Who hits the hardest out of these HWs? (leaving out Wilder as I figure most people would vote for him)
I think you may have just forgot to put him on this list but Gassiev is the hardest hitter imo just going off the eye test. Hopefully he stays injury free now and gets in the mix. I believe he’s actually hitting harder at HW. Makhman has nasty power too but Gassiev is a bit sharper.
The one time (the one time) I have ever seen Usyk badly hurt was when Gassiev connected on him near the end of the 4th round of their fight. More worrying than anything AJ ever hit him with...
I don't think Helenius belongs on this list. Gerald Washington took multiple, flush shots from Helenius. Washington's chin is not the very best. Gassiev, Wilder, and Ajagba all should be considered in the mix here, too.
You could be right, but in all fairness, Helenius has been plagued with injuries to his right hand and shoulder and it is hard to tell when he is punching with impunity. Probably Makhmudov, and good shout to Gassiev, but it is so hard to tell because they fight so infrequently and against such limited opposition, that anyone can point to their favorite guy in his best fight and say "Look what fighter X did to fighter Y..." Joshua is the most proven on the list.
