Fighters with the best footwork you've seen.

1- Willie Pep- even in the black and white films, you can't deny the grace with which he moved in and out and around.

2- Ray Robinson- Looked like he was sliding as he would move into position to unleash.

3- Ali- The dancing master. Goes without saying. We'll never see another heavyweight quite like him.

4- Ray Leonard- could seemingly stay on the move without getting tired and moved at top speed.

5- Wilfred Benitez- His pivoting around the opponent was class. Very subtle but super effective.


Whom else?

 

Guillermo Rigondeaux

 

Good mention. Rigo is easily one of the most fundamentally sound fighters of today's era and his footwork is awesome.

 

While i wouldn't put him in that same league as those above Bernard Hopkins has/had terrific footwork. It was much more subtle but he could move in and out of range with the smallest of movements.

 

Indeed. His fights with Pavlik and Trinidad are the best examples. Particularly impressive for me was the Pavlik fight seeing how a 43 year old guy could move in and out like that and defend and counter for 12 rounds at a good pace.

 

I was going to mention him and I think he does belong up there with the very best. His style is different but he is just as great.

Out of the modern guys GGG deserves a shout. Pernell Whitaker too

 

I think Lomachenko might have the best footwork today.

 

Possibly he does. Fighters with extensive amateur careers tend to have solid footwork as it's something that's heavily focused on.

 

Of course y'all are expecting me to mention Mayweather and Hopkins, so I wont disappoint. I can't believe these two were left off the list. That's criminal.

Lomachenko is a good call too.

 

Billy Conn and Gene Tunney deserve mention also.


I'd rate Ali as #1 without a doubt. Most elegant mover we've seen, P4P or otherwise.

 

Joe Calzaghe.

Forget the "slapping" for a moment, Calzaghe knew how to position himself consistently to his advantage and could keep that up for 12 rounds without slowing down even slightly. Poor Lacy...he had no idea what was hitting him or from where it was coming.

 

Funny enough, just because Ali was a heavyweight, people ASSume that movers in the lower weights moved better than him. They didn't, not Robinson, not even Pep. Forget about we'll never see another Heavyweight like Ali, we have yet to see a non-Heavyweight match his movement.

Ok that's FOUR posts in a row...I'll stop monopolizing this thread for now.

 

ODH (see Trinidad)
Ali (see Cleveland)
Sanchez (see Nelson)

 

This.

 

Also the Chavez 1 fight for Oscar. His footwork was IMPECCABLE in that fight.

 

Lomachenko for sure.

I like GGG's footwork. Nothing spectacular but he's exceptional at owning the centre of the ring and cutting the ring off.

 

Roberto Duran

 

In recent years, Manny Pacquiao had some amazing footwork it must be said. Extremely light on his feet.

Mayweather yes deserves a mention. He's been more flat footed as a welterweight but that's expected.

Roy Jones had fast feet too, though with Roy it was more about that hand speed and reflexes.

Terry Norris had good footwork when he remembered to use it and not just go all out and attack.

 

Napoles

 

I absolutely hated the guy but I will concede that Ricky Hatton had good footwork.

 

Agreed. Calzaghe had excellent footwork, his general ring IQ has always been criminally underrated on here

 

Exactly.

Calzaghe was damned good! DAMNED GOOD. I'm shocked at how many people don't realize this. If I were a fighter, Calzaghe is one guy that I would avoid like the plague.

 

In terms of offensive footwork, prime Tyson definitely deserves mention.

 

no doubt.

Foreman was underrated also, he knew how to cut off the ring and close distance and he made it difficult for his opponents to both hit him and avoid him.

 

Chris Eubank.

Great balance. Good positioning. Very effortless and poetic mover (until he got gassed).

 

Ali? he had fas t feet for sure but he doesnt belong here...he always only moved straight back and got hit with every left hook ever thrown at him

 

Interesting assessment.

Now, to be clear, are you aware that we're talking about prime Ali? Specifically, pre-exile champion Ali?

In his string of fights from Liston 1 to Zora Foley when did you see him consistently hit with left hooks?

In his string of fights from Liston 1 to Zora Foley did you not see him move in and out, side to side and circle his opponents effortlessly switching between clockwise and anti-clockwise movement?

I’m assuming that you’ve never seen Ali fight in this period of time and so here’s a free gift to help with your boxing education:

<iframe width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0rI6pZDJOVc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

The bell rings, he walks up and stands square in front of his opponent and gets jabbed square in the face despite his legendary reflexes.

 

I'm sure after they fought, Calslappy said something about Hopkins' footwork being the best he'd ever encountered...

 

Pea Whitaker