BoxRec

I’ll start it out with heavy and offer Larry Holmes.

Sonny Liston and Henry Cooper

Totally off the top of the head, first names that come to mind:

HW – Holmes
LHW – Foster
SMW – Kessler
MW – Monzon
WW – Hearns
LW – Buchanan
FW – Arguello

J-C wrote: ↑03 Apr 2019, 04:41 Totally off the top of the head, first names that come to mind:

HW – Holmes
LHW – Foster
SMW – Kessler
MW – Monzon
WW – Hearns
LW – Buchanan
FW – Arguello

Ken Buchanan had that jab, man! He was Awesome!

Sweet Pea had a massively effective jab, and from southpaw stance it made it even more effective.

in his autobiography, Angelo Dundee compared Sugar Ray Leonard's jab to Sonny Liston's. !
Angelo Dundee even advises'not to laugh" when he writes it down in the book).

HW: Larry Holmes
LHW: Harold Johnson
MW: Sumbu Kalambay
WW: Thomas Hearns
LW: Pernell Whitaker
FW: Howard Winstone
BW: Lionel Rose
FlyW: Masao Ohba

Almost impossible to pick just one for an individual weight class.

HW - Louis, Ali, Holmes.
LHW - Tunney, Loughran, Conn, Johnson, Foster
MW - Robinson, Monzon, Hagler
WW - Robinson, Napoles, Leonard, Hearns
LW - Gans, Leonard, Williams, Whitaker
Little Dudes - Pep, Sanchez, Harada

I always liked Lopez' jab down at Straw.

Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑05 Apr 2019, 11:08 Almost impossible to pick just one for an individual weight class.

HW - Louis, Ali, Holmes.
LHW - Tunney, Loughran, Conn, Johnson, Foster
MW - Robinson, Monzon, Hagler
WW - Robinson, Napoles, Leonard, Hearns
LW - Gans, Leonard, Williams, Whitaker
Little Dudes - Pep, Sanchez, Harada

It is impossible. So many TYPES of jabs, not only so many fighters with good jabs.

I agree with the different types problem. Hearns jab was great, but more it was more of a ruse to disguise his straight right than a a classic, stinging jab.

In my humble opinion the jab is THE most important punch in the book. Everything should come from the jab.
What makes a great jab?
It lands smack on the button every time - it's has a REAL effect ( meaning get out the way!) - and it lands about 6 inches through the back of the opponents head!
Sonny Liston !

Overall favorite jabs regardless of weight class:

1-Holmes
2-Leonard
3-Foreman
4-Ali
5-Liston
6-Pernell Whitaker
7-Oscar Del La Hoya
8-Salvador Sanchez
9-Mark Breland
10-Ike Quartay
11-Tommy Hearns

Jasonkinsley wrote: ↑05 Apr 2019, 20:19 I agree with the different types problem. Hearns jab was great, but more it was more of a ruse to disguise his straight right than a a classic, stinging jab.

No. It COULD be used that way. It could also snap the opponent's head back at will, and he could use it to out-fence pretty much everyone. From Welterweight all the way up to Lt. Heavyweight.

Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑05 Apr 2019, 11:08 Almost impossible to pick just one for an individual weight class.

HW - Louis, Ali, Holmes.
LHW - Tunney, Loughran, Conn, Johnson, Foster
MW - Robinson, Monzon, Hagler
WW - Robinson, Napoles, Leonard, Hearns
LW - Gans, Leonard, Williams, Whitaker
Little Dudes - Pep, Sanchez, Harada

Would put Donald Curry in there, as well as Michael Spinks.

Abradolf Lincler wrote: ↑07 Apr 2019, 00:16 No. It COULD be used that way. It could also snap the opponent's head back at will, and he could use it to out-fence pretty much everyone. From Welterweight all the way up to Lt. Heavyweight.

ask 175lb Virgil Hill what he thought of Hearns' jab, after getting his face smashed in by it

Nile4000 wrote: ↑09 Apr 2019, 17:04 Would put Donald Curry in there, as well as Michael Spinks.

McCallum said it was the best jab he'd faced 'he was a baaaad man with that jab'

Underrated jabbers:-

Carl Williams
Bruce Seldon
Pinklon Thomas
John Conteh
Frank Bruno

Counter-puncher wrote: ↑10 Apr 2019, 04:26 McCallum said it was the best jab he'd faced 'he was a baaaad man with that jab'

Shame Donald didn't fight Mike when he was at his best. But he did the best he could, at that point in time, and almost pulled it off.

Nile4000 wrote: ↑10 Apr 2019, 15:38 Shame Donald didn't fight Mike when he was at his best. But he did the best he could, at that point in time, and almost pulled it off.

It's a big stretch from going 5 rounds to nearly pulling it off

Counter-puncher wrote: ↑10 Apr 2019, 16:45 It's a big stretch from going 5 rounds to nearly pulling it off

Curry at this best couldn't beat McCallum.

Counter-puncher wrote: ↑10 Apr 2019, 16:45 It's a big stretch from going 5 rounds to nearly pulling it off

You're right, maybe I was overstating it a bit, but I feel Donald could beat Mike under the right circumstances, i.e no Ray Leonard.

oogiebe wrote: ↑10 Apr 2019, 16:52 Curry at this best couldn't beat McCallum.

That's debatable.

Nile4000 wrote: ↑10 Apr 2019, 17:04 That's debatable.

Not to me. Curry was good, but McCallum was great.

oogiebe wrote: ↑10 Apr 2019, 17:20 Not to me. Curry was good, but McCallum was great.

He was, but a less-than-best Curry had him shook to the score in that second round. Imagine what a tight Curry could have done.