and leave it at that. Everything else is a discussion, really.
For stamina, I know Marciano was up there, but I cannot automatically concede first place to him, because there were so many others that could fight all day, especially in the lower weights.
For sheer speed of the traveling mitt, I believe Howard Davis was perhaps the fastest fighter I ever saw.
In the lefhook category, I would probably go with Robinson.
For the bob and weave, I would choose the early Tyson over Pacquiao, because Tyson could attack simultaneously with his movements. Early Pacquiao bobbed and weaved wonderfully, but had to suddenly stop to attack. Tyson was more fluid and continuous at his best.
Ring generalship must go to either Ali or Leonard, over Monzon and Mayweather and many others, because they faced a higher level of competition. Their ring generalship actually extended beyond the ring to the audience and judges. Only those two at the highest level seemed to not only out-think their opponents, but the entire world while they were doing it. Mayweather has demonstrated some of this mesmerizing ability as well, but he has never faced anything approaching a Hagler or a Liston while doing it. That is the difference.
Footwork I probably give to Jersey Joe. Nobody was that cute when he wanted to be. Old Joe might even win in the feinting category, as well, which would be something special to have two categorical crowns.
Ezzard Charles was all around good, but I cannot think of a categorical crown that he wins. No big deal. It does not reflect poorly on a fighter's greatness. There are only so many categories to go around, and theoretically every fighter but one is a loser in each category.
That is only a few of the categories.
Okay, those little up and down tabs in the upper right. But I like to make the frame wider too. Wait, it worked. Anyway...
Let's get down to business.
There are few if any categories in boxing where one can easily choose a greatest. Offhand, I can think of only one--CHIN. I am willing to say George Chuvalo had the greatest chin ever in boxing, and leave it at that. Everything else is a discussion, really.
For stamina, I know Marciano was up there, but I cannot automatically concede first place to him, because there were so many others that could fight all day, especially in the lower weights.
For sheer speed of the traveling mitt, I believe Howard Davis was perhaps the fastest fighter I ever saw.
In the lefhook category, I would probably go with Robinson.
For the bob and weave, I would choose the early Tyson over Pacquiao, because Tyson could attack simultaneously with his movements. Early Pacquiao bobbed and weaved wonderfully, but had to suddenly stop to attack. Tyson was more fluid and continuous at his best.
Ring generalship must go to either Ali or Leonard, over Monzon and Mayweather and many others, because they faced a higher level of competition. Their ring generalship actually extended beyond the ring to the audience and judges. Only those two at the highest level seemed to not only out-think their opponents, but the entire world while they were doing it. Mayweather has demonstrated some of this mesmerizing ability as well, but he has never faced anything approaching a Hagler or a Liston while doing it. That is the difference.
Footwork I probably give to Jersey Joe. Nobody was that cute when he wanted to be. Old Joe might even win in the feinting category, as well, which would be something special to have two categorical crowns.
Ezzard Charles was all around good, but I cannot think of a categorical crown that he wins. No big deal. It does not reflect poorly on a fighter's greatness. There are only so many categories to go around, and theoretically every fighter but one is a loser in each category.
That is only a few of the categories.
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