Big Hitters: The Hardest Hitters In Boxing History
The Most Powerful Punchers: 5 of the Hardest Hitters in Boxing History
Boxing is not just about skill and speed. Power is one of the biggest factors in the sport.
‘Iron’ Mike Tyson: One of boxing’s heaviest punchers
This has been proven throughout boxing’s history. Many boxers have built great legacies simply by being the hardest punchers, Deontay Wilder anyone?
But who exactly is the hardest-punching boxer of all time? In this article, we’ll cover the 5 biggest hitters of all time.
What Makes Someone A Hard Puncher In Boxing?
Boxing is a sport in which you’re supposed to punch your opponent as hard as you can. This is to inflict enough blunt force trauma so they cannot continue the fight.
However, there are some boxers who hit their opponents with a freakishly high amount of power.
These boxers are usually able to finish off their opponents with just one punch and they have a high knockout rate as a result.
In this list, we’ll look at the top boxers who punch extraordinarily hard. And yes, everyone’s a heavyweight here so don’t be surprised!
The 5 Hardest Hitters of All Time
1. Mike Tyson
He had a devastating overhand right and a quick, powerful left hook.
Tyson was a relentless attacker who often overwhelmed his opponents with a barrage of punches. He was known for his "peek-a-boo" style, where he would tuck his chin behind his gloves and charge forward, throwing punches in rapid succession.
Despite his aggressive style, Tyson was also very accurate with his punches
Whenever there’s a discussion about the hardest-hitting boxer, Mike Tyson is always mentioned. Known as the baddest man on the planet, Tyson was feared for his punching power.
An example of the media hype around Iron Mikes punching power was when Tyson delivered a scripted punch to Shawn Michaels at WM 14.
The wrestler checked his teeth even though the punch wasn’t real.
This was due to Tyson’s reputation as the hardest-punching boxer in history, despite not being as huge or intimidating as most other great heavyweights.
Tyson’s punching power won him several world championships and an unmatched legacy.
This is because he could use it in an unpredictable manner; from any side, middle- or close-range, and at any time to knock out his opponent.
Not just the power, but power plus speed made for some deadly boxing combinations from the man known as ‘Iron Mike’
2. George Foreman
His right hand, known as the "Devastating Punch," was one of the most feared weapons in boxing history.
He often used his size and strength to wear down opponents, waiting for an opening to unleash his big hits.
Although Foreman was primarily known for his right hand, he had a varied attack that included hooks, uppercuts, and jabs.
While he’s known mainly for his cooking grills today, it wasn’t too long ago that George Foreman was considered to be the hardest-hitting boxer in history.
He was also considered to be a favourite against the legendary Muhammad Ali.
Foreman was believed to be one of the few men who could defeat Ali, if he took his training more seriously.
Foreman was always praised for his effortlessness in knocking out opponents.
He made it look very easy, even as he fought youngsters in his mid-40s. He wasn’t as skilled as some of the other hard-hitting GOATs but he had raw power.
As a result of this, Foreman had a long and impressive run in boxing, having competed at the top level in three different decades.
3. Deontay Wilder
His right hand, which he calls the "Bronze Bomber," is/was one of the most powerful punches in the sport of boxing.
He often throws unorthodox punches from unusual angles and has a unique style of footwork that allows him to generate power from different positions.
Wilder's height and reach give him a significant advantage in the ring, and he often uses his long arms to keep opponents at a distance and pick them apart with his jab.
Deontay Wilder is the most recent contender as the hardest-hitting boxer of all time.
He may have had a rough run after competing against Tyson Fury thrice, but there’s no doubt that he can knock out his opponent’s lights out 9 times out of 10.
He has the greatest knockout percentage in the history of the sport, with the number maxing out at 95% at a time.
Wilder’s abilities are considered to be superhuman. He is freakishly tall and large, but he’s not slow and sturdy as one might expect. The Bronze Bomber is known to be very skilled and he’s somehow a lot quicker than his smaller opponents.
These attributes, when combined with his huge punching power, make Deontay Wilder a danger like no other- and there’s no doubt that he’s one of the GOATs.
4. Earnie Shavers
He was known for his devastating one-punch knockout power, which earned him the nickname "The Black Destroyer."
He often relied on his exceptional timing and accuracy to land his punches, waiting for his opponent to make a mistake before striking with his powerful right hand.
While Shavers had exceptional power, he was not known for his technical boxing skills. He often relied on his punching power to carry him through fights.
You know you’re one of the hardest punchers when the great Muhammad Ali says that you hit hard.
This was an honour bestowed upon Earnie Shavers.
Shavers was very underrated, simply because he never won a world title. Other than that, he was applauded for his punching power, despite not being as skilled as his peers in boxing.
Shavers was known for two things: being able to punch your brain cells out with his legendary right hand, and ending fights early. These two aspects got him dozens of wins and an excellent knockout percentage.
While he couldn’t really hit the same blow with his left, his other hand was enough to get the job done! Shavers was feared in the boxing community- despite not winning one of the big ones.
5. Rocky Marciano
Marciano was known for his relentless pressure and determination in the ring. He was always moving forward, throwing punches in combinations and wearing down opponents.
He was able to generate a tremendous amount of force with both hands, and his punches were known for their devastating impact.
He had a unique way of throwing punches, often looping them over his opponents' guard and landing them with surprising accuracy. He also had a tendency to dip his head down low and come up with a powerful uppercut, catching opponents off guard and knocking them out.
Another one of the smaller heavyweights, Marciano is an undefeated boxer with a spotless record like Floyd Mayweather Jr.
He was known to be tough in taking Marciano’s lethal strikes, and he usually served a whole appetizer in the form of punches to his opponent. He followed this up by delivering his signature right hand, which took years off his opponent’s life.
He may be remembered quite fondly even in this day and age, but Marciano fought back in the 1950s. He may not be a heavyweight by today’s standards but he used to knock out men bigger than him.
One punch from Marciano could end the match. Combine his punching power with his unlimited amount of stamina, and you get a boxing legend that will never be forgotten.
Honorable Mention: Lennox Lewis
Wladimir Klitschko is a renowned hard hitter who is currently defending his country, Ukraine, from invaders- but you just cannot have a list such as this without mentioning the great Lennox Lewis.
Lewis was one of the first large but athletic, quick boxers. He had a superhuman range which he used to his advantage. He could strike his opponents from far away without taking any punishment himself.
However, Lewis is best known for his powerful right hand. He used this massive right hand to knock people out, end fights early or go until the very end of the match to deliver his final blow.
Lewis wasn’t just a power puncher but he was technical as well. This is how he was able to win several world titles and an Olympic gold.
Other heavy hitters include greats such as Joe Frazier, Sonny Liston and Joe Louis.
Check out our suggestions for the Fastest Boxers in History, and pick up some info on the greatest southpaws of all time.
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