Okay so what fighters do we know said hit them the hardest? Here are some to start off the thread: You fought a lot of heavy hitters in your day. Who would you say is the hardest puncher that you ever faced? Ray Mercer: Tommy Morrison definitely. Tommy Morrison in your opinion was a harder puncher than Wladimir Klitschko or Lennox Lewis? Ray Mercer: Yes. Wladimir Klitschko hit me in the temple, first time I was ever hit like that, but it wasn't a hard punch. I'm talking about pain, it was Tommy Morrison and Bert Cooper. The Hardest puncher? "Mike Tyson. He was strong . . . a powerful man. Even when his punches didn't connect, they hurt." - Francois Botha "He doesn't hit as hard as Tyson, but he's more consistent." - Danny Williams after fighting Vitali Klitschko "4 sure he is bigger stronger n faster Worked w him this past week hardest puncher I have ever been in with" - Jameel McCline on sparring with Deontay Wilder.
Muhammad Ali: Earnie Shavers. Larry Holmes: Earnie Shavers. Tex Cobb: Earnie Shavers. James Quick Tillis: Earnie Shavers. Ron Lyle: Earnie Shavers. George Foreman: Ron Lyle. Riddick bowe: Herbie Hide. Michael Spinks: Mike Tyson. Cleveland Williams: Sonny Liston. Joe Frazier: George Foreman. Chuck Wepener: Sonny Liston. Michael Moorer: David Tua (dunno why...i mean he fought foreman too.) Mike Tyson: Evander Holyfield. Evander Holyfield: George Foreman. Floyd Patterson: Sonny Liston. Sonny Liston: Cleveland Williams (i don't remember where i have seen this tbh, i guess it was in a book or something like that). Tyrell Biggs: James Bonecrusher Smith. Frank Bruno: James Bonecrusher Smith. Jose Ribalta: James Bonecrusher Smith. James Bonecrusher Smith: Mike Tyson. Tony Tubbs: Mike Tyson. Pinklon Thomas:Tommy Morrison. Earnie Shavers:Ron Lyle. Tim Witherspoon: Frank Bruno. Lennox Lewis: Did my best not to find out!!!
Tyrell Biggs: Jeff Sims (He never fought Smith) Jake LaMotta: Bob Satterfield Floyd Patterson: Ingemar Johansonn (He said Liston hit hard but Johansonn hit harder) Bob Satterfield: Cleveland Williams Sugar Ray Robinson: Artie Levine Roy Jones Jr: Merqui Sosa James Toney: Merqui Sosa Frank Liles: Merqui Sosa Yaqui Lopez: Michael Spinks Murray Sutherland: Michael Spinks (I dunno, he fought Thomas Hearns too tho...) Vonzell Johnson: Michael Spinks Marvin Johnson: Michael Spinks
You can add Leroy Caldwell, Charley Polite Jimmy Young, Bugner and Ken Norton to Shavers. Shannon Briggs.
How about Young, Norton Caldwell-& about anyone who fought Earnie-also affirming Shavers as the #1 bomber? Edit: John Thomas added Mr. Bugner & Polite to the mix! Really anyone who fought Shavers did not pick anyone else, I know of nobody else who has such universal agreement attached to their power. Not the best, not who landed most often flush, not most effective combinations, not finishing ability-but pure horsepower & blunt force trauma. Edit #2: Someone else said Patterson named Johanson, but hard to believe he hit as hard as Liston. Also, you say Tyson named Holyfield? This I must wonder if you are mistaken about, do you have a source? Clearly Bruno & Ruddock & Smith hit harder, & others Tyson fought must have too.
Yes. https://www.ringtv.com/535770-best-faced-mike-tyson-1/ BEST PUNCHER Holyfield: He threw terrific shots with both hands and with bad intentions.
Ah but the "best" puncher does not mean who hit them the hardest. Tyson was not asked that question. he If he did, I doubt he would not answer Ruddock "he hits like a fu*king mule" Bruno, or Smith-likely not the latter because he was mostly a "Bonehugger". Holyfield was many great things, but even with all the 'roids he was never accused of hitting the hardest by anyone. I think Tyson would clearly have beaten old Foreman-just like Tyson in his 40's would have even less of a chance against prime George. But he is wrong that would have proven anything about who was the bigger puncher. Because with his reduced speed & Tyson's skills he would not land flush very often. Holyfiled attests to Foreman hitting him harder than anyone, & that was when George was over 40!
Valid points. I believe Frank Bruno might have been the one who Iron Mike the hardest. I mean Tyson said ruddock hit like a F U cking Mule Kick, but he also stated in that recent documentary about the Tyson-Bruno fights when Bruno (in their first fight) hit him with a left hook, it was like walking right into a bomb, it felt like electricity and he saw "white lights".
Some fighters so consistently gained glowing testimonies about therir power, that I have to think there was something in it. Joe Choynski Joe Walcott Sam Langford Aurelio Herrera Max Baer Curtis Sheppard Bob Satterfield Ernie Shavers Lamon Brewster Genady Golovkin Deontay Wilder
Tex Cobb: Earnie Shavers Ali: Earnie Shavers Jimmy Young: Earnie Shavers Ken Norton: Earnie Shavers Joe Bugner: Earnie Shavers Ron Lyle: Earnie Shavers James Tilis: Earnie Shavers Larry Holmes: Earnie Shavers Leroy Caldwell: Earnie Shavers Charley Polite: Earnie Shavers Ron Stander: Earnie Shavers
Didn't Leonard say Duran hit him the hardest? I believe Eubanks said Benn? I remember reading a couple guys saying Barkley but can't remember who
"The first time he put me down...I thought this guy can hit! They say Marciano was a house wrecker, and he was, but it took a volley to get the job done. This guy...one punch!" - Archie Moore on Yvon Durelle