BoxRec

I've just had a rip roaring argument with a friend of mine. :)

We were arguing about which heavyweight had the best jab since Larry Holmes.

I swear it's Pinklon Thomas; he scoffed at that & he swears it's Lennox Lewis.

I thought I would put this out to vote to find out which one of us is right or whether we are just 'dumb & dumber' & there is a better candidate to choose? :P

I think Pink did have a great jab, but he was less consistent with it and was never as versatile or as reliant on it as Lewis was.

Lewis used his jab better in defence, offense and to keep a man at bay. Least of all the set it up good shots like his uppercut and cross.

Pinklon, who I think broke his hand, started to flick his jab more as his career went on, losing that snap and pop.

Lewis used his jab with effectiveness against better men, and won against better men, utilising it.

Thomas faced alot of good guys and beat a few, but his jab was less effective.

Kym

Pinklon did, but Carl Williams and Greg Page both had better jabs than either Lennox or Pinklon.

Thomas at his best (Witherspoon, Weaver fights) had the better jab. But after the Berbick loss Thomas really slipped as a fighter and his once snapping jab became more of a weak tap-tap. He (strangely) didn't display his once forminable jab at all vs Tyson

Some good shouts on here.

I see it's neck & neck between Thomas & Lewis!!!

It was worth an argument after all!!! :)

Lewis had a good (not great) jab when he used it. Often he would just sort of paw with it. A jab isn't normally going to be a hard punch, but it should have something on it. In particular in the 2nd Holyfield fight, he had absolutely nothing on almost all of his jabs. He was also outjabbed by Ray Mercer.

When Lewis committed to his jab, he was much more effective. However, he often had nothing on it.

Overall, Thomas and others from the 1980's and 1990's had better jabs than Lewis.

Lewis could be outjabbed, dont think Thomas in his day could be outjabbed.

Thomas use v Witherspoon & Weaver was very consistent, Lewis was rarely consistent with his.

A fair few good jabbers since, Moorer, Bruno, Bowe, surprisingly Mercer, all very good.

True, Carl Williams must have one of the best jabs of the last 20 years regardless of his other shortcomings.

How about Bruce Seldon? He had one of the best jabs of all the 1990s.

Bruno's was solid and powerful. He outjabbed Lewis in their fight.

In temrs of Thomas not showing it against Tyson (think demspey's point). I remember there being lots of talk about Tyson basically always slipping jabs, coming insodes and ripping in his combos. I think this made some fighters hold back the jab because theyknew he was trying to time it.

But Thomas fought Tyson with a major shoulder injury. He gave Tyson a very hard time. Tyson said on CNN with Larry King 'Thomas was by far his toughest fight' (1992 or so)

Thomas still used his jab in an undercaard fight prior to Tyson in 1986 v William Hosea, i have it on tape.

Lewis used his Job to help hum Retreat and move around the ring and keep his reach from his opponents. But i did not really see him use it effectivley in Combinations and speed Punches.

Thomas had that moe classy style so the Jab worked well in His strategy, which relied more on combinations then that Brutal KO Punch (with Lewis Looked for).

I would give it to Thomas

When Thomas was in form he is one of the best guys to watch with his jab and boxing skills. At his worse, he is frustrating, especially later on when you are aware of his talent and you know he is a scalp for the other guy to hang on his professional wall.

Lewis when at his best, never really seemed to excite me. There is no denying his talent and Power. But for me, well he is just a guy as a viewing fan I never get excited about.