Sugar Ray Robinson might have had some influences but his style was an original once he perfected it. If you could believe that certain people are born to do certain things, Robinson was born to be a boxer. While I don't believe in such things, Robinson certainly comes close.
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I don't see where Roy Jones Jr. was too influenced by any of the fighters before him. Sure, he was a speed fighter, like Robinson and Leonard. However, like ALI, Jones used speed to throw punches in the most Fundamentally Incorrect way imaginable. However, also like ALI, he got away with it because of his speed, which in his case, actually surpassed any of his predecessors.
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Most people forget, primarily because of his later career losses, Roy was never better than his days at 168 lbs. That version of Roy Jones Jr. was arguably one of the top Ten fighters of all times in terms of pure talent. He blended speed and power unlike anyone before him.
Every single fighter is influenced by someone. Frazier was influences by Rocky Marciano but he fought more similar to Jake Lamotta who was also influenced by someone.
A better question is who was least influenced by someone. Greats who aren't text-book are a rare site [because not being text book tends to lead to losses]. Sugar Ray Robinson was text book, he was influenced by his Amateur trainer & HOF trained Blackburn taught him to punch [same guy who molder Joe Louis].
Muhammad Ali said he was influenced by Robinson but he fought NOTHING like Robinson. Ali tended to keep his hands down and put them in awkward places, his footwork was over-done, he focused ALLOT on head shots, if anything he was influenced less than most boxers. Joe Calzaghe is a modern example of an awcqward but unique fighter in that his style was unconventional.
Some of Cus D Amatos first fighters, including Bobo Olson, were least influenced by others because the style had never been used that way. They used a similar defense as the turtle shell [Joshua Clottey & Ronald Wring use] but they lowered the hands a bit and used body movement [thus the 'peek a boo' was born].
Roy jones jr practically copied both sugar ray and some of ali's moves.
The most obvious was Muhammad Ali's influence on Larry Holmes. Holmes practically copied Ali.
Roy Jones admired and was also influenced by the late Salvador Sanchez. See almost the same left hookings.
I have heard Sugar Ray Robinson influenced Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard, Roy Jones Jr was influenced by Sugar Ray Leonard and that Mike Tyson was taught to fight like Floyd Patterson.
Who are the best examples and was Sugar Ray Robinson influenced by anyone in particular?
