best dirty boxer.

[just the facts]

The duran that ravaged more was no saint

Should have seen the Duran that Koed Buchanon with a nut shot

[just the facts]

If you're looking for a top level featherweight (but not an ATG) who exceled at fighting dirty, just watch some Eusebio Pedroza title defenses.

Pedroza and BHop are perfect examples of effective dirty fighters

[The Old LefHook]

Tyson used his elbows to great effect...Dempsey also. It kind of makes sense considering that when throwing a punch and missing, better to hit the guy with something than just miss for so many reasons.

Boy, what a fact. Tyson's follow through with the elbows was vicious and dirty. It makes sense if you are in a street fight, but not where sportsmanship must reign. Only sportsmanship allows for a level playing field. When both fighters obey the same rules the field is level.

There is rule bending, which is unequal enough, then there is flagrant, dangerous fouling. The boxers are fighting by two different sets of constraints.

When I see this kind of blatant disregard, my memory stores the fighter in my banks for the possible later enjoyment of his stomping. There is great joy in seeing cheaters stomped, for me. Years later, I still enjoy seeing them twitch on the canvas a la Ingo, piss dribbling from the corner of their trunks, for their former violations.

[billeau2]

Boy, what a fact. Tyson's follow through with the elbows was vicious and dirty. It makes sense if you are in a street fight, but not where sportsmanship must reign. Only sportsmanship allows for a level playing field. When both fighters obey the same rules the field is level.

There is rule bending, which is unequal enough, then there is flagrant, dangerous fouling. The boxers are fighting by two different sets of constraints.

When I see this kind of blatant disregard, my memory stores the fighter in my banks for the possible later enjoyment of his stomping. There is great joy in seeing cheaters stomped, for me. Years later, I still enjoy seeing them twitch on the canvas a la Ingo, piss dribbling from the corner of their trunks, for their former violations.

Naturally this takes us to the next level where one is wont to say "Well Left Hook you see? there is cheating and then there is CHEATING." At which point we look at each other like two members of Skull and Bones about to be president and give a knowing wink and the secret hanshake, or...

All james Baker said during Watergate was "I never broke the law." And while, if the physical forces of nature put an elbow up as a preacher is Baptising a drunk who cheated with his wife, and his elbow just happens to find its way across the man's jaw, well...that is cheating! But, when trying to brain a man with a fist if the elbow suffices? Put another way: if a group of ex carnavores are lamenting on the crackling contrast of pork flesh to cooked skin, and the barn just happens to catch on fire and roasts the pigs... well roast pork, or not?

So I am conflicted as to how much of these acts constitute a real cheat...and how much of these actions are peer pressure? All the guys take roids now dontcha know? Just like all the teenagers would hang their pants at their knees as a fashion statement (never saw that one coming) and when asked why? because sagging was in! Never mind that it was a jailhouse indication of submission, and never mind that a lot of supposed roid benefits are probably more related to healing from injuries than any other strength benefit when it comes specifically to the ring.

So yeah, I don't know if I am quite ready to ask the wrathful forces to come out just yet...I also don't want to advocate bending the rules when harm can result particularly...call me conflicted.

[Bram]

Gotta mention one of my personal favourites that I don't think has been said yet.

Terry Norris had no chin, but other than that he was about as complete of a fighter that you can imagine. Terrific boxer, great athlete and explosive power, but that man would not hesitate to break a rule and I remember when I was a kid, I was a big JCC fan and I was literally scared of them fighting because I kinda thought Norris would find someway to seriously hurt him.

[Panamaniac]

Perpetuation of a myth...

The Duran that ravaged more was no saint

Duran has too be up there.

Should have seen the Duran that Koed Buchanon with a nut shot

Pedroza and BHop are perfect examples of effective dirty fighters

Duran - at least in some circles - had an undeserved reputation of being a dirty fighter. That was due mostly to his extraordinary resourcefulness as an in-fighter. Rare unintentional low blows (e.g. Buchannan), or the accidental thumbing of Moore does not a dirty fighter make. Fellow Panamanian Eusebio Pedroza, on the other hand, threw everything but the kitchen sink at his opponents...