Hardest Puncher In Each Weightclass ?

Bob Fitzsimmons

 

Just a quick scan ... Hearns, Arguello and Gomez all seem spot on.

Deontay Wilder is the hardest-punching heavyweight in history. Roughly 20 guys went the distance with or beat Shavers, including quite a few who were awful. There was only one guy Wilder didn't stop ... and he's the largest world heavyweight champion in history.

Surprisingly, Shane Mosley may have been the hardest punching Lightweight. I remember junior welterweight champ Zack Padilla had to retire after suffering brain damage from one of their sparring sessions when Mosley was a Lightweight. I believe Mosley was 32-0 with 30 KOs at the weight.

Mosley wasn't a big KO artist when he moved up to higher divisions, but he still carried more power than a lot of lightweights did after they moved up and he managed to stop Fernando Vargas, Antonio Margarito and Ricardo Mayorga two or three divisions above lightweight.

I don't know if I'd take McClellan at middleweight. Seems like there would be someone else. Have to think on it.

Probably take Carlos Zarate at Bantam.

 

I agree.

 

I’d say Wilfredo Gomez is the most indisputable name on this list. No one at 122 really even comes close.

 

Danny López would be my pick at Featherweight. Alfonso Zamora at bantam. Olivares & Zarate are great choices but Zamora probably hit even harder, he just had a lot less tools than those two. Pajarito Moreno could also be a legit choice. 59 KO’s in his 60 wins.

 

If you think Wilder is the hardest hitting heavyweight in history you need to get an MRI done
The reason people rank Shavers above Wilder is the VASTLY SUPERIOR QUALITY of opponents
Wilder was fighting ranked 300th bums in his first 30 fights

 

Agree with much of this list.

Haye is easily top 5 at cruiserweight and #1 you can argue for. Very explosive and a good finisher.

Middleweight, I'm not so sure. In terms of just raw power, you have guys like David Lemieux and John Mugabi who hit like trucks.

HW I think Wilder has equal or superior power to Shavers.

I'm a big fan of Shavers and have defended him numerous times. But other than a faded Norton and Bugner, Shavers did not have a particularly impressive list of name opponents he managed to stop. To suggest he's light years ahead of Wilder in terms of resume is flat out false.

 

You proved my point lol
Norton and Bugner > 44 year old Ortiz who can't bend his knees past 20 degrees and Stiverne
I'm not even factoring in the people Shavers fought who said he was the hardest puncher

(By the way Wilder stopped SHOT UNTRAINED Stiverne as well, he couldn't even stop Stiverne when they first fought)

 

Personally, I would disagree. While it's plainly obvious and undeniable that Gomez could punch holes in walls, I think at heart, a bigger part of his knockout ratio was how good an offesive fighter he was, without the power. Throw the power in, and he's as unstoppage as he was. However, l think somebody like Garza, Meza, Callejas or perhaps even Rigo could throw one single punch with more power.

Even if Gomez would annihilate the lot of them.

 

Cruiserweight is full of serious bangers besides Haye--Bell, Gassiev, Braithwaite, Wilson, Dorticos, Makabu, Briedis, etc.

How big of a puncher do people think someone like Langford was at 147/160?

For me, the biggest puncher at 140 was Randall Bailey. He's one of the few one-punch knockouts guys I have ever seen at that weight. Holt was a massive puncher there, too.

Aurelio Herrera is a serious contender at 126. 61 KOs in 68 wins. I believe it was the iron-chinned Battling Nelson who stated that Herrera was the hardest hitter he fought. Add George "KO" Chaney to the mix, too. 78 KOs in 101 wins.

At 118, McGovern is certainly in the running. He could knockout lightweights.

 

No. He was a good puncher, but has nothing on McGovern, Zamora, Olivares, Pimental, Medel, Jofre, Inoue, Donaire or Zarate. I wouldn't even consider him the best of his own era, or even second best. I'd rate both Konadu and Marquez higher.