- Muhammad Ali - Larry Holmes - Evander Holyfield - Oleksandr Usyk Similar sized heavyweights (Holyfield shorter than other 3 but not by much), all four with GREAT skills and heart. Holyfield obviously had very different style committing to his punches much more frequently than other 3 who didn't throw their "Ivans" that often. I would say all 4 had comparable power, the type of power you can't just ignore even if you have a good chin.
Holmes had 15 stoppages in world title fights overall 63 percent KO ratio in 75 fights. Ali had 12 stoppages in world title fights overall 66 percent KO ratio in 61 fights. Holyfield had 9 stoppages in world title fights overall 65 percent KO ratio in 57 fights. Usyk has 5 stoppages in world title fights overall 62 percent KO ratio in 24 fights. 1. Ali 2. Holmes 3. Holyfield 4. Usyk Is my rating.
We have to factor in that Usyk has been fighting opponents his own size at CW and ones way bigger at HW Ali was very often the bigger or much bigger man Usyk fights in the 12 round era not 15 round era. If Usyk fought in the 15 round era he would have more stoppage wins And Holyfield was a lab creation
Ali pre-exile hit harder than any of them. Otherwise, they're all about the same. I will say that in juiced to the gills, Holyfield had some fights where he looked real powerful. If you watched his first fight with Tyson in a vacuum, you'd come away with thinking that Holyfield was a bigger puncher. Whatever his combo of "modern nutrition" that night was, he was cracking like Tyson. Re: Ali, people remember post-exile too much. The original incarnation, without the hand issues, was more of a 7/10 in power and not the 5/10 that the comeback guy was.
I believe if Usyk sat down on his punches he'd have more knock outs than any of them. He's happy to just box circles around guys. 1. Usyk 2. Ali 3. Holmes I left off Evan "Real big deal of HGH" Fields for obvious reasons.
Yep I have Usyk at one his power is underrated he one punch flatlined Dubios and Bellew he hurt the giant Fury more than Wilder ever did. You are right when Usyk chooses to sit down on his punches he can seriously bang.
Yeah there was an old short clip I saw YEARS ago with Usyk shortly after he turned pro. Before the big Cruiser weight tourney he won. And he was working in the gym with his coach Russ and doing some heavy bag. And he was really digging in and working on driving THROUGH with his left. But when I saw that clip… it was obvious to me Usyk can absolutely CRACK when he wants to. But most of the time he’s been focused on just hitting the target and quantity more than KO’s. Wearing his opponents out. Unless of course, the opponent gets him angry like dubois did Edit: Found the old clip! This content is protected
Yep I think Bellew pissed him off a bit as well before their fight claiming that he was a much bigger puncher than Usyk.
At the peak of their punching power, I'd rank Holyfield #1 (we are not talking now about HGH or other PEDs, just punching power, and I think Holy had proved his power being the first man to ever knock down iron chinned Dwight Qawi and Ray Mercer. He also dropped and hurt Bowe and Tyson who could take enormous punishment). Others are close though. Ali it the only man that KO'd Foreman and Bonavena. Holmes KO'd usually durable and tough Ocasio with a jab and scored many stoppages in title fights. Usyk one-punch KO'd Dubois who took AJ, MIller and Hrgovic shots, and hurt Tyson Fury badly.