Best one I have seen was round 9 of FOTC. Nobody realized how perfect that hook was. Ali usually played off how hurt he was not this time. Don Dunphy took about 30 seconds to say Muhammad Ali is in real trouble here. Frazier's hook was short and fast, the timing was perfect because it landed on the point of Ali's chin just as Ali brought his head up to punch himself. He knocked Ali out on his feet but Muhammad came back that round to avoid a TKO. Mere mortals are catching the stretcher.
Thank you, red. The thing is that the story behind Frazier's left hook was even bigger than a fighter regaining the heavyweight title. It was just the biggest sporting event ever, arguably, with all the superstars like Sinatra, Burt Lancaster, Diana Ross and all the other black artists bringing a whole new dimension. Two undefeated champs with ATG credentials each beloved by the differing political spectrums. The fight had everything in its backstory. But most of all, it had Muhammad Ali as the leading man, if you like. Joe's left hook in the 15th was as aesthetically pleasing a hook as you could ever wish to see. Even Ali's fall was almost choreographed, it was so fluid. If that punch had brought this seismic event to its conclusion - what do you say? - would it have been the single most dramatic moment ever in sport? It'd be right up there. The difference between Joe's hook and Floyd's is that Floyd's ended the fight emphatically. That's why I went with it. First man to regain the crown and with one shot. It takes on legendary proportions. But, if Muhammad Ali had taken that shot, would it have ended the fight? I'm going to have to say no, based on the evidence of Ali's career. If Joe's hook had ended his fight it would have been the greatest hook ever. Notwithstanding the magnitude of the event, it would have knocked out Ali, FFS!! But of course, it landed on Ali and he took it. And that's why I went with Floyd's punch. It ended the fight. Again, it's a microcosm of a career. This time Joe's. What would have made it the greatest hook (sporting moment?) ever would have been the fact it landed on Ali who was the reason this was the event that it was. That it wasn't the greatest hook ever was because it landed on Ali and the fight went on. Joe might have thought that typical. Ali gave Joe true greatness. But it was his own greatness that put a ceiling on Joe's.
I can't believe no one has mentioned Joe Walcott's left hook that KOed Ezzard Charles in their third fight. The heavyweight title changed hands, and it came out of absolutely nowhere. There was no prior punching which softened up Charles in advance, so you know it had to have been a hard punch, and it reduced Charles, who could really take a punch, to a clump of mush. If it wasn't the hardest left hook in history, it was the most consequential.
I've always considered that an uppercut. It comes vertically from beneath his waist line and ends in a perfect curl flex. One of my fave KO's of all time, no doubt.
To me, an uppercut comes up vertically. A hook can come from almost any other angle depending upon where the opening presents itself. It has always looked like a hook to me. I recall the punch coming up cross-wise from the hip. I think we had this same discussion a few years ago. Maybe I'm in the minority because no one else listed it. But to me, it will always be a left hook. I just looked at the slow-motion "Knockout" version of the clip on youtube and the announcer says, "Now here comes that left hook." So I guess I'm not the only one! The thread was started by dmt. Maybe he should be the referee!
