The Most Gifted Fighter You've Seen

[Esquire]

I'm 50 years old. Saw every fight since 1978 forward. For me, the most gifted fighter I've ever seen (not necessarily the best) is Roy Jones, Jr. When I watch his fights at 160 and 168 I just marvel at the skill.

He isn't the best fighter I've seen at any weight he's fought at, but at those weights he was breathtaking.

What a freak he was. And that is saying a lot for me since he isn't anywhere near my top favorite fighters of all time. But I can't deny what I see.

[crusader]

Jones for me too

[Ezzard]

Ray Leonard though this Lomachenko chap looks good too.

[Tomasino]

Roy Jones or Floyd jnr. Lomachenko is really good but lacks power

[Kalan]

Vasyl Lomachenko has terrific power. He moved up in weight and stopped everyone at 130. I didn't expect Loma to stop Nicholas Walters who obviously had never been stopped -- never been beaten before -- but the man felt the power and took a powder. He didn't want to face the consequences of a KO punch because this game is tough enough without getting knocked cold. Loma's vision, balance, footwork, sense of distance, timing, defense, and ability to keep combinations rolling is the best I've ever see. He's the most gifted boxer in the history of the sport.

Nicholas Walters is a very gifted fighter himself. But instead of faking a KO punch when they take a hard shot -- which I've seen a lot of fighters do to avoid being knocked stiff -- it's more honest to take a knee and take the entire 10-count or just quit. "I've had enough. I can't win this one" like Walters did.

Gene Tunney was very gifted defensively. He was very slippery and a great counter-puncher who could throw from every angle.

Anthony Joshua is very gifted... Height, weight, reach, strength, power, and speed... He's one Heavyweight everyone says "He's got the package."

James Toney... Slick, tough, power, speed, chin. Went from supreme 160-pounder to Heavyweight. Didn't have to train or eat right he was so gifted.

Tim Witherspoon... One of the most gifted Heavyweights I've ever seen. He had the package. Damned near beat Holmes after 7 amateur and 15 pro fights. Why they pushed him up there that fast -- and what happened to Witherspoon after that is a mystery -- and a story of truly wasted potential.

Mikey Garcia.... He has a great sense of distance and timing that allows him stay ahead of you and control the fight. Has great accuracy and reflexes. You try to hit him and he punches you right in the face. A fight between Garcia and Lomachenko may be the top fight ever made between gifted boxers.

[handsofstone]

Lomachenko, Jones Jr, Leonard, Mayweather, Roman Gonzalez and Arguello

[Nile4000]

Ray Leonard
Greg Page.

[elmersalsa]

The great Roberto Duran....End of story!

[writehooks]

Ricard Lopez. Carlos Monzon. Bernard Hopkins.

[Seamus]

In my time, about 1970 to present. Sugar Ray Leonard.

[ElJefe]

Roy Jones. Incredibly gifted, probably one of those guys that could have reached the top at any sport had he chosen to. I'm just thankful he chose boxing.

The great Roberto Duran....End of story!

Duran is one of the greatest, but in terms of "most gifted" I think more of natural, "god given" ability. I'm a huge Duran fan so this isn't me knocking him but you can see his progression from the earlier brawler style to the master that he became. For me that development was due more to mentality, hard work, incredible ring IQ etc rather than being naturally gifted.

[dr_devious]

Leonard, Hearns, Whittaker, Mayweather, Jones Jr, Lomachenko

[BoxBuzz]

Two fighters come to mind first to me......both equally gifted, but in completely different ways.

Carlos Monzon.....Human Radar System......didn't need to be the fastest or the hardest punching, because he knew distances like a bat and his feet were always right where they belonged. I can not over emphasize how gifted he was in the most understated ways. One of a kind, and perhaps hard to recognize his talent and genius because it was not overly flashy and of course that murderer thing probably keeps some of us from wanting to offer up the credit. But it's right in line with that cold calculating approach to winning a fight.

Pernell Whitaker. Hard to understand why his name isn't stated more often in this thread. And his gifts were flashy, overstated and clear to see, his only problem was that he was aware of it, and wanted YOU to know it. I see Floyd as Pernell's jr Partner in that dept. Jones Jr should get get props as well. Ezzard and Ali for the HW's. Tunney? Yeah Ok.


I like seeing Toney's name here it fits.

I'm less inclined to name current fighters names. Cuz one bad day at work, and everyone will want to take back there accolades on the current crop. With that said, I can't see Lomachenko missing the future cut.

[Ossyrules]

Roy for me too

[bbjc]

Another one for roy. Just unbelievable god given talent. Two most talented would be him and ali pre exile. Been other great fighters over the years that worked so hard at it their skill level was very high. But these two stand alone for me in modern times anyway for pure god given talent.

Was almost unnatural watching them at times if that makes sense. Ali dodging punches by just moving his head a touch...things like that. It was like they sensed what was coming next. A joy to watch.

[ClivePatrickLyons]

I loved Terrible Tim Witherspoon was as talented as any heavyweight I seen in the 80's or 90's matter of fact as talented as most heavyweight's in any era he was a freak of a fighter just not dedicated at certain time's in his prime fighting day's he would have give Tyson fits in his prime but he would have had to train hard for that challenge BUT Sugar Ray Leonard is probably the best all round fighter I have seen since 1980 even though I idolise Duran/Hearns/Hagler I must say SRL was the most talented/dedicated/gifted fighter I have seen since I was a 10 year old

[scurlaruntings]

Floyd Mayweather. Mike Tyson and Sugar Shane Mosley

[tiny_acres]

Mayweather.... I think he's a real jerk, but man does he have talent

[elmersalsa]

Roy Jones. Incredibly gifted, probably one of those guys that could have reached the top at any sport had he chosen to. I'm just thankful he chose boxing.

The great Roberto Duran....End of story!

Duran is one of the greatest, but in terms of "most gifted" I think more of natural, "god given" ability. I'm a huge Duran fan so this isn't me knocking him but you can see his progression from the earlier brawler style to the master that he became. For me that development was due more to mentality, hard work, incredible ring IQ etc rather than being naturally gifted.

The Hands of Stone was a gifted natural born fighter. He could box, but it was overshadowed by his brawling style. Just watch his fight with Ernesto "Nato" Marcel. He outboxed the boxer. You will be very surprised. Duran was very versatile. He has done things inside that ring that I just be in awe, and ask myself, how did he do it?

I haven't seen a better boxer in my lifetime. The great Roberto Duran was something else.

Second, the most gifted boxer after Duran in my lifetime was the great Eusebio Pedroza. He could really fight. A very gifted boxer. He could box, fight well inside and outside and knew all the tricks of the book.

The third most gifted in my lifetime was the great Sugar Ray Leonard or Salvador Sanchez. One of the two, to me, is third place.

[Bodyshot3]

Thinking about British fighters I followed as a kid...Herol Graham and Kirk Laing spring to mind.

Both sadly fell short when it came to getting world titles, but they often made boxing look completely effortless and especially Laing who when he was not partying and went to the gym was exceptional.

He could glide around the ring and threw punches that were fast and came from the sort of angles that gave opponents a wretched time and left them bemused. He has that win over Duran to his name but his gifts were neutralised but a lack of dedication and concentration in some key fights.

I really began to buy into Roy Jones when I watched him dismantle Clinton Woods and pretty much as he pleased. Woods often gets rubbished but he was actually a strong, big light heavyweight with a decent punch and no shortage of grit. But Jones made it look like a walk in the park and again it was effortless.

[BoxBuzz]

Thinking about British fighters I followed as a kid...Herol Graham and Kirk Laing spring to mind.

Both sadly fell short when it came to getting world titles, but they often made boxing look completely effortless and especially Laing who when he was not partying and went to the gym was exceptional.

He could glide around the ring and threw punches that were fast and came from the sort of angles that gave opponents a wretched time and left them bemused. He has that win over Duran to his name but his gifts were neutralised but a lack of dedication and concentration in some key fights.

I really began to buy into Roy Jones when I watched him dismantle Clinton Woods and pretty much as he pleased. Woods often gets rubbished but he was actually a strong, big light heavyweight with a decent punch and no shortage of grit. But Jones made it look like a walk in the park and again it was effortless.

Graham's only problem was that he gained to much confidence in the fight with Julian as it played out. Just an ever so slight shift to safety first, and he would have attained the prize. I think he actually gained the belief within the context of the fight, That Julian could not take him out with one shot...........On the other hand...maybe Julian was setting him up.....but I suspect my first theory.

[Bodyshot3]

Graham's only problem was that he gained to much confidence in the fight with Julian as it played out. Just an ever so slight shift to safety first, and he would have attained the prize. I think he actually gained the belief within the context of the fight, That Julian could not take him out with one shot...........On the other hand...maybe Julian was setting him up.....but I suspect my first theory.

Good thoughts mate

I actually hesitated to mention Herol simply because he fell short on most of his big/crucial nights and to a certain extent an argument could be made that he looked brilliant and effortless against a particular 'come at you' type of opponent like Rod Douglas and Kaylor. But on his night he made boxing look dead simple and could often do much as he pleased.

Laing actually had far more in his locker in my opinion - he had the finishing power/instinct to get plenty of folk out of there early - but discipline-wise he was absolutely all over the shop and probably had Duff turning to the drinks cabinet before midday.

In the very late 80s and early 90s Kirk's record is bemusing to say the least....losing some very winnable fights and yet still wiping out some very decent opponents in just a few rounds. Kirk is the British ringstar that got away.

[bwu]

Never saw him in person, of course, but on tape Willie Pep seems pretty remarkable, especially considering the plane crash.