Interesting questions: Who was better defensively Willie Pep or Pernell Whitaker?

[kendom]

So what is the general opinion on who is the better defensive fighter? personally I think its Pep as he was a master of parrying, blocking countering... I feel Whitaker relied too much on dodging and his reflexes and Pep had a greater array of defensive techniques.

[IronDanHamza]

Good question.

I would say Pep, just about.

[Sam Donald]

pernell whitaker, the upper body movement was cool .. pep moved his feet a lot

[Steak]

I think Whitaker had better upper body movement and blocking. but Pep's footwork was ridiculous. He takes the cake in that catagory.

overall its pretty difficult to say. certain styles of defense work better against certain styles of offense.

[Sugar Sting Ray]

The major difference between Pep and Whitaker was that Pep used his movements to make his opponents throw the punches that he wanted them to throw. Whitaker was more reactive and simply used his reflexes to counter whatever his opponents chose to throw.

Pep was a manipulator like Benitez. Whitaker was a reactor like Locche.

[GJC]

The major difference between Pep and Whitaker was that Pep used his movements to make his opponents throw the punches that he wanted them to throw. Whitaker was more reactive and simply used his reflexes to counter whatever his opponents chose to throw.

Pep was a manipulator like Benitez. Whitaker was a reactor like Locche.

Whitaker was great but could he come back from a broken back and still manage a win against a monster like Sadler? Pep for me but I'll always put my hands up to a huge bias for him

[New England]

pep's boxing was absolutely seamless

pep by a stretch
not to degrade whitaker, but there's really no debate worth having outside of the degree to which pep's boxing is superior.


unlike many of the greatest of the great fighters there's plenty of quality film of pep as well throughout his entire career and prime
he's just ridiculous.

[Forza]

It close but I give the edge to pep, I could see why somebody would pick whitaker though.

[F l i c k e r]

I'm going whitaker. You'd definitely be safer in-ring with Pep's defense. However, I choose Whitaker. I think the speed of the game changed, either that or the camera work made them appear slower than they really were. But that's hard to believe as Locche made me smile and SRR's left hook made me rewind multiple times.

I'm not looking for a flame fest but don't tell me nothing about not seeing him in action. In person? of course not. On video? yes. Google does wonders if your not a billion years old.

[Steak]

he looks pretty damn fast to me.

his footwork is ridiculous.