What Current Fighters Integrate Well Offense and Defense?

What current fighters manage to integrate offense and defense well?

As far as I can tell, this is becoming somewhat of a lost art in boxing - most fighters seem to want to do one or the other.

But there's exceptions of course.

The names that pop into my head are Pacquiao and Cotto. I think that's why at least early on their fight was so entertaining.

It's true Pacquiao is moving more now that he's moved up in weight, although nobody calling him out on steroids wants to acknowledge that - it would violate their assumption that all of his success at higher weights is attributable to PEDs.

Nontheless, both Pacquiao and Cotto, I think, do a good job of not letting their defense compromise their offense, and vice versa.

JMM is another guy who comes to mind. Especially later in his career and now.

In the past fighters like these have been called boxer/punchers. But by definition, boxing is the art of hitting and not getting hit. And so the term, "boxer," in my opinion, is sufficient.

Who else stands out in this area?

Who among top fighters do you think is particularly weak in this area?

 

Floyd Mayweather comes to mind.

 

Yeah, the best defence in the game and tremendous offence when he lets his hands go.

 

Vitali Klitschko...albeit that his offensive game is sick, not well.

 

Huh?

I'm gonna have to go ahead and disagree. I think you're wrong!!!

And to say he's good at it when he lets his hands go? :laughing: Isn't that a little like saying the ocean is dry when there's no water in it?

 

Look at Floyds fights....he routinely hurts guys without being hurt...in particular, the Chavez and Hatton fights.

 

Ok. But I don't think he deserves special mention in this area.

 

His offense is better than Pacquiao's defense.

 

Pacquiao. He is the only active fighter that can slip a punch and KO a guy at the same time, Duran style.

Floyd absolutely doesn't count.

He has incredible defense and is a sharp counter puncher, but you never see him slip/evade a punch AND punch at the same time. Too risky for Floyd.

Someone who integrates offense and defense is someone who can come FORWARD, attacking and slipping punches at the same time, just like a prime Duran would. Pacquiao is the only active fighter who can do that, and it's mainly in his last 3 fights he has learned this ability (probably the roids).

Floyd is ridiculously hard to hit, but it's when he's on the backfoot, stationary JUST defending, or cowering on the ropes like an imbecile. You don't see Floyd coming forward attacking and shoulder rolling at the same time, that's not what the shoulder roll is for, and that's not what Floyd does.

To be honest Roy could mix the two up in his prime. He could come forward and attack, while simultaneously avoiding almost every incoming punch.

 

No it isn't.

 

In the Chavez fight, Chavez did most of the attacking in the last round....and then got pulled out by his corner. How does that happen if the other guy isn't making light of your punches while hurting you all the time.?

 

Pacquiao been knocked out twice.

ANSWER THE QUESTION!!!

 

::

 

Maybe Abraham, although his offense is based primarily on power alone.

 

I'm sorry, I'm just messing with Double L.

Pacquiao has much improved D, and Floyd's O has regressed as he has moved up in weight.

 

That's fucking stupid. Floyd barely does anything offensively. It really isn't amazing. It is far easier to be negative and spoil and use and illegal defense. ::::I usually agree with you, but you are a ridiculous nuthugger for Floyd. You said that you enjoy Floyd's style more than Manny's::::No one believes that.

 

As explained in my last post, I'm fucking with Double L. I nuthug no one.

 

That's exactly right.

On that point, why do you think Floyd's offense HAS regressed? He's nowhere near as good an offensive fighter as he was at 130. I consider him a purely defensive fighter now.

Do you think it's just fear of getting hit from the more powerful fighters, or that he's simply not as fast and snappy, offensively?

 

I think Vitali is a pretty good answer, he's proven to be able to fight forwards, backwards and in circles. I would have said Calzaghe aswell but,..the Bika fight kinda,....changed my mind,..:crafty:

 

Although Calzaghe is retired, him and Vitali count for sure.

Both are able to come forward attacking, and not get hit much.

 

I think Abraham is a good example of a top fighter who is particularly weak in this area.

He'll land sneaky counters with great effect from time to time, but primarily, his gloves are either up defending, or he's on offense. He doesn't in my opinion coordinate the two very well.

 

It's tough to know for sure. I think it's a bit of both.

Fighting bigger fighters, and I really think he's fighting to protect the 0 on his record. The longer the winning streak goes, the more he cares about it IMO.

I think he wants to brag about never losing for the rest of his life while making as much money as possible.

 

Agreed. He's either completely committing to offense or defense, it's one at a time.

 

Yep, I agree, you're probably right. A bit of both, and also largely due to the undefeated record.

You've probably heard me say I absolutely hate this trend in contemporary boxing of "fighting not to lose" rather than fighting to win.

The current version of Floyd is probably the best example of that.

 

The Bika fight really left a sour sear in my brain, I had been praising Calzaghe about his 'brave' relentless workrate usually off the front foot and then I went and saw that.................. whoa,.. that was an impression of Bernard Hopkins, without all the 'flashy dancin around the perimetre' Hops does to arouse his groupies,.. Calzaghe just got straight to the point in that fight,.. pot, duck below-belt level, and then held on for dear life,..it was disgusting, if any fight 'effects his legacy' which has been a popular subject lately,.. it was that one.

 

Well, I don't necessarily agree on that. Floyd fights to win, he just doesn't care if it's exciting or not.

The scare against Castillo was the turning point, IMO. His only truly dazzling performance since then was against a punching bag in Gatti.

Before Castillo, Floyd was an anywhere, any time any place kind of fighter.

 

He Doesn't Do it in a POWERFUL Manner, but Tim Bradley Counts...


REED:hammert:

 

Well I guess fighting to win can be interpreted in 2 ways.

First would be my interpretation, which is probably more like fighting to REALLY win, or win in style, so to speak.

Your version of fighting to win is more like "do whatever it takes to win".

Which to me, is more like fighting not to lose ::

I agree though. Since Castillo, he has been extra cautious, both in fighting style and opponent choice.

 

Tim Bradley is another suspected 'Pe' ,..as is anyone else who cries negatively about advanced and random drug tests being introduced into boxing. :nono:

 

I agree. For as offensive as Bradley is, he manages not to get hit too much.