Weakest punchers with the most KO's?

[Russell]

What punchers didn't have the most power, but perfect technique and accuracy allowed them to land on the chin perfectly, resulting in a lot of KO's?

[hobgoblin]

I would pick Muhammad Ali. He is the only man to have KO'd George Foreman.

36 KO's / 56 W (% is in high 60s) but won only 2 fights by 1st round KO: one of them where Liston says to hell with it.

Underrated his power, he could hit heavy when he sat down on his punches - but he usually did not sit down but move around a lot so he couldn't plant his feet with optimal power like Tyson or Foreman would do. Bottom line is - with the style described - he didn't hit particularly hard but man was he an accurate puncher.

Ali's KO % in high 60s is pretty good in comparison to ATG punchers (even if you include Ali's losses in the calculation - it is still pretty good) : John L. Sullivan 78 percent, Louis 76 percent,
Shavers 76 percent, Tyson 75 percent, Frazier 72 percent, Liston 72 percent, Jeffries 71 percent

Suprisingly, I heard Tommy Hearns started off without being much of a puncher and then with some training - BAM (I thought puncher's are born? I only follow heavyweights so I can't say much on this - I just heard. Sure, moving down in weightclass can make your power more apparent but I don't think that is what Tommy did. Can anyone shed light into this if what I say has any truth?).

[brooklyn1550]

Originally Posted by hobgoblin

Suprisingly, I heard Tommy Hearns started off without being much of a puncher and then with some training - BAM (I thought puncher's are born? I only follow heavyweights so I can't say much on this - I just heard. Sure, moving down in weightclass can make your power more apparent but I don't think that is what Tommy did. Can anyone shed light into this if what I say has any truth?).

He wasn't a puncher in the amateurs, but once he got to the pros where his body started to develop, the headgear came off, and the 8 oz. gloves were used, he started to pile up the KOs.

[ozziebattler]

Possibly Roy Jones Jr...

[jyuza]

Originally Posted by brooklyn1550

He wasn't a puncher in the amateurs, but once he got to the pros where his body started to develop, the headgear came off, and the 8 oz. gloves were used, he started to pile up the KOs.

That's the least we could say.

He was 32-0 with 30 KO at the Leonard fight in 1981.

[hopkinsfan07]

Bernard Hopkins 32 kos in 47 wins

Joe Calzaghe 32 kos in 43 wins

[Duodenum]

Originally Posted by hobgoblin

Suprisingly, I heard Tommy Hearns started off without being much of a puncher and then with some training - BAM (I thought puncher's are born? I only follow heavyweights so I can't say much on this - I just heard. Sure, moving down in weightclass can make your power more apparent but I don't think that is what Tommy did. Can anyone shed light into this if what I say has any truth?).

Manny Steward actually said Tommy "hit like a girl," with his right hand, and that stablemate Milt McCrory was a harder puncher with his hook, when he started with his hand in the proper upright position.

Some punchers are made, others are born, some are a combination of both. Benny Leonard didn't start out as a hard puncher, but made a concentrated effort to cultivate his power. He made an abrupt breakthrough he was never able to explain, and suddenly possessed the ability to punch with leverage. It took Dempsey a full quarter century to analyze and explain how he did what came naturally to him during his career.

I think Ali was in fact a harder puncher than Larry Holmes. Larry only dropped two of his title challemgers for a full ten seconds (Evangelista and Zanon), but stopped 13 others before the time limit expired. Had chronic hand and arm trouble, yet stopped 34 of his 48 opponents by the time he defended his title against Mike Spinks.

There are reports that Willie Pep could hit when he chose to bang hard, but he's generally described as feather fisted. Regardless, his final stoppage total of 65 kayos is higher than the total number of most career matches by contemporary boxers.

Speedster Nino LaRocca had 54 kayos in 75 wins, mainly because of the sheer volumn of punches he delivered. A greyhound with gloves, he tried to punch out Bobby Joe Young in a single round, but failing that, Nino began racing around the ring, peppering Young relentlessly, raining in blows until Young's resistance crumbled.

Although Jose Luis Ramirez knocked Arguello on his keister with a flash knockdown, he never impressed me with his punching power. Yet, Jose posted 82 stoppage wins out of 102 victories, a higher percentage than friend and stablemate JC Chavez, by a margin of one single bout.

[apollack]

Mike McCallum. He was not a killer puncher, but knew how to break guys down with precision shots to the head and body. That said, he had some nice KOs.

[Russell]

Amazing post, Duodenum, thanks.

[Doppleganger]

Originally Posted by Duodenum

Manny Steward actually said Tommy "hit like a girl," with his right hand, and that stablemate Milt McCrory was a harder puncher with his hook, when he started with his hand in the proper upright position.

Manny Steward taught Tommy how to use leverage and get his shoulder into the punch, also to twist the back foot forward whilst punching as well so that he utilised his hip power. A great example of how proper punching technique can make all the difference in the world.

[dmt]

Jones had very good power

[hopkinsfan07]

Originally Posted by Sweet Pea

Are you kidding? He had awesome power at 160 and very good at 168.

i was just about to say that

[mario]

i heard it only takes some 7lbs of pressure behind a punch to knock someone out, if someone is not ready for the shot i'm sure its possible, anyone know about this?

[unitas]

billy bird. couldnt punch a lick, but scored 124 ko´s.....................!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sonny Carson]

Originally Posted by apollack

Mike McCallum. He was not a killer puncher, but knew how to break guys down with precision shots to the head and body. That said, he had some nice KOs.

McCallum had good power at junior middleweight.