This is My List of the Top 5 Best Left Jabs.
- Larry Holmes. The heavyweight champion for 7 1/2 years from 1978 until 1985, had perhaps the best left jab in boxing history. In my opinion it is the best, and since it’s my blog, I have him rated at number one. Larry would control the pace of his bouts with left great left jab, which he threw often and with little effort. Even after his return after a three year retirement in 1991, Larry’s jab was still sharp enough to defeat Ray Mercer the following year, and earn two more shots at the heavyweight title.
- George Foreman. My favorite all-time fighter is ‘Big’ George, and his left jab was more powerful in his second career than in his first. Although older, he was more patient and smarter in his second career, which culminated with his winning the championship for a second time on November 5, 1994 with his 10th round knockout of Michael Moorer. Gil Clancy, his ex-trainer called George’s left jab one of the best in boxing history, and I agree with him 100 percent.
- Sonny Liston. Charles ‘Sonny’ had a left jab that was described by the same Gil Clancy “Like a plank coming out of a window, it was that strong and powerful”. In my opinion, if Muhammad Ali had lost to say Henry Cooper or Doug Jones, and never defeated Liston, I think Sonny was that good and strong that he would have kept the title as long as he wanted, and retired in 1969 as an undefeated all-time great.
- Muhammad Ali. The self proclaimed ‘Greatest of All-Time’ was the three time heavyweight, and had one of the best jabs in history as well. He would use his jab to often control rounds, and win them on that punch alone. While not a big puncher, Ali had a good punch, but his jab was the best in his arsenal by far. Ali’s quickness was his biggest strength, but even in his declining years, he still relied on his left jab more than anything else.
- Thomas Hearns. The ‘Hit-Man’ was known for his knockout punching power more than anything, but Thomas possessed a stinging, sharp left jab that was great enough to put it on my list of the top 5 all-time best. He was more of a boxer as an amateur, and used his great jab to build up a tremendous record before turning pro. Emmanuel Steward trained Thomas to sit down on his punches more as a pro and become a banger, but he relied on his great jab until he finally retired as a champion in four different weight classes.
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