He wasn't a defensive fighter. If you'll notice, he's the one throwing the vast majority of the punches and pushing the pace. He did this often. Again, he wasn't a defensive fighter, he simply had great defense. He incorporated it into his game perfectly, but that just means he was technically proficient to a phenomenal degree, not defensive-minded. That's not to say he never fought that way, but if you'll actually review his career, he became less and less defensively oriented as he matured.
I don't know about the two best ever. Willie Pep was pretty hand too, but they'd definitely both be top 10, probably top 5 defensively. Harold Brazier was arguably the next best defensive boxer in this era, which just goes to show how superior Whittaker was.
A lot of people don't like watching Whitaker but I usually enjoy his fights. He might not be very powerful but atleast he throws a lot of punches. I can understand though, he is very defensive and his fights aren't 'thrilling' because he simply doesn't get hit.
At 8:01 is the most lucid, insightful comment I think George Foreman ever made for HBO, about the littler fighters showing that they are better than the Heavy's and deserve the better money. It was even a bit prophetic, looking at the fact that Floyd and Manny are the best paid athletes in the world now. We've finally figured out that greatness can exist under 200 pounds. Also, watching this makes me long to see a prime Pernell Whitaker versus a prime Floyd Mayweather.
In the late 80s and 90s there were so many great fighters in junior welterweight and welterweight division that if Floyd had fought back then that someone would have beat him And Thomas Hearns or Sugar Ray would have knocked him out Pernell would be the most skilled southpaw Floyd would have faced and if by chance he would have moved up to the junior middleweight division and faced Julian Jackson, Gerald McClellan, or Terry Norris he would have been destroyed. Not saying that he wouldn't be a champ but he would not be undefeated.
@Leviathan123456 well, sweet pea threw more combos while floyd pot shot his oppenents. so sweet pea gave his opponent more openings. sweet pea was knocked down before, floyd never was knocked down.
I understand what u are trying to say,but I disagree, I think he was defensive minded. because a guy like mayweather's defense if more comprised of picking off punches. Zab Judah's defense is mainly that he's so fast he can drop his guard at times and weave punches, Pernell combined both.
pernell is my favourite fighters of all time his movement, speed and everything was on point this is who i train to fight like. watch my boxing FIGHT on my channel
@ironman36 They also all fought better fighters/took more risks than Floyd. A lot of those losses/knockdowns took place when either pre or post-prime as well. And what do losses have to do with defensive ability? Often times it's the habit of fighting a mostly defense first sort of fight that lost them the decisions on points (whether right or wrong on the judge's part )due to lack of offensive out-put in comparison to their opponent. It has nothing to do with their lack of skill in that regard.
@Mowglieboy69 trust me, i've been watching Hagler since I was a little kid. Hagler really does it all, box and slug it out. I don't go by half assed writers, unlike them I actually watch boxing. In the Hearns and Leonard I fight, Both fighters at one point Boxed and Brawled. Leonard Brawled with Duran in the first fight. and race like it or not do play a big role in sports. in you didn't know that then you from another planet.
wrong. the fighters that they fought in those days were just as much of a competition as Floyd fought. i.e. joe louis, sugar ray robinson (not to be racist) dominated the sport because most of their opponents were white. The oppenents of Leonard, Hearns, Hagler and Duran were just as much of competition as Floyd, they just fought them differently. and what set Floyd apart from those fighters is his defensive fighting style. Hagler and the rest of em fought mostly in a brawling style.
@Mowglieboy69 its so funny when people are quick to say, Floyd never fought the best out there to test himself. but its OK for Pacquiao to fight a bum like Margarito, a defeated Cotto and a 147 weak De La Hoya. if you people say that Pacquiao's the best then i say he should fight Mosley take the random blood/urine test for $40 million and beat Floyd.
@Mowglieboy69 This post is right on the money. Whitaker was an amazing fighter. It surprises a lot of people to hear that Ring Mag rated him 10th all time P4P. But he beat so many high-quality fighters, and beat them easily, he deserves all the accolades.
@TGUNZ562 Haha, well played sir. As an MMA fan I appreciate a a fighter with good hands and striking defense. I mean lots of MMA fighters have such sloppy punching technique these days.
@ironman36 What role? I'm not talking politics, I'm simply talking about the ability of the fighters. Give some examples of inferior white fighters that Robinson and the like generally fought as their top conquests if you feel that way.
@ironman36 Now you're exposing your ignorance full force, if you hadn't made it blatantly obvious before. Saying that Hagler and the like fought in a brawling style shows that you've either only seen select clips (likely of the Hearns and Leonard fights when past prime) or are simply regurgitating the opinions of half-assed "writers". What does race have to do with anything, anyway? The bottom line is: Floyd didn't test himself to anywhere near the level the guys you mentioned did.
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He wasn't a defensive fighter. If you'll notice, he's the one throwing the vast majority of the punches and pushing the pace. He did this often. Again, he wasn't a defensive fighter, he simply had great defense. He incorporated it into his game perfectly, but that just means he was technically proficient to a phenomenal degree, not defensive-minded. That's not to say he never fought that way, but if you'll actually review his career, he became less and less defensively oriented as he matured.
Very Good point
I don't know about the two best ever. Willie Pep was pretty hand too, but they'd definitely both be top 10, probably top 5 defensively. Harold Brazier was arguably the next best defensive boxer in this era, which just goes to show how superior Whittaker was.
I agree.
I meant that Whitaker is very defensive as in he doesn't get hit, not as in he runs around the ring avoiding contact.
A lot of people don't like watching Whitaker but I usually enjoy his fights.
He might not be very powerful but atleast he throws a lot of punches.
I can understand though, he is very defensive and his fights aren't 'thrilling' because he simply doesn't get hit.
Cmó pega y combina esos zurdaso el juego de pierna de whitaker
LOL at "aside from Floyd Mayweather". Floyd would be borderline top 10 defensive fighters of all time.
At 8:01 is the most lucid, insightful comment I think George Foreman ever made for HBO, about the littler fighters showing that they are better than the Heavy's and deserve the better money.
It was even a bit prophetic, looking at the fact that Floyd and Manny are the best paid athletes in the world now. We've finally figured out that greatness can exist under 200 pounds.
Also, watching this makes me long to see a prime Pernell Whitaker versus a prime Floyd Mayweather.
who is a better defensive fighter floyd or pernell...id say pernell.
@TGUNZ562 I'm sorry but what do you mean by if you don't appreciate Sweet Pea you should be an MMA fan? I'm not offended or anything I'm just curious.
Pernell Whitaker has some of the best defensive skills
In the late 80s and 90s there were so many great fighters in junior welterweight and welterweight division that if Floyd had fought back then that someone would have beat him And Thomas Hearns or Sugar Ray would have knocked him out Pernell would be the most skilled southpaw Floyd would have faced and if by chance he would have moved up to the junior middleweight division and faced Julian Jackson, Gerald McClellan, or Terry Norris he would have been destroyed. Not saying that he wouldn't be a champ but he would not be undefeated.
Pea was a master.
Look up the sweet science in the dictionary you will see a picture of Sweet Pee.
@ironman36 Locche, Zapata, Lora, Benitez, Whitaker, and Pep were all better defensive fighters, to name a few.
@Leviathan123456 well, sweet pea threw more combos while floyd pot shot his oppenents. so sweet pea gave his opponent more openings. sweet pea was knocked down before, floyd never was knocked down.
I understand what u are trying to say,but I disagree, I think he was defensive minded. because a guy like mayweather's defense if more comprised of picking off punches. Zab Judah's defense is mainly that he's so fast he can drop his guard at times and weave punches, Pernell combined both.
@snoop11080 its not speed that Whitaker used. it was timing and accuracy
pernell is my favourite fighters of all time his movement, speed and everything was on point this is who i train to fight like. watch my boxing FIGHT on my channel
@Leviathan123456 Floyd took less punishment than sweet pea. not to take anything away from Sweet pea, his defense just looks prettier than Floyd.
@ironman36 They also all fought better fighters/took more risks than Floyd. A lot of those losses/knockdowns took place when either pre or post-prime as well. And what do losses have to do with defensive ability? Often times it's the habit of fighting a mostly defense first sort of fight that lost them the decisions on points (whether right or wrong on the judge's part )due to lack of offensive out-put in comparison to their opponent. It has nothing to do with their lack of skill in that regard.
sweet pea is my fav fighter
sweet pea was such a good counter puncher that he didnt have to use his speed all the time notice the other guy is scared to throw a punch
@Mowglieboy69 trust me, i've been watching Hagler since I was a little kid. Hagler really does it all, box and slug it out. I don't go by half assed writers, unlike them I actually watch boxing. In the Hearns and Leonard I fight, Both fighters at one point Boxed and Brawled. Leonard Brawled with Duran in the first fight. and race like it or not do play a big role in sports. in you didn't know that then you from another planet.
wrong. the fighters that they fought in those days were just as much of a competition as Floyd fought. i.e. joe louis, sugar ray robinson (not to be racist) dominated the sport because most of their opponents were white. The oppenents of Leonard, Hearns, Hagler and Duran were just as much of competition as Floyd, they just fought them differently. and what set Floyd apart from those fighters is his defensive fighting style. Hagler and the rest of em fought mostly in a brawling style.
@Mowglieboy69 and they all had losses and got knocked down. Floyd has never lost and knocked down.
@jabs1969 watching too much Rocky movies will do that to ya.
@ironman36 well if floyd was as attack minded as sweet pea do you think he would of been hit any less?
I said the same thing after watching a floyd interview where he was talking about sparring against pernell when he was about 18
@Mowglieboy69 its so funny when people are quick to say, Floyd never fought the best out there to test himself. but its OK for Pacquiao to fight a bum like Margarito, a defeated Cotto and a 147 weak De La Hoya. if you people say that Pacquiao's the best then i say he should fight Mosley take the random blood/urine test for $40 million and beat Floyd.
@Mowglieboy69 borderline? Floyd is in the top 5. what you talking about?
Sweet Pea Pernell Whitaker = Pure sweet science.
@ironman36 What does Pacquiao have to do with this?
@Mowglieboy69 This post is right on the money. Whitaker was an amazing fighter. It surprises a lot of people to hear that Ring Mag rated him 10th all time P4P. But he beat so many high-quality fighters, and beat them easily, he deserves all the accolades.
@TGUNZ562
Haha, well played sir. As an MMA fan I appreciate a a fighter with good hands and striking defense. I mean lots of MMA fighters have such sloppy punching technique these days.
@ironman36 What role? I'm not talking politics, I'm simply talking about the ability of the fighters. Give some examples of inferior white fighters that Robinson and the like generally fought as their top conquests if you feel that way.
As society gets more intelligent imo so does boxing thats all ima say
@ironman36 Now you're exposing your ignorance full force, if you hadn't made it blatantly obvious before. Saying that Hagler and the like fought in a brawling style shows that you've either only seen select clips (likely of the Hearns and Leonard fights when past prime) or are simply regurgitating the opinions of half-assed "writers".
What does race have to do with anything, anyway? The bottom line is: Floyd didn't test himself to anywhere near the level the guys you mentioned did.
pernell had all the tools.