Floyd Mayweather’s speed, George Foreman’s power and Muhammad Ali’s footwork combine to make the perfect boxer

Building the perfect pugilist is a monumental task, but one British boxing legend has had a go.

Glenn McCrory, a former sparring partner of the great Mike Tyson and once the IBF cruiserweight champion of the world, gave his thoughts to talkSPORT.com.

McCrory labelled Greb ‘the toughest boxer ever’Credit: GETTY’The Gentleman’ is a keen boxing historian so it’s perhaps no surprise that Harry Greb was the first name on his lips when formulating his superman of the ring.

McCrory was given a list of the core attributes that make up a great fighter: chin, footwork, power, defence, speed, and boxing IQ.

And Greb scooped the gong for the best chin in McCrory’s eyes.

READ MORE ON BOXING “I’d have to go for the toughest man ever in boxing, ‘The Pittsburg Windmill’ Harry Greb,” McCrory told talkSPORT.com.

“If Gene Tunney, the heavyweight champion of the world, couldn’t do anything with him and he’s a middleweight then that says a lot about his durability.”

Greb is widely considered to be one of the greatest pound-for-pound boxers of all time and holds a remarkable 261-16-19 record.

During a career stretching from 1913 to 1926, Greb fought the best opposition the talent-laden 1910s and 1920s had to offer from welterweight all the way up to heavyweight and won the American light-heavyweight crown as well as the middleweight world title.

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Despite being incredibly undersized for the majority of his contests – especially those in boxing’s glamour division – Greb was only knocked out once during his long and punishing career (a second-round KO loss to Joe Chip in his eighth outing).

It wasn’t just his chin that made Greb an excellent fighter, he was also a master tactician and a great mover.

But when it came to footwork, McCrory went with the graceful Muhammad Ali.

Ali’s footwork stood out above the rest for McCroryCredit: Getty”You’d say Muhammad Ali, wouldn’t you? The balance, the poise, the movement,” he added.

“When you see him against Cleveland Williams he is absolute perfection.

“Sugar Ray Leonard had beautiful balance and beautiful movement as well but Ali was doing all of this as a heavyweight.”

Throwback to when Conor McGregor slapped Floyd Mayweather’s head at press conference which shocked Dana White

McCrory then picked George Foreman as the heaviest hitter.

‘Big George’ was ranked No.5 in Ring Magazine’s list of the Greatest Punchers of All Time and scored 68 knockouts from 76 career wins.

“George Foreman,” he continued. “You wouldn’t even want to be in the wind stream of one of his punches. He could knock out trees.”

If you were to ask most boxing fans, who they felt was the greatest defensive fighter of all time they would probably say, Floyd Mayweather or Pernel Whittaker.

Foreman was known for his devastating power and knocked out 68 opponentsCredit: Getty Images – GettyBut true to form, McCrory picked an all-time great from yesteryear in Jack Johnson.

‘The Galveston Giant’ became the first black world heavyweight champion in 1908 when he dethroned Tommy Burns.

In 1901, he was knocked out by an ageing Joe Choynski but barely took to a punch on his rise to the top after being taught the nuances of defence by his former foe.

“Jack Johnson was an absolute master of defence,” said McCrory.

“Behind him, I’d have Roberto Duran, who slipped shots with ease.

“He’d be right in front of you and you could not hit him with a bag of sand.

“If you slowed down any of Duran’s fights and looked at his defence, it was sublime.”

Mayweather may have missed out on defence, but McCrory was under no illusion about his speed.

Johnson made history by beating Burns in Sydney on Boxing Day, 1908Credit: Getty”Floyd Mayweather’s speed was something else,” McCrory said.

“You have got to give him his dues, with his talents and I think speed would be his thing, although he was also a great defensive fighter as well.”

As for the best boxing IQ, well, there was never any doubt.

“Without a doubt, Sugar Ray Robinson,” McCrory stated.

Glenn McCrory’s perfect fighter

Chin – Harry Greb
Footwork – Muhammad Ali
Power – George Foreman
Defence – Jack Johnson
Speed – Floyd Mayweather
Boxing IQ – Sugar Ray Robinson

Mayweather retired with an unblemished 50-0 record and is speed played a major partCredit: Getty

Robinson is one of the most complete boxers to ever step between the ropesCredit: GETTY”You’ve got your Mayweather’s, you’ve got your Ali’s and your Foreman’s but never has there been a more perfect fighter than Sugar Ray Robinson.

“I don’t think there will be anyone ever that can match him and his record.

“The guy was just the greatest of all time, no one will touch him.”

Read More on talkSPORTThe consensus greatest boxer of all time, Robinson, defeated 21 fighters who would go on to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and was a six-time world champion at welterweight and middleweight.

Robinson was a complete boxer, who possessed all the attributes needed to become an all-time great but above all else, it was his boxing brain that made him the fighter he was.

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