¿Who, in your opinion, was the fastest heavyweight in history?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Fabiandios, Jun 23, 2025.


¿Who, in your opinion, was the fastest heavyweight in history?

  1. Young Muhammad Ali

    23 vote(s)
    51.1%
  2. Young Mike Tyson

    6 vote(s)
    13.3%
  3. Young Jack Dempsey

    1 vote(s)
    2.2%
  4. Young Jack Johnson

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  5. Young Evander Holyfield

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  6. Other

    15 vote(s)
    33.3%
  1. Fabiandios

    Fabiandios Member Full Member

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  2. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Barrios is a bandit robber - Psalm 144:1 Full Member

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    Joe Louis could technically hit you quicker then Ali, Tyson or Dokes because the distance required to hit you would be shorter, short punches and hand speed technically can be one in the same.
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2025
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  3. AwardedSteak863

    AwardedSteak863 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Prime Tyson had the fastest hands that I have ever seen at Heavyweight.
     
  4. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Handspeed, Patterson, Ali,Dokes, Tyson.
    Footspeed Ali.
     
  5. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing

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    I agree with both.

    For hand-speed my top five goes Patterson>Ali>Tyson>Dempsey>Louis.
     
  6. OddR

    OddR Well-Known Member Full Member

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    To me Tyson looked faster than Ali when he got in range but Ali would have probably been faster on the outside.
     
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  7. PRW94

    PRW94 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    This …
     
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  8. Mandela2039

    Mandela2039 Philippians 2:10-11 Full Member

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    shiiit man i don't remember the name of the guy

    but i remember in a highlight video the guy threw a super barrage to another fella in one corner and i tell you he looked EXACTLY as Ray Leonard did when he brutalized Floyd Sr

    eye test that's the guy i'd bet my money on (for handspeed) but it very well could be Patterson or Tyson too
     
  9. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Patterson had the fastest hands of any HW I recall watching.

    Above 200lbs, Dokes, Ali and Tyson, off the top of my head, are all in the running.
     
  10. META5

    META5 Active Member Full Member

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    Jun 28, 2005
    Ali's the fastest going backwards and general body fluidity and reflexive head movement (closely followed by Tyson probably for reflexive head movement)

    Tyson is by far the fastest and best balanced going forwards, even if he's too square in stance IMO. Dempsey is no slouch at negotiating from outside to inside but it's harder to see the true speed with the quality of his footage.

    Patterson, Ali, Louis, Dokes, Hide and Tyson could all be ranked for handspeed depending on what you're looking at - single shot, counter hook, jab, lead right, triple hooks, hookercut, traditional 1, 2, 3, 4 combination, double jab, 1-2 combo etc.
     
  11. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    John L Sullivan deserves a mention.
     
  12. META5

    META5 Active Member Full Member

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    Dunno how much you can put credence in the contemporary accounts without adequate footage. I hear it tho.

    Technically, you can put RJJ up there too.
     
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  13. White Bomber

    White Bomber Boxing Addict Full Member

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  14. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Combining both handspeed and footspeed it's Ali for me. He oozed speed. Angelo Dundee once said he could turn out the light and be in bed before it gets dark.
     
  15. Flash24

    Flash24 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Oct 22, 2015
    Effective hand speed? Ali, Louis , Patterson, Tyson, Holyfield and
    Ibeabuchi in there primes. Unlike say Dokes or Byrd who " looked " just as fast, but most of there punches were without much leverage.
    Louis would be my pick for best balance of speed power, technique, intuition , and combo punching with hands.
    Fastest Effective footwork was Ali, Tyson was just behind. Holyfield without the steroids would be my 3rd. Followed by Joe Frazier believe it or not.
    Overall best combination of hand speed, foot speed, plus countering ability, and defensive head and body movement?
    Ali.
     
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