Rank them by punching power

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Unique Way, Aug 3, 2025.


  1. Unique Way

    Unique Way Active Member Full Member

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    - 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.
     
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  2. KO KIDD

    KO KIDD Loyal Member Full Member

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    Tough to rank

    Possibly in the order listed at the top
     
  3. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    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.
     
  4. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    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
     
  5. SouthpawsRule

    SouthpawsRule Active Member Full Member

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    Holyfield
    Holmes
    Ali
    Usyk
     
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  6. Ice8Cold

    Ice8Cold Hype Jobs will be hype jobs until proven so. Full Member

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    I'd say Holyfield tops that list even though was mainly from the juice.
     
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  7. Barrf

    Barrf Boxing Addict Full Member

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    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.
     
  8. Oddone

    Oddone Bermane Stiverne's life coach. Full Member

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  9. Oddone

    Oddone Bermane Stiverne's life coach. Full Member

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    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.
     
  10. MarkusFlorez99

    MarkusFlorez99 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Holmes
    Usyk
    Holyfield
    Ali


    There isn't much separation
     
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  11. MidniteProwler

    MidniteProwler Fab 4. Mayor of Aussie Boxing Full Member

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    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.
     
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  12. CooperKupp

    CooperKupp “B.. but they all playin NBA basketball again!” Full Member

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    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 :D

    Edit: Found the old clip!

    This content is protected
     
  13. MidniteProwler

    MidniteProwler Fab 4. Mayor of Aussie Boxing Full Member

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    Yep I think Bellew pissed him off a bit as well before their fight claiming that he was a much bigger puncher than Usyk.
     
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  14. Usyk is the best

    Usyk is the best Active Member Full Member

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    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.
     
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  15. CarolinaReaper

    CarolinaReaper New Member Full Member

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    They're very close. I'd put them Holyfield, Ali, Holmes, and then Usyk.