While it’s tough to objectively come up with a ranking of the hardest punchers in boxing history, we really tried to gather as much information as possible for our list – including comparative opinions from opponents and sparring parnters, examining win/knockout rates, as well as quality of opponents.
Through our research, we have come up with our opinion on the hardest-hitting boxers in the history of the sport.
Thanks for reading – Zack
Hardest Punchers in Boxing – Key Takeaways
- First of, it should be noted that this list is largely based off our opnions – while there is really no object ways to analyzing who has harder punches we’ve considered opinions of opponents/sparring partners, PSI measurements, as well as Win/Knockout ratios
- If we had to choose the single hardest puncher in boxing history would have to be Earner Shavers (this is solely based on the opinions of opponents and training partners – see below for more)
- In terms of more modern fighters, Deontay Wilder tops our list of the most powerful puncher – again all of his sparring partners consider him the hardest hitter even among Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Wladimir klitschko)
- If we had to rank a Top 5: The hardest punchers in boxing history are
- 1.Earnie Shavers
- 2.George Foreman
- 3.Deontay Wilder
- 4.Sonny Liston
- 5.Wladimir Klitschko
Who’s the Hardest Puncher in Boxing History?
1. Earnie Shavers
The reason why we have decided to put Earnier Shavers as the number 1 hardest puncher in boxing is due purely to the opinions of his opponents and sparring parners.
Check out what some of his opponents have said:
Muhammad Ali (who fought George Foreman, Frazier, Shavers, Lyle, Liston, and Norton) once joked, “Earnie Shavers hit me so hard, it shook my kinfolk back in Africa.….stronger than Joe Fraizer and George Foreman.”
Larry Holmes (who fought Norton, Tyson, Shavers, and Bonecrusher Smith) said “Earnie hit me harder than any other fighter, including Mike Tyson. He hit me and I was face down on the canvas hearing saxophonist Jimmy Tillis.”
Active from 1969 to 1983 and with a record of 68W-14L-1D, Shavers showed his power right from the outset. He secured 33 out of his 68 knockouts within the first round.
If I was to guess the reason as to why Earnie Shavers didn’t earn legendary status like Muhammed Ali and George Foreman it would likely be due to him never winning a world title as well as several losses (some of which have been contended in the past – see Ali vs Shavers)
Hopefully, with posts like this, boxing fans and historians can eventually learn to really appreciate all the incredible power and skill that Shavers brought to the ring.
2. George Foreman
It really can’t be argued that Big George should be in the top 5 of the hardest-hitting boxers.
Holyfield (who fought Lewis, Tyson, Foreman, Bowe, and Foreman) said, “(George Foreman) hit me harder than any other fighter.”
Foreman conquered the boxing ring in two eras: first in the late 1960s and 1970s, then again in the late 1980s and early ’90s. This legendary boxer was known as much for his speed as for his bludgeoning strength, with an impressive knockout rate of 89%.
With a record of 76W-5L and 68 knockouts (46 of them being within the first three rounds), Foreman’s record is a testament to his devastating power.
No knockout is as famous or as impactful as the one against Michael Moorer in 1994. Despite being outscored in all rounds and visibly fatigued, George Foreman launched a right hand that kissed Moorer’s gloves before sending him sprawling to the canvas.
Foreman’s punching power was more than raw strength. It was a combination of perfect timing, strategy, and the element of surprise, making him a boxing enigma that few could comprehend and fewer could conquer.
3. Deontay Wilder
Now onto more recent boxers, we have to mention Deontay Wilder first. Even though he is of the modern era his hard hitting punches shouldn’t be dismissed.
Whe we compare what some of his opponents and sparring partners have said we can likely put him toward the top of the most powerful modern fighters:
Eric Molina who has experience with both Wilder and Anthony Joshua said “Wilder could knock out a bull if he hit it in the head. It’s just a matter of ‘when’ in that fight.”
Richard Towers who was a mutual sparring partner of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Wilder said, “(Deontay) whacks the hardest I’ve ever been punched… He punches a lot harder than Joshua.”
With a record of 43W-2L-1D and a knockout rating of 98%, Deontay Wilder indisputably paved his way as one of the most powerful punchers in boxing history.
Active from 2008 to the present, Wilder’s record showcases an impressive 41 wins, with a single draw and no losses. His achievement of 40 knockouts in his career is a testament to his unparalleled power. Wilder’s most significant ability lies in his delivery. He might appear deceptively lean for his 6-foot-7 stature, but when his fists do the talking, the impact is nothing short of extraordinary. His punch against Dominic Breazeale in May 2019 beautifully illustrates his shattering strength.
4. Sonny Liston
Sonny Liston is another name that often crops up in the conversations about the hardest-hitting boxers. With a boxing career stretching from 1953-70, Liston demonstrated a consistent penchant for knocking out his opponents. Liston’s record was 50W-4L and a knockout rate of 78%.
Chuck Wepner who fought both Foreman and Liston said:
“It hurts if anybody hits you. I could always take it, absorb it and come back, but with Liston, after you got hit by him, you were very weary to make that move again. George (Foreman) was powerful, too. Probably Sonny Liston (was the best puncher). “
Liston was a daunting figure in the ring, his power being most prominent in his prodigious knockout ability, making him an intimidating spectacle throughout his era. Despite his losses to a young Muhammad Ali, Liston’s career echoed a heavy-handed dominance that few could rival. George Foreman, a renowned heavyweight boxing champion and a worthy hard hitter in his own right, once mentioned that Liston was “the only man I ever faced who could force me backward.”
5. Wladimir Klitschko
Another modern era fighter that we can’t ignore when it comes to powerful punches is Wladimir Klitschko.
Ray Mercer who fought Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko, and Morrison said
“(Klitschko) was a bigger and stronger guy. I really didn’t know him so when he hit me I was like, ‘Damn, where did he come from?’ I was in shape and he was just a powerful dude, his jab and everything, very heavy-handed, more than Lewis.”
Klitschko made an impact in the heavyweight division with an impressive knockout rate of 83% throughout his influential career, spanning from 1996 to 2017 with a record of 64W-5L.
A significant chunk of his victories — a staggering 52 to be precise — were rendered through knockouts. One must remember that most of these victories were against seasoned opponents, which bolsters Klitschko’s reputation as a hard puncher.
Another boxer who said Klitschko’s punchers were no joke was retired heavyweight Richard Towers, who shared the ring with Klitschko, stated in an interview with The Sun that Klitschko’s punches felt harder and faster than any other heavyweight he had encountered.
6. Joe Louis
Switching gears to the classic era of post-world war boxing, it’s impossible to ignore the legendary ‘Brown Bomber’ — Joe Louis.
While Joe Louis may not be as powerful on this list, the reason why we put him up so high is due to the amount of power he was able to produce in his short punchers. WIth punches only traveling a few inches he was still able to knockout his opponents.
This American warrior ruled the heavyweight boxing division with an iron fist during his reign from 1937 to 1949. It’s a remarkable feat to note that Louis’ knockout rate was a jaw-dropping 83%, with a commendable 27 out of 32 victories procured by putting his adversaries on the floor.
Drawing from numerous words of praise from several of his contemporaries and boxing pundits, his punches were a harmonious blend of technique, speed, and startling power. His blows were so potent that they could, in the words of the legendary Muhammad Ali, “shake your ancestors.” In the pantheon of hardest punchers in boxing, Joe Louis’ name radiates in golden letters.
7. Mike Tyson
Agressive and relentless, we couldn’t not inclue Iron Mike Tyson high up on our ranking.
Tyson’s power can primarily be attributed to the torque he generated with each turn of his robust hips and large back. He maximized his power through expert body movement and channeling his generated power up his legs to execute each punch resultantly. For consecutive years, Tyson was the undisputed world heavyweight champion—holding the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles all at once. His stellar KO ratio of around 75% is testament to his impressive punching prowess.
One notable example of Tyson’s raw power was when he brutally knocked out Michael Spinks in just 91 seconds during their 1988 bout. Professional boxer Frank Bruno fought Tyson twice and referred to Tyson’s punches as “a sledgehammer.” Tyson’s reputation as one of boxing’s hardest punchers has been earned over an iconic and unforgettable career.
8. Bonecrusher Smith
James “Bonecrusher” Smith, another prominent figure in boxing history, who we’d rankin the category of hardest punchers. While he may not be as successful or popular as other fighters on this list his punching power was no joke.
Frank Bruno who fought both Tyson, Bonecrusher Smith, and Lewis said that Bonecrusher hit the hardest out of all of them.
His reputation was solidly built on the impressive fact that between losses, Smith won successive fights against both Jesse Ferguson and Walter Santemore by round one knockout.
A characteristic aspect of Smith’s power-packed punches was due to the leverage he utilized through his daunting 6’4″ stature and his extraordinary reach. With 14 knockouts in his 19 wins, Bonecrusher lived up to his nickname—by devastating his opponents with his imposing power.
Notably, his boxing match against WBA champion Tim Witherspoon in Madison Square Garden in 1986, Smith produced an unexpected upset. Witherspoon, an established and celebrated boxer, was pummeled in the first round by Smith’s powerful punches—a fight that remains in boxing fan’s memories to this day.
9. Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano, arguably the very manifestation of power in boxing, has held the unique record of retiring undefeated (49-0) and a knockout rate of an incredible 88%. While he may not be the hardest pucnher, he was known for his resilence.
Given his smaller size by contemporary heavyweight standards (between 184 and 189 pounds), Marciano’s power was astonishing in its potency. His overhand right was a terrifying sight for his opponents, a punch celebrated for its speed, precision, and concussive force.
Marciano’s formidable right hands weren’t his only weapon; they were merely the showstopper in his artillery of punches. His brutal body attack, characterized by hooks and uppercuts delivered with both hands, was a significant part of his arsenal. The iconic knockout of Jersey Joe Walcott in September 1952, with a simultaneous block and punch maneuver known as the “Suzie Q”, is an enduring testament to Marciano’s astounding power.
10. Lennox Lewis
If there’s one name that comes to mind when one talks about more modern heavyweight punchers, it’s Lennox Lewis.
With 32 knockouts in his 41 victories, Lewis had a knockout rate of 78%. That’s telling of the sheer power behind his punches. Side note: this power was consistent throughout his career, for 14 years.
The advantage of Lewis’s power was not only in its magnitude but also its precision and strategy. His tactical understanding of the boxing ring, his ability to read his opponents maneuvers, and then his intrinsic ability to deliver each punch with deadly accuracy – all contributed to his prowess as a hard puncher. Not just power, heavyweight boxing requires skill and intelligence, and Lennox Lewis definitely had it all. To put it in perspective, the memories of the Tyson-Lewis match of 2002 are imprinted on every boxing fan’s mind. One particular punch from Lewis in the 8th round ended Tyson’s challenge, highlighting his efficiency and lethal punching power.
11. David Tua
Another lesser known fighter with insane punching power was David Tua.
Michael Moorer wo fought Foreman, Tua, Bonecrusher Smith said that David Tua was the hardest hitter
An intimidating powerhouse hailing from New Zealand, Tua is renowned for his punch and the demolishing violence he could unleash inside the ring. Tua’s boxing journey was dominated by his fearsome left hook, which he used to wreak havoc in numerous bouts.
One memorable example happened in 2000, where Tua effortlessly decimated his opponent Michael Moorer in a brief span of 30 seconds in the first round. This match serves as a testament to his notorious knockout punch, which some argue was the strongest in his era.
Despite lacking a world title to his name, Tua left no stone unturned in stunning several world champions. Side note: David Tua’s boxing career was marked by a 91% knockout-to-win ratio, one of the highest in the boxing world, further embellishing his reputation as a lethal puncher.
Though Tua struggled to outmaneuver world-class boxers, his legendary power-punching prowess remained as formidable as ever.
12. Ron Lyle
An imposing figure from the golden era of the heavyweight division—the 1970s—Ron Lyle carved out a singular niche for himself.
Lyle is probably most famous for his clash with Muhammad Ali in May 1975. One advantage Lyle had in this climactic encounter was that he was leading on all cards when a controversial technical knockout in the 11th round bid him goodbye.
Yet, this didn’t diminish Lyle’s stature as a heavyweight who could pack a lethal force in his fists. His definitive moment came during his ferocious brawl with George Foreman in January 1976, etching his name in boxing history. Widely acknowledged as one of the most turbulent and thrilling heavyweight contests in boxing, this match underscored the knockout capacity that Lyle brought to his fights.
Undeterred by the hard knocks that came his way, Lyle’s track record offers compelling insight into his boxing prowess, emphasizing the exceptional raw power of his punches.
13. Cleveland Williams
Cleveland Williams, known for his fierce knockout power, also stands as one of the greatest punchers in boxing history.
Whether it was his jaw-rattling right hook or his devastating left jab, Williams packed a punch that many heavyweight champions of his era found difficult to counter. Williams’ career saw many stunning knockouts, which earned him the nickname “Big Cat.”
If you’re looking for proof of this boxer’s devastating punching power, you only need to look at his impressive record. He won 80 out of 88 fights in his career, with a staggering 69 wins coming from knockouts.
One characteristic attribute of Williams’ technique was his ability to strike brawny punches while maintaining a quick pace, contributing to the lethal efficiency of his knockout hits.
Among Williams’ significant knockouts includes a memorable match with Alex Miteff. Known for his size and resilience, Miteff was toppled in the 2nd round, proving Williams’ knack for dealing masterfully planned punches that led to early knockouts.
14. Gerry Cooney
Few in the boxing world could hit with the sheer brute force that Gerry Cooney carried so he definitely made our top 15.
Known for his intimidating presence and sheer power, Cooney had a well-earned reputation as one of boxing’s most potent punchers. Cooney’s astonishing power lay in his left hook – a weapon that often felled even the toughest opponents.
Looking at his illustrious boxing career, Cooney made a habit of punishing his opponents with a brutal display of power punches. In his 31 fight career, 24 finished in knockouts, most of which were attributed to his lethal left hook. With a knockout percentage reaching 77.42%, his reputation as a formidable power puncher remains unquestionable.
Take, for example, his colossal match against Ken Norton in 1981. Cooney dispatched Norton in under one round, demonstrating his tremendous punching ability. A single left hook sent Norton crashing to the mat, and he was unable to recover, signaling the end of the fight.
15. Jack Dempsey
There are few names in boxing history that instill a sense of awe and respect as much as Jack Dempsey. Known for his ruthless ferocity and tremendous powerin the golden age of boxing, Dempsey was an icon of his era, a time when boxing was just beginning to take root in sports culture.
Described as aggressive and relentless, Dempsey’s style was distinctly fearsome from his contemporaries. He didn’t merely dominate his opponents; he demolished them. He was widely recognized for his aggressive style and potent punches, which included his “Dempsey Roll,” a technique involving continuous and swift left-right combinations aimed at the opponent’s midsection. One example of Dempsey’s exceptional power was his fight against Jess Willard in 1919, where Dempsey unleashed a barrage of powerful punches, knocking Willard to the canvas numerous times.
This fight is often considered one of the bloodiest in boxing, and it solidified Dempsey’s reputation as an exceptionally formidable puncher. The sheer force and velocity of his punches were enough to strike fear into the hearts of his opponents.
16. Joe Frazier
Joe Frazier, popularly known as “Smokin’ Joe,” was a synonym for power and precision in his time and definitely deserves to be on this list.
Frazier’s unique combination of brute force, incredible speed, and precise timing made him an intimidating opponent in the ring. His punches, especially his signature left hook, were notorious for their destructive capability. Let’s delve deeper into what made Joe Frazier a force to be reckoned with in the boxing world.
Frazier’s fighting style was characterized by applying continuous pressure on his opponents, refusing them any moment of respite. He was a technical fighter, but his power was undeniably his most formidable weapon. Notably, his signature left hook was considered his most devastating punch. There are countless examples throughout his career where Frazier’s power punch dramatically ended bouts.
One notable example is his iconic fight with Muhammad Ali, billed as the “Fight of the Century,” in which Frazier’s lethal left hook floored Ali, affirming his victory.
17. Razor Ruddock
Ruddock, known for his iconic “smash punch,” is a force to be reckoned within boxing history.
Achieving fame largely during the late 1980s to early 1990s, Ruddock’s punch power was a distinguishing factor in his boxing career. Rising contemporaneously with Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis, Ruddock proved himself consistently with his power-focused fighting style.
Further validation of his punching power came from the mouth of Iron Mike Tyson himself. Tyson publicly hailed Ruddock as the hardest hitter he had faced. While Ruddock’s boxing career bore the brunt of some controversial losses, his endowment for packing power into his punches remains uncontested.
18. Anthony Joshua
Anthony Joshua, a modern boxer, has proven his top tier punching power.
Debuted in 2013 as a professional boxer, Joshua has displayed a consistent and impressive knockout ratio, securing him a commanding position in heavyweight boxing history.
His record is studded with victories that showcase his knockout power. One of the notable instances was Joshua’s bout with Wladimir Klitschko in April 2017. An all-important match that saw Joshua fighting for the WBA (Super) and IBO heavyweight titles, he demonstrated the lethal potential of his punch power, raising a technical knockout against Klitschko.
Furthermore, Joshua’s power prowess is not just confined to his knockout ratio. His punching power has left rival boxers grappling for defense. A striking testament to this is a quote from British fighter Dorian Darch, who stated, “I’ve sparred with quite a few heavyweights, and Joshua was the hardest hitter among them.” Although Joshua has faced setbacks in recent years, his early career fortified his position as one of the hardest punchers in boxing history.
19. Tommy Morrison
Morrison, a former WBO heavyweight champion, earned his stripes in the boxing ring with extraordinary punching power.
Standing at 6’2″ and weighing in around 220 lbs, he was indeed a force to be reckoned with. His boxing record, 48-3-1 with 42 knockouts, is proof of his heavy-handed supremacy. Widely remembered for his part in the 1992 boxing movie sequel ‘Rocky V’, Morrison projected an image of natural aggression and strength, but if any casual fans were unaware – his power was legit.
His left hook in particular was a fearsome weapon, capable of knocking the best off their feet.
Born into a family with a boxing lineage, Morrison started making waves with a highly successful amateur career. Turning pro in 1988, he raced through the ranks, steadily gaining reputation for his power punches. By 1993, Morrison had managed to bag the vacant WBO title, defeating George Foreman, a well-established name on this list.
However, Morrison’s career spiraled down when he tested positive for HIV in 1996. This halted his boxing career, though he made a brief comeback in 2007.
20. Riddick Bowe
During his heyday, Riddick Bowe was best known for literally punching opponents out of the boxing ring.
A Brooklyn native, Bowe became the undisputed heavyweight champion in 1992. He had an impressive record with 43 wins, 1 loss and 1 no contest, boasting 33 knockouts in total. His most famous battles were with Evander Holyfield which are considered boxing classics.
Bowe had a unique combination of power and skill, often overshadowing his size and form. At 6’5″ and upwards of 230 lbs, his physical presence itself was intimidating. The full force of his power was unleashed via his uppercuts, straight rights and devastating body punches.
The boxing world still fondly remembers Bowe’s 1992 championship bout with Holyfield; it perhaps best epitomizes his power. Bowe won the undisputed world heavyweight title that night with a breathtaking combination of speed, agility, and raw power.
21. Archie Moore
When it comes to the world of professional boxing, Archie Moore holds a special place. His astounding record of 186 knockouts shows the remarkable hitting power he possessed.
Moore’s punches were not just powerful, but they also reflected a sharp boxing mind that calculated every hit meticulously. He was an artist in the ring, and his canvas was his opponent’s body where he painted a brutal result with his gloved fists.
With a boxing career spanning almost three decades from 1936 to 1963, Moore faced many boxing legends, including Floyd Patterson and Rocky Marciano. Despite moving up to the heavyweight class for these fights, Moore’s phenomenal knockout power held its ground against these larger opponents.
22. Julian Jackson
If raw power and knockout potential were the only measures of a supremely talented boxer, Julian Jackson would be at the very top of that list.
With a formidable knockout rate of 89 percent, Jackson was renowned for his extraordinary punching capacity. Refusing to be contained by the weight of the boxing gloves or the toughness of his opponents, Jackson’s punches were lightning-fast yet decisively fatal.
His distinguished career comprises remarkable knockout victories over eminent names, such as Terry Norris and Buster Drayton. With each victory, Jackson left an indomitable impression of his invincible power punch.
Despite never making it to the absolute pinnacle of boxing fame, Jackson carved out a niche for himself on the strength of his relentless hitting power.
Hardest Punchers of Boxing’s Golden Age
The golden age of boxing, the 1970s, housed some of the most ferocious heavyweight punchers.
If we had to list a couple they would be:
- Joe Louis
- Ron Lyle
- George Foreman
- Muhammed Ali
Stalwarts of the time like Joe Louis and Ron Lyle combined terrifying power with unparalleled ferocity to dominate the boxing ring. Their performances, etched in boxing history, offer a treasure trove of unforgettable bouts.
Joe Louis, often lauded as the greatest heavyweight champion of all time, cultivated a poignant reputation for his crushing right hand. Despite deceivingly rawboned, Louis was a force to be reckoned with, holding the heavyweight title for a record twelve years. His confrontations were legendary, raising the stakes for the boxing game and leaving an indelible imprint on the sport.
Meanwhile, Ron Lyle was the underdog who stemmed no punches. Against undisputed champions like Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, he alchemized his losses into impressive performances unmatched by his heavyweight counterparts. Lyle’s duel with Foreman, in fact, is still considered one of the most thrilling heavyweight contests in boxing history.
Modern-Day Boxers with the Hardest Punches
Power punchers are not just a time-honored tradition in boxing. The boxing ring continues to see the rise of groundbreaking fighters with knockout abilities that are nothing short of explosive.
Among these standouts are:
- Deontay Wilder
- Wladimir Klitschko
- Aaron Joshua
- Tyson Fury
Who Was the Hardest Hitting Heavyweight Boxer
If we had to choose the hardest hitting heayweight boxer, it would have to be Earnie Shavers.
His opponents and sparring partners all claim that Shavers hit the hardest even among other insanely powerful punchers like Foreman and Tyson,
If we had to choose a runner up, it would probably be Big George Foreman, his power can’t be understated – even in his training videos, his bag work was scary stuff.
How to Measure Hardest Punchers?
First of, there’s really no object way to measure hardest punches across different boxing eras.
What we have done in this post is use several different methods like:
- comparing opinions from other boxers and sparring partners
- using PSI to meausure punches whenever data is available
- analyizing Win/Knockout rates
- considering quality of opponents
Several methods exist to measure a boxer’s punch power. These include punch meters, which can measure the force delivered in a punch, and examining fight statistics, including knockdown and knockout percentages. But beyond figures and statistics, the boxers’ technique and effect on opponents is often the most telling (based on opinions of opponents/sparring partners).
1. Comparing Opinions from Other Boxers and Sparring Partners
As they spend the most time in the ring with these hard-hitters, the opinions of other boxers and sparring partners carry considerable weight when determining the hardest punchers in boxing history.
These individuals have personally experienced the punch power and can offer an insider’s perspective on who truly packs the most powerful punch.
Examples abound of those who’ve sparred with or fought against notable punchers. The former heavyweight Richard Towers, for instance, shared his experience of having sparred with Anthony Joshua, the Klitschko brothers, Tyson Fury, and Deontay Wilder. In his view, Wilder hits the hardest.
Whenever possible we’ve included opinions from fighters and training partners as even though these are opinion based they can help when comparing punching power between fightes.
Finally, it’s important not to discount the effects of recency bias. Fighters who sparred together years ago and recently sparred others may perceive the latest punch as harder. Physiological factors such as accumulated damage, exhaustion or surprise can definitely change their perceptions of a punch’s power.
2. Using PSI to Measure Hardest Hitting Boxer
Pounds per square inch (PSI) is not just an unfathomable term used by automobile engineers while discussing advancements. Interestingly, it’s also an integral characteristic in deciphering the hardest hitting boxer.
And while it might seem complex, it’s quite simple in its essence. PSI enumerates the force applied uniformly over a certain surface. With respect to boxing, it is used to denote the amount of force a boxer can generate with their punches, making it a pragmatic approach to determining the hardest hitter.
While it’s impossible to have these measurements from all fighters on this list, the info we have from certain fighters definitely gives us more insight
The two we wanted to highlight are:
- Mike Tyson
- Ricky Hatton
Let’s take the example of Mike Tyson. His punches were reported to have a power of 1,178 PSI, meaning that his blows landed with the equivalent weight of a literal tonne. Yes, that’s correct. His fists could make an impact as if a small car was being hurled towards his opponents.
On the other hand, we have British boxer Ricky Hatton who, despite his smaller frame and lower weight class, was reported to have a punching power of 400 PSI. A considerable figure for his weight class and yet less than half of Tyson’s raw power.
3. Win/Knockout Rate
The win/knockout rate is another crucial criterion we can look at when we talk about the hardest hitting boxers. This ratio provides insights into the destructive capacity of a boxer’s blows.
In simpler terms, it’s the total number of wins via knockout divided by total fights, usually expressed as a percentage. A higher percentage indicates a higher likelihood of the fighter winning via knockout, thus symbolizing their potent punch power.
Look at Deontay Wilder, for instance. Widely recognized as one of the hardest punchers, he holds an extremly impressive knockout rate of 98 percent, having achieved 40 knockouts from 41 wins.
Garry “Big Daddy” Goodridge, an MMA and boxing legend, had a knockout rate of 80 percent from his total 17 wins. While it is lower than Wilder’s, it is still a formidable ratio. Essentially, the knockout rate reveals a boxer’s potential of being a power puncher.
Other Related FAQs:
Who Is the Hardest Puncher in MMA/UFC?
If we’re looking at the world of MMA and particularly within the UFC, one popular name often emerges when looking at the hardest puncher: Francis “The Predator” Ngannou.
His superhuman punching power is evident in his professional record – he even holds the highest score ever recorded on the UFC’s punching power machine.
Ngannou’s formidable power punches have resulted in impressive victories over well-known fighters like Stipe Miocic, Junior dos Santos, and Alistair Overeem. Standout is his knockout of Overeem, where his lethal left uppercut sent Overeem sprawling unconscious onto the canvas in the first round. Ngannou’s punches command respect, and his reputation as the hardest puncher in the MMA/UFC universe is well-deserved.
Was Earnie Shavers the Hardest Puncher?
To answer the question briefly: yes, many consider Earnie Shavers to be the hardest puncher in boxing history.
This claim is backed by the numerous accounts of opponents, boxing historians, and critics alike. Shavers’ devastating knockout power had earned him the nickname “The Black Destroyer”, striking fear into the heart of his adversaries.
