Power punchers whose skills get highly underrated

Ruben Olivares and Bob Foster are two fighters who had a very well-rounded skill set, yet it's usually only their punching power that seems to get talked about.

 

Wilfredo Gomez was crafty and creative. But all most remember is the knockouts.

He isn’t underrated, but his skills sometimes get overlooked.

 

excellent call

 

Nigel Benn. He could duck and weave very effectively.

 

Mike Tyson

 

ahem ahem

 

Koysta Tzyu. When most think about him they think about that straight right hand and his physical strength. From a skill standpoint he is underated. He was not blessed with blazing speed but his footwork and timing were too notch.

 

Decent mentions. Olivares can indeed be seen as mostly a left hook banger but he was so much more.

 

Carter looks absolutely fantastic against some top notch fighters. Fast Hard punching Good head movement he was a total package when he was on.

 

Completely agree Rob.

 

Matthew Saad Muhammad

 

A few of the bonebreaking hitters who were relatively slow, be it of hand or/and foot, and easyish to hit with below average defensive reflexes, little inclination to slip punches etc, usually have an underrated sense offensive timing, shot selection, delivery and accuracy.

I'm talking about the likes of Danny Lopez, Saddler, Khaosai Galaxy. Even a crude, ungainly bomber like Moon.

Lopez for example when he got rolling with a rhythm of slow but straight one-twos wasn't an easy fighter to avoid getting hit by. Saddler, particularly because he was so dirty, strong and effective while tangling and hitting at the same time, was deceptively crafty and subtle. But both were eye catchingly slow and easy to hit on the way in with little regard for head movement on top of having great chins and atg power. Hence the relative underestimation of their skill sets. Foreman the same, though someone like Liston imo was visibly very skilled for a heavyweight, just a bit slow.

Sor Rungvisai is one in more recent years with obvious power and size who looked a bit plodding, hittable and one note on the surface but had that sense of timing, delivery etc and was a deceptive counter puncher very good at shortening his punches and stepping off to create room and opportunity. Some similarities to Galaxy and Borkhorsor, the latter who was also a skilled tank.

 

Jack Dempsey

 

When I began reading this thread I had KT readied in my back pocket and then, bingo, Steak basically posted what I was about to say.

I’ll just add that I thought KT’s hand speed was pretty decent, particularly when he put the combos together.

Watching am footage of KT, he was even more the boxer, an extremely well rounded, well schooled fighter.

I could be wrong but in the pros or as he progressed in the pros, it seems KT accented that much more on his power and supporting delivery system for same with some natural sacrifice in respect of his earlier, all round boxing skills (including defence).