Defense and offense go hand in hand in boxing. It’s hard to put one over the other since both are simultaneously necessary to seal a win.
While one-punch KO’s have always been alluring, elite pugilists have often blessed us with some top-rated defensive displays. It’s about hitting and not being hit.
That said, some boxers know how to make their opponents miss punches. It’s also tagged as entering the matrix where boxers go into complete defensive mode in a bid to protect themselves.
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From the very start, boxing has been blessed with several defensive elites and the saga remains untouched even today.
Starting from Muhammad Ali to Floyd Mayweather, to Tyson Fury and Vasyl Lomachenko, the boxing roster has never run out of elite defensive maestros.
Defense at its finest 💨
(via @trboxing, @DAZNBoxing, @BTSportBoxing) pic.twitter.com/yTqafwhigY
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) December 25, 2020
ESPN ringside recently posted a compilation that shows some of the best defenses in the sport. However, there’s much more to add to the mix.
If we talk about defence, there’s no way we can miss Floyd Mayweather or Vasyl Lomachenko.
Boxing and its defense masters
You might bash Mayweather for opting to face Logan Paul in 2021. But ‘Money May’ doesn’t need to prove anything in the sport.
In 2013, he faced Canelo Alvarez, flexing one of his best defensive displays. He didn’t let Alvarez land much damage and slipped away from his best shots.
In return, Floyd Mayweather landed some bombs and schooled a young Canelo Alvarez throughout their fight.
The same goes for Vasyl Lomachenko. He recently lost his unified lightweight belts against Teofimo Lopez. However, Lomachenko appeared invincible before that. His defense and flexibility troubled all his opponents.
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The Ukrainian actually learnt to dance to hone his footwork. Well, it was seen in his game plan as Loma started from the bottom to become one of the greatest lightweights of all-time in the sport.
There are several more to add on. But these few displays have caught boxing fans’ attention. Which one is your favourite defensive performance in the sport?