While knocking out opponents with power punches gets all the attention, a boxer’s footwork is often overlooked. So who are the boxers with the best footwork?
Throughout boxing history, there have been a number of boxers with incredible footwork. They used this skill to frustrate opponents and set up effective combinations in the boxing ring.
This article will discuss some of the boxers with the best footwork.
Boxers With The Best Footwork
In no particular order, some of the boxers with the best footwork of all time are:
- Willie Pep
- Muhammad Ali
- Floyd Mayweather Jr.
- Vasiliy Lomachenko
- Nicolino Locche
- Pernell Whitaker
- Jersey Joe Walcott
Each boxer is known for effortlessly running circles around their opponents and gaining ring generalship.
Their footwork allowed them to be ready for offense and defense at any moment. They could create angles and dodge punches at the same time, setting them up for incredible combinations.
Many of the top boxers today look up to these legends and still use their techniques.
Willie Pep
First, the late great Willie Pep had some of the best footwork in boxing.
Known as the “Will o’ the Wisp”, he could even win rounds without throwing a punch.
He is widely regarded as the boxer with best footwork and one of the greatest defensive fighters in history.
He would use unorthodox footwork paired with erratic head movement to make his opponent lunge forward off balance and miss wildly. His innovative techniques are still used even today.
Pep won titles in multiple weight classes, and relied heavily on his elusive footwork to beat his opponents.
Muhammad Ali
Next, Muhammad Ali was also one of the boxers with exceptional footwork.
Even though he was a heavyweight fighter, he moved like a light heavyweight even compared to fighters in the lighter weight classes.
He used his Ali shuffle to confuse and frustrate his opponents and is still famous today even for sports fans outside of boxing.
If his opponent had an aggressive style, Ali used his footwork to bait him into throwing out-of-range punches and set up punches of his own. You can see this strategy in his fights against Joe Frazier and George Foreman.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Next, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was one of the boxers with the best footwork.
In his professional boxing career, he transitioned from a knockout artist to a patient, defensive-minded master.
While fans focus more on his hand speed, his great footwork became the foundation of his defensive style.
His boxing footwork ability allowed him to stay out of range of incoming punches and put him in the perfect range to pull counter.
Mayweather was one of the few boxers who would willingly put himself in the corner and then use his footwork to escape at will.
Vasiliy Lomachenko
Next, Vasiliy Lomachenko has some of the best footwork in modern boxing.
He’s been dubbed “The Matrix” by fans and commentators, referring to his ability to disappear from his opponent’s radar and create angles of attack at will.
His father, a highly respected boxing trainer, put Lomachenko through dance lessons as a child. As a result, Lomachenko gained incredible footwork that allowed him to use the triangle theory at will.
With his southpaw stance, he would use his lead right foot to misdirect opponents, turning them out of position and straight into his punches.
Nicolino Locche
Next, Nicolino Locche had some of the best footwork in boxing history.
Locche is known as one of Argentina’s finest boxers.
His nickname, “The Untouchable”, spoke volumes to his performance in the ring.
Locche was known as a defensive wizard, a boxer who was near impossible to touch due to his superior footwork and ring knowledge.
He had catlike-reflexes which enabled him to dodge punches standing square in front of his opponent, even when he wasn’t using his superb footwork.
Pernell Whitaker
Next, Pernell Whitaker had some of the best footwork in boxing history.
“Sweet Pea” was known as one of the greatest defensive boxers of all time, with his footwork taking a pivotal role.
A once-in-a-generation talent, he was known to pick apart opponents from all different angles.
While he wasn’t the biggest knockout artist, he used his southpaw stance and elusive footwork to consistently wear down his opponents.
We think Sweet Pea’s greatest strength was to read his opponent’s body language, predicting what moves he would throw next, and then using his footwork to put him in the best position.
Jersey Joe Walcott
Lastly, Jersey Joe Walcott was a legendary boxer who had some of the best footwork in boxing history.
He was famous for his Walcott shuffle, where his feet would move in one direction while his upper body and head would move in the other direction.
(If you’re familiar with Michael Jackson’s moonwalk, Walcott’s shuffle has the same stylistic effect, as if he’s defying the laws of physics.)
Even though he was a heavyweight during his time, he dominated the division with his light footwork.
His lateral movement put him in position to land punches, as well as set up traps and counterattacks.
Conclusion
Everything in boxing flows from a fighter’s footwork.
You can have the best power and speed, but if you can’t use your footwork to get in range to land punches, then it doesn’t matter.
You can have the best head movement, but without footwork you’ll just be a punching bag to your opponent.
Honorable mention for exceptional footwork should also go to:
- Mike Tyson
- Guillermo Rigondeaux
- Sugar Ray Robinson
If you want to have superior footwork like any of the boxers listed above, you need to work for it.
Incorporate footwork drills into your boxing training to increase your skill. All boxers jump rope to get fluid and sharp footwork.
By consistently doing footwork exercises, all areas of your boxing will improve.
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