Today we take a look through boxing history to see who were the hardest punchers of all time. These are some serious knockout punchers their legacy will always live on.
5 – Deontay Wilder
Wilder is known for his immense power and has one of the highest knock out rates in boxing history. He is undoubtedly one of the hardest punchers of all time. 43 wins, 42 knockouts is an unbelievable feat. Wilder possess the best right hand (in current boxing at least) and many say of all time. Wilder didn’t start boxing until the age of 20 and within three years of training managed to win a bronze medal at the Olympics. (The bronze bomber)
Although amazing accomplishments, Deontay has been ridiculed for fighting poor opposition and avoiding difficult fighters. When he met Tyson Fury in their second fight he took one of the worst beatings in title fight history. His knockout of Dominic Breazale is his best and arguably the hardest knockout of all time. Wilder uses his long frame to wind up his right hand and is easy to see coming (most of the time) but to avoid it for 36 minutes is a different matter.
Joe Rogan continues to say that Deontay Wilder is the hardest one punch knockout artist of all time
4 – Mike Tyson
Whenever you think about the hardest punchers of all time in boxing usually; the first person in peoples minds is Mike Tyson. Tyson dominated the boxing world on his rise to fame and became the youngest ever world heavyweight champ at the age of 20. He was beating up men from the age of 13 when his legendary Cus D’Amato trainer took him in. Tyson had no father figure growing up and lived rough stealing, gambling and selling drugs to get by. It’s clear that Tyson’s rough upbringing contributed to the knockout power he possessed.
A born puncher people describe Tyson’s punches are like being hit by a Ferrari at maximum speed. He had incredible drive and even better trainers. When he came out of jail, Iron Mike was once doing upwards of 1,000 squats every training session, and would train all day. He was completely dedicated. At only 5ft 10 Mike was always the smaller man but you would never think it. His downfall was nearly as extreme as his rise.
Top 5 Mike Tyson Knockouts
3 – George Foreman
Foreman had ridiculously heavy hands. Even a casual swipe from one of his fists was enough to stagger most opponents. Famously an ‘arm’ puncher, who threw punches from the shoulder without putting his body weight behind them, Foreman was blessed with immense physical strength and had a granite chin. In his early years Foreman was probably the most intimidating puncher in the history of boxing.
Foreman first won the world heavyweight title against Joe Frazier in Jamaica in 1973. Foreman battered Frazier from pillar-to-post, knocking the undefeated, undisputed champion down six times before winning by TKO 1 minute 35 seconds of the second round. Foreman carried his strength and power well into his 40’s becoming the oldest heavyweight champion of all time. A feat ‘big George’ would not likely be able to achieve if not one of the hardest punchers of all time.
Foreman’s best knockouts below.
2 – Earnie Shavers
A two-time world heavyweight championship challenger, Shavers is known for being one of the hardest punchers of all time. He scored 68 knockout wins, including 23 in the first round. He holds a 76.4% overall knockout ratio. According to Muhammad Ali, Shavers punched him the hardest. If Earnie possessed the same power as the right in the left he would probably be the best puncher of all time.
Shavers is directly responsibly for the early retirements of Ron Asher, Frank Smith, Bunky Akins, Bill McMurray, Harold Carter, Eddie Parotte and Larry Sims, all of whom he knocked out and never fought again. What Shavers lacked in skill he made up with his equalizer – the right hand. However, Shavers is a lesson to all fighters that power alone can not get you to a world title.
Earnie Shavers best knockouts below.
1 – Rocky Marciano – Hardest puncher of all time
Many consider Rocky Marciano to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest boxer to have ever lived. In his decade long streak as undisputed heavyweight champion, Marciano fought and beat every challenger who came his way, which isn’t surprising given how hard it’s estimated he could punch. What made Marciano so deadly in the ring wasn’t his skill or finesse because, by all accounts he was a fairly rough and unpolished fighter even in his prime, but the sheer power behind his fists and his ability to take a hit.
Legendary boxing trainer Don Turner said no-one hit harder than Marciano. Marciano once sent someone into a coma luckily the man survived. He is the only boxer who seemed to turn a boxers face into jelly when he delivered his knock out punch, no other boxer can or could do that.
People describe Rocky Marciano’s right hand when landed properly, felt like the force of a double barrel shotgun, fired from very close range. What’s even more scary he was more or less perfectly double handed, meaning – his left arm was only very slightly weaker than his right. And he was a ferocious combination hitter. Very, very fast.
This makes Rocky our biggest puncher of all time.
Rocky Marciano knockouts below.
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How tall is Mike tyson?
Mike Tyson is 5ft 10″ (1.77m) Which is considered very small for a heavyweight boxer, Tyson however, is considered by many to be one of the hardest punchers of all time. What he missed out on height he made up with speed and power.
Who is the Bronze bomber?
Deontay Wilder won a bronze medal in the Olympics in 2008 developing the nickname “the bronze bomber” Who is considered by many to be the greatest one punch knockout artist of all time