Lets get some boxing discussion going here.

What is your list of the top 3 defensive fighters you've ever seen? I've always been facinated by the guys with good defensive skills because those are the guys who last, its hit and not get hit - thats the name of the game. Here's my top 3.

1. Pernell Whitaker - Was just amazing to watch, a real master of the sport. Seemed to know what guys were going to do BEFORE they even knew. Great reflexes, great upper-body movement and good footwork = one hard mofo to hit. Pernell gotta get my top spot. From watchnig him, you'd think slipping punches was the easier thing in the world.

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2. Nicolino Locche - Incredible reflexes, was just a master of slipping and rolling with punches. Funny story about him, he was fighting a fellow named Fuji in Japan so before Locche went over he learned how to say "I'll stand right in front of you and you won't hit me" in Japanese. After 10 rounds of swinging and missing, Fuji quit on his stool saying to his trainer "he stands right in front of me and I can't hit him".

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3. Willie Pep - He'd probably be higher on my list if it wasn't for the losses to Saddler. Insane foot speed and reflexes, upper body manuevering. It just came natural to him, he was on another level. When you can win a round without throwing a punch, simply on defense and feints alone (which he did), you know you have an incredible defensive game.

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WAR SWEET PEA BABY!!!!!

SWEET PEA IS BOSS!!! HE WILL TELL US WHAT TO DO!!!

Definately Sweat Pea, not only could he hit and not get hit but he also had some great offence to get himself out of trouble
I would put young Ali in there to, he rarely got hit in his pre exhile days

Its unamimous,Sweet pea is unrivalled!!
I remember the Chavez fight & Julio couldn't even find an opening for his vaunted left rip.Pea was a pitty pat puncher but his defense was the best ever.
Pea/Chavez>Worst dec. ever by the way.

Nice Post.... I agree, although I haven't watched boxing for a long time(only a year really) I DO know that Pernell was one tough mofo. Especially with all the Pernell Whitaker reruns they show on ESPN classic.

Its unamimous,Sweet pea is unrivalled!!
I remember the Chavez fight & Julio couldn't even find an opening for his vaunted left rip.Pea was a pitty pat puncher but his defense was the best ever.
Pea/Chavez>Worst dec. ever by the way.

Sweat Pea got FUCKING ROBBED!! Draw my fucking ass! I had Julio winning 3 rounds, and even that was being generous I feel.

Pea has gotten the shaft from the judges a lot IMO. No question he was robbed against both Chavez and Ramirez. And while the De La Hoya fight was close, I still felt Pea did enough to win.

Just watch the clip I posted to see how biased they were for De La Hoya. Oscar throws a huge combo where maybe one punch lands, and Jim Lampley starts yelling "AND A HUGE COMBO TO END THE ROUND!!" Anyone could plainly see in that fight that Pernell was making Oscar miss over and over again

Sweat Pea got FUCKING ROBBED!! Draw my fucking ass! I had Julio winning 3 rounds, and even that was being generous I feel.

Pea has gotten the shaft from the judges a lot IMO. No question he was robbed against both Chavez and Ramirez. And while the De La Hoya fight was close, I still felt Pea did enough to win.

Just watch the clip I posted to see how biased they were for De La Hoya. Oscar throws a huge combo where maybe one punch lands, and Jim Lampley starts yelling "AND A HUGE COMBO TO END THE ROUND!!" Anyone could plainly see in that fight that Pernell was making Oscar miss over and over again

JC had a good 1st rd in that fight but from there on it was all Pea.As much as I love JC he got totally outclassed.
In the same way Pea got robbed against the superstar Chavez he was robbed against DLH.
If un watch the HL there was none.Oscar couldn't get to Sweet Pea.& if he did he couldn't follow up.
Pea was the best defensive fighter ever

If u talk present time.. Winky is pretty damn hard to hit because of his long ass arms. Sweat Pea was cold tho, I love when fighters have crazy ass head movement. I really don't mind pure boxers who don't have much power, and just move really slick. I don't like how Guido and cocky Malignaggi is, but I like watching him because of how he moves.

Malignaggi is real fun to watch. Winky's defense is masterful. Him, Floyd and Toney have the best defensive skills in the world right now IMO.

I have to give huge props to Toney because even though he gets hit a bit more than he used to, seeing him fight on the inside was just amazing.

bernard hopkins was a great defensive fighter