Who is the smartest boxer (best counter puncher) that can make in-ring adjustments that you have ever seen. There are so many many Great boxers who used their brain over there braun over the years. There’s the top of the heap, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Sugar Ray Robinson, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones Jr., Roberto Duran, Joe Calzaghe, Archie Moore, Wilfred Benitez, Willie Pep, Benny Leonard, Joe Gans and Gene Tunney.

There’s also some guys that might not make the top 10 or 20 but are right up there such as James Toney, Bernard Hopkins, Ronald Winky Wright, and Cuban fighters Erislandy Lara and Guillermo Rigondeaux.

While watching Sugar Ray Leonard as a kid was so much fun and intriguing. (His hand speed and knowledge of the ring was awesome, not to mention the fighters he faced are legendary). My top three smartest boxers (best counterpunchers and being able to make in-ring adjustments) are Andre Ward, Juan Manuel Marquez and Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker.

Andre Ward had an amazing career and schooled ever boxer he fought. His combination of size, speed, power, counter punching skills and most importantly boxing IQ might never be rivaled again. He is currently working as the ESPN Boxing Head Analyst. A well deserved position for one of the best to put the gloves on.

Juan Manuel Marquez will mostly be remembered for knocking Manny Pacquiao out cold in there 4th fight, I think he is the best counterpuncher I have ever seen. In that first fight with Pacquiao after getting knocked down and seeing Pacquiao’s speed, the adjustments he made to win the rest of the fight were nothing short of amazing. In an era where Pacquiao was not only beating boxers but retiring many fighters, Juan stood tall. The combination of his preparation, skills, Chin, timing and IQ make Juan Manuel Marquez one of the best ever. Even when he fought the top fighters in the upper weight divisions (which is extremely difficult to do) he always held his own. Juan Manuel Marquez has taught us all a lot about The Sweet Science.

With all the above names mentioned my winner of the smartest / best boxer I have ever seen is Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker. The combination of his amazing defensive skills and counterpunching in conjunction with his his ability to make in-ring adjustments put him on top of my list. Though Sweet Pea did not have the undefeated boxing career of Andre Ward nor maybe the perfect timing of Marquez, he had a little something extra, a will, a determination that never made you think he could lose. It makes you think what an extraordinary talent he was, as he battled drug addiction, he dominated boxing like only few can. Pernell Whitaker once famously said, “don’t get me motivated”. A healthy-motivated Whitaker (regardless of punching power) was unstoppable.

I am sure I missed a bunch of the greats that you’re welcome to mention. Who is the smartest or best counterpuncher you have ever seen?

Photo courtesy of Mikey Williams/ Top Rank