Quick Hands: The 5 Fastest Boxers of All Time
The Fastest Boxers in the History of the Sweet Science
To the layman, boxing may seem like a bloody sport with two fighters just throwing hands.
But once you look at the sport a little closer, you realise that it requires a lot of skill, power, precision and speed.
In fact, speed may be one of the most important aspects of the game.
Boxers can dish out more punishment in the ring when they’re quick enough, and they can also protect themselves. There’s no doubt that some boxers are known for punching power, whereas others are extraordinarily quick.
A fast-hands boxer can make quite a name for themselves in the sport.
It may be difficult to single out just one person as the fastest boxer ever, but we can take a look at the fastest boxers of all time.
This article will take a look at the quickest boxers in the world, and those who haven’t been ranked have also received honourable mentions. Here are our picks for the 5 fastest boxers of all time.
1. Manny Pacquiao
We begin with one of the most accomplished boxers in history. Manny Pacquiao is now a Filipino senator, but he is also the only boxer to have won a world title in eight of the toughest divisions in the sport.
Pacquiao was known for being very skilled and technical, while also being very quick. The “PacMan” also came with a lot of punching power for his size and speed.
He was able to take these skills and attributes into any division. All of his opponents have been bamboozled by not just his fast hands and reaction time, but also by his quick thinking ability.
Many experts have called Pacquiao the fastest left-handed boxer in the history of boxing. His speed has made him one of the greatest ever boxers.
2. Sugar Ray Leonard
You just cannot have a list of the fastest boxers of all time without mentioning one of the quickest boxers ever to play the game, Sugar Ray Leonard.
Sugar Ray Leonard was a prominent boxing superstar back in the 80s and 90s. While heavyweight fighters carried the sport, Leonard was one of the “big four” boxers that ruled the lower weight classes, and he kept them relevant three decades ago.
Sugar Ray Leonard was known for his quick hands and footwork. Like Manny Pacquiao, he had a lot of finishing power, which he used alongside his speed. As a result, he was able to finish off his opponents using combos before they could even think of putting the hurt on him.
Sugar Ray Leonard idolised Sugar Ray Robinson, who was a legendary quick-hands boxer himself.
3. Muhammad Ali
There is a reason Muhammad Ali is known as “the greatest”. He is a legend that transcends the sport of boxing, and he is a well-known pop culture icon.
Ali is considered by many to be the fastest boxer of all time. Ali was a large heavyweight, but despite this, he was able to “float like a butterfly and sting like a bee”, which made him unbeatable for the most part.
Ali was quick in throwing hands and being able to dodge the attacks of his opponents. He was also especially quick on his feet, and he could dance around the ring and around his opponents.
Ali was very proud of his speed and he used it to his advantage as much as he could. There was even a time when he landed a whopping 12 punches in just 3 seconds.
4. Roy Jones Jr.
Roy Jones Jr. is also one of the larger fighters on this list. He has done it all from being a boxing sensation to enjoying a successful career as an actor and a rapper.
In his great boxing career, Jones has won several world titles, and he also won a Silver medal at the Olympics in 1988. This is due to his great fighting style, combing speed and power to deliver a lot of damage.
Like the other people on this list, Jones was known for being a fast-hand boxer. He could throw numerous hooks in succession, and showboat along the way. He is also infamous for fighting with his hands behind his back.
Jones’ reflexes complimented the speed of his hands. He was quick all around, and he could move around the ring like none of his rivals ever could.
5. Pernell Whittaker
Pernell Whittaker is another boxing legend who was lightning fast. Even the best boxers in the welterweight divisions couldn’t touch the late Pernell Whitaker.
The former Olympic gold medalist and multiple-time world champion had very fast hands. Whittaker had shown his excellent boxing ability since the mid-1980s, and he would dominate the title picture in 4 divisions.
He was also quite elusive as his opponents could barely tag him, and he had an 87 per cent win rate (89 percent if you don’t like Julio Cesar Chavez). Whittaker wasn’t the tallest boxer around, and he used his small stature to his advantage.
Similar to Manny Pacquiao, Pernell Whittaker was also a left-handed boxer- and one of the fastest boxers of all time.
Honourable Mention: Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is one of the fastest boxers ever. He is always relevant, even now in retirement. The undefeated boxing legend is very easy to hate- but there’s no doubt that he deserves all the praise that he gets and more!
Mayweather is one of the biggest draws in the history of boxing, and he is featured in the top grossing fights.
Floyd Mayweather is known for his exceptional hand speed as well. He uses it in unison with his high fight IQ and natural instincts. Mayweather can think during fights at a very fast rate, and this is what makes him so great at defence.
His counterattack techniques have a lot to do with his success in the sport. There’s no doubt that he’s one of the most naturally gifted boxers of all time.
Some other fast boxers that deserve honorable mentions include Mike Tyson, Meldrick Taylor, and Floyd Patterson and not to mention Prince Naseem Hamed feels a little off, but someone had to get cut!
