Best defensive British fighters of all time?

[ThereByTheGrace]

Holding isn't defense.

Yes it is! Its a form of defence. Depends on the leniency of the referee when using that tactic

[TheLeprechaun]

Most ingle fighters with Herol Graham no1 Johnny Nelson was another fighter very hard to hit .

agreed on Johnny Nelson. His defensive skills were highly developed. He was exclusively defensive. The man just would not lead. That could lead to a masterclass of counter punching and defence, if the guy came straight at him. And also a lot of frustration - the first four rounds against Dominguez were annoying, because he wouldn’t do anything, but then picked up to box well the rest of the fight; he did nothing against Sellers until he landed that shot in Sellers’ eye, which fortunately ended the fight. He started very, very late, leading to a marrow decision over Cantatore in Italy. And I believe the fight with Petkovoc was very similar. And the absolute extreme is, the Carlos De Leon fight, in which Nelson basically neutralised the entire fight, leading to the infamous draw labelled “nil-nil”.

When Nelson was champion the Sky Sports crew were having kittens every fight until Johnny would start throwing punches, I recall. The Guillermo Jones draw was so bad that Nelson’s subsequent, final three defenses were away from home.

Nelson was probably the best I've seen at stinking a joint out. And that's saying something. I'd say he was proud of Witter in the Judah fight.

[stujones]

That's pretty contradictory, Ali was absolutely a low guard reflexes defender. When he got older his defense was his granite chin. Though he definitely was not British.

I don't think it was entirely his granite chin as he got older. Great in the clinch and up close, nullified his opponents offense well. Some of his defensive moves were Klitchsko esque. As good as Ali's chin's was - if Foreman landed clean as many as he threw there is no way Ali would have withstood it. Foreman didn't catch him clean enough.

He still had plenty of his reflexes then. He guarded his chin and gave up his body, it was still his toughness that beat foreman. Point remains, he was a speed, movement and reflex defender. Far more Jones than Whitaker, Floyd, Hopkins, etc..

Yes agree, but my point way when age did catch up with him - which for a pure reflex guy it often shows up at a relatively young age in the scheme of things (e.g. Roy was in early/mid 30s when he was getting tagged) - Ali changed his style, adapted his defense to his age and was difficult to hit clean, even though his reflexes were not what they were. He couldn't fight the likes of Frazier and Ken Norton as he did in his young days... he would have been KO'd.

I think the prime example of how good he was defensively was in the first Liston fight, when he couldn't see properly in the 5th (I think) round, yet still Liston couldn't catch him clean and it was not all about the reflexes - it was the grabbing and holding, which is all part of the defense.

Ali was a RJJ / Naz in his youth, but was more Hopkins in his later career - for me anyway.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Grabbing and holding is not defense. Ali in his older days was not hard to hit clean. Honestly, and you seem knowledgeable, I don't see your point at all. When Jones lost his reflexes he didn't have anything near the chin and he was harder to hit than Ali when they were both at their best.

[stu 27]

As some one mentioned Peter Buckley earlier I'd give kris laight a shout
Love watching Emanuel Augustus and pirog

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Holding isn't defense.

Yes it is! Its a form of defence. Depends on the leniency of the referee when using that tactic

If you mean it keeps you from being punched, yes. If you mean as a skill, no. It's a foul.

[ThereByTheGrace]

Holding isn't defense.

Yes it is! Its a form of defence. Depends on the leniency of the referee when using that tactic

If you mean it keeps you from being punched, yes. If you mean as a skill, no. It's a foul.

Its a skill! All part of boxing. Watch a wlad klitschko fight he couldnt fight on the inside and he was a world champ for years.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Yes it is! Its a form of defence. Depends on the leniency of the referee when using that tactic

If you mean it keeps you from being punched, yes. If you mean as a skill, no. It's a foul.

Its a skill! All part of boxing. Watch a wlad klitschko fight he couldnt fight on the inside and he was a world champ for years.

So breidis lost a point for too much skill?

[ThereByTheGrace]

If you mean it keeps you from being punched, yes. If you mean as a skill, no. It's a foul.

Its a skill! All part of boxing. Watch a wlad klitschko fight he couldnt fight on the inside and he was a world champ for years.

So breidis lost a point for too much skill?

The skill is getting away with it. Being clever.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Its a skill! All part of boxing. Watch a wlad klitschko fight he couldnt fight on the inside and he was a world champ for years.

So breidis lost a point for too much skill?

The skill is getting away with it. Being clever.

Ok

[Spiker]

Ingle fighters Hamed, Herol witter all to a degree until they faced the elite.
But we are talking British so these stand in my mind. Cant think of any Robinsons or Floyds over here really

[Ossyrules]

Sam Eggington.

[Coco]

For me PBF in the first half of the Hatton fight was a good example. He was quite negative to nullify Ricky, he tied him up well, got away with it with the referee, and then prevailed after taking the sting out of our man with these tactics

[olij999]

Kirkland Laing and Herol Graham for me.

Don't think we should include journeymen in this debate (unless we are looking at very high-level examples such as Emanuel Augustus who come to win) - it is much easier to look like a defensive wizard if you are not actually looking to throw many punches or win the fight.

As for the holding debate, holding is a foul, pure and simple. It's up to referees to enforce the rules. Breidis clearly did what he felt he could get away with, which was a lot - haven't seen a fight with that much jab and grab since Patrizio Oliva fought Kirkland Laing. Terrible to watch.

[stujones]

Kirkland Laing and Herol Graham for me.

Don't think we should include journeymen in this debate (unless we are looking at very high-level examples such as Emanuel Augustus who come to win) - it is much easier to look like a defensive wizard if you are not actually looking to throw many punches or win the fight.

As for the holding debate, holding is a foul, pure and simple. It's up to referees to enforce the rules. Breidis clearly did what he felt he could get away with, which was a lot - haven't seen a fight with that much jab and grab since Patrizio Oliva fought Kirkland Laing. Terrible to watch.

Agree regarding Journeymen, complete cover up / smoother to survive is different to the other examples noted.

I sort of agree regarding Holding, but there is a skill about "getting away with it" and it is something that is taught and comes with experience so I still think it should count. Tommy Hearns in his two fights with Leonard being the prime example.

[Stuarty]

Sam Eggington.

He's class at blocking punches.... with his face

[Stuarty]

Not the best obviously but Ricky Burns is pretty good defensively.