Best/Greatest Boxer-Punchers?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by George Crowcroft, Oct 11, 2019.


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  1. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    So best, as in who did it better than anyone else and Greatest, as in who is the greatest fighter you'd class as a boxer puncher.

    Also if you wouldn't mind explaining what you'd class as a boxer puncher I'd appreciate it.

    So name em...
     
    George Crowcroft, Oct 11, 2019
    George Crowcroft, Oct 11, 2019
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  2. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    A boxer puncher is... Someone who can combine both boxing and punching / slugging / aggression. No need to complicate it, though it can get naunced. Most boxer punchers veer more towards one end of the spectrum.

    Hagler would be the definitive example of a Boxer Puncher IMO.
     
    roughdiamond, Oct 11, 2019
    roughdiamond, Oct 11, 2019
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  3. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    There's waaaaaayyyyy too many great fighters that you can class as boxer punchers and call them the best in this category. Boxer/punchers are usually the most well rounded, technically proficient fighters because not only are they technically superb but they also have power to go along with their skills, not to mention that they can play as either the pure boxer or the aggressor.

    Sugar Ray Robinson and Ezzard Charles are obvious examples.
     
    Flo_Raiden, Oct 11, 2019
    Flo_Raiden, Oct 11, 2019
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  4. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    For me a boxer puncher is someone who uses all of the methods of a boxer to set up a KO but doesn't exclusively look for it. They have back up plans and can beat people by simply boxing. They are generally very well rounded and tend to make the best styles.

    So it's a hard question, as litterally hundreds could qualify, so I'll add a few guys who aren't the best or greatest as HMs.
    • Sugar Ray Leonard
    • Micheal Spinks
    • Roy Jones Jr
    • Tommy Hearns
    • Carlos Monzon
    • Marvin Hagler
    • James Toney
    • Freddie Steele
    • Shane Mosley
    • Manny Pacquiao
    • Sonny Liston
    Also the highest guy I have on pfp 100 who I'd class as a boxer puncher would be Ezzard Charles, at 4.
     
    George Crowcroft, Oct 11, 2019
    George Crowcroft, Oct 11, 2019
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  5. Tonto62

    Tonto62 Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    Robinson,the epitome of the term.imo
     
    Tonto62, Oct 11, 2019
    Tonto62, Oct 11, 2019
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  6. Ken Ashcroft

    Ken Ashcroft Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Evander Holyfield
    Thomas Hearns
    Alexis Arguello
     
    Ken Ashcroft, Oct 11, 2019
    Ken Ashcroft, Oct 11, 2019
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  7. TipNom

    TipNom Active Member Full Member

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    TipNom, Oct 11, 2019
    TipNom, Oct 11, 2019
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  8. Bill1234

    Bill1234 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    A boxer-puncher is someone who uses their skills to outbox who they're fighting while setting them up to be taken out. To put it in obvious terms, a boxer-puncher is someone who is mixing the mentality of a Roberto Duran and a Willie Pep.

    Thomas Hearns and Sugar Ray Robinson are the premier boxer-punchers. Outboxing the opponent, yet also looking to knock his head into the 10th row and pushing for the knockout whenever it comes up.
     
    Bill1234, Oct 11, 2019
    Bill1234, Oct 11, 2019
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  9. Tramell

    Tramell Hypocrites Love to Pray & Be Seen. Mathew 6:5 Full Member

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    Tito.
     
    Tramell, Oct 11, 2019
    Tramell, Oct 11, 2019
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  10. Ken Ashcroft

    Ken Ashcroft Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Mike McCallum is often overlooked but I think he fits the bill on this occasion.
     
    Ken Ashcroft, Oct 12, 2019
    Ken Ashcroft, Oct 12, 2019
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  11. PernellSweetPea

    PernellSweetPea Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    or Leonard.
     
    PernellSweetPea, Oct 12, 2019
    PernellSweetPea, Oct 12, 2019
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  12. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    RulesMakeItInteresting, Oct 12, 2019
    RulesMakeItInteresting, Oct 12, 2019
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  13. MURK20

    MURK20 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    So many to name. The classic forum has resurrected some great fighters recently. I like the love Freddie Steele is getting.Terrence Crawford is a perfect example of a boxer puncher. A very slick and patient fighter who collects data in the early rounds then capitalizes on opportunities to hurt his opponents when he figures out their habits or when he notices when they become befuddled when they can't score and are consistently being countered. Marlon Sterling is another favorite. An aggressive boxer puncher.
     
    MURK20, Oct 12, 2019
    MURK20, Oct 12, 2019
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  14. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Was going to start basically the same thread as @George Crowcroft so glad I checked before I did.

    I remember reading a comment in an editorial piece in The Ring that talked about fighters who were described as 'boxer-punchers' usually because they couldn't do much of either.

    I like the examples noted although I'd say there's a bit of a sliding scale between 'punchers who can box' (Tommy Hearns? Alexis Arguello?) and 'boxers who can punch' (Michael Spinks? Carlos Monzon?). Was watching some Marvin Hagler fights and he seems to me to perfectly encapsulate the boxer-puncher dynamic at its best - very well balanced between the two. SRR may be the ultimate example, of course. One of the greatest pure punchers and pure boxers - a flawless combo of the two skillsets.
     
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2020
    Jel, Jul 29, 2020
    Jel, Jul 29, 2020
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  15. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Jimmy Ellis perfectly modeled the term boxer-puncher. The following also fit that category well:

    Joe Louis
    Archie Moore
    Jersey Joe Walcott
    Ezzard Charles
    Kid Gavilan
    Harold Johnson
    Dick Tiger
    Zora Folley
    Eddie Machen
    Jerry Quarry
    Ruben Olivares
    Rodrigo Valdez
    Victor Galindez
    Mike McCallum
    Terry Norris

    Just to name a few. Not all are perfect fits.
     
    William Walker, Jul 29, 2020
    William Walker, Jul 29, 2020
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