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

Crafting the perfect boxer is a monumental task, but one British boxing legend has tried.

Glenn McCrorya former training partner of the great Mike Tyson and since the IBF Cruiserweight world champion, gave his views to talkSPORT.com.

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‘The Gentleman’ is a passionate boxing historian, so perhaps it’s 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 key attributes that make a great fighter: chin, footwork, power, defense, speed and boxing IQ.

And Greb took the prize for best chin in McCrory’s eyes.

“I would have to pick the toughest man in boxing, ‘The Pittsburg Windmill’ Harry Greb,” McCrory said. talkSPORT.com.

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

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

During a career that spanned from 1913 to 1926, Greb faced the best opponents the talent-rich 1910s and 1920s had to offer, from welterweight to heavyweight, and won the U.S. light heavyweight title as well as the world middleweight title.

Despite being incredibly small for most of his fights – especially those in boxing’s glamour division – Greb was only knocked out once during his long and punishing career (a second-round knockout loss to Joe Chip in his eighth fight).

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 opted for graceful Muhammad Ali.

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“You’d say Muhammad Ali, wouldn’t you? The balance, the posture, the movement,” he added.

“When you see him against Cleveland Williams, he’s absolute perfection.

“Sugar Ray Leonard had beautiful balance and movement too, but Ali did it all like a heavyweight.”

McCrory then chose George Foreman as the biggest hitter.

‘Big George’ was ranked #5 on Ring magazine’s list of the Greatest Punchers of All Time and has scored 68 knockouts in 76 career wins.

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

If you asked most boxing fans who they consider to be the greatest defensive fighter of all time, they would probably say: Floyd Mayweather or Pernel Whittaker.

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But true to form, McCrory chose one of the all-time greats: 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 aging Joe Choynski, but he could barely withstand a punch on his way to the top, having learned the nuances of defense from his old adversary.

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

“Behind him, I would have Roberto Duran, who dodged shots with ease.

“He would be right in front of you and you wouldn’t be able to hit him with a sandbag.

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

Mayweather may have failed in defense, but McCrory had no illusions about his speed.

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“Floyd Mayweather’s speed was incredible,” McCrory said.

“You have to give him his due with his talents, and I think speed would be what he likes, although he would also be a great defensive fighter.”

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

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

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“You have your Mayweathers, you have your Alis and your Foremans, but there has never been a more perfect fighter than Sugar Ray Robinson.

“I don’t believe there will be anyone who can match him and match his record.

“The guy was simply the best of all time, no one will ever match him.”

The 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 middleweight and welterweight.

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