Most Physically Imposing Fighters By Weightclass

Let's hear your lists. :good


Heavyweight

1. Wladimir Klitschko (52-3-0)

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Standing at 6'6 1/2", and weighing over 240 lbs, Wladimir K is also the consensus #1 Heavyweight in the world. He is a great physical specimen, not just for his size and two-handed power, but also for his Heavyweight speed and stamina, both of which are very high on the Heavyweight charts. The only aspect of his physique which may be considered a weakness is his chin.

2. Nicolay Valuev (49-1-0, 1 NC)

Standing at 7'0" tall and weighing well over 300 lbs, the only thing stopping Valuev from being #1 is his lack of raw natural power. Most of the (49-1-0) Valuev's recent knockouts have come on accumulation, later on in fights.

3. Vitali Klitschko (36-2-0)

Taller than his brother at 6'7 1/2", but with a reach of only 80", the other half of the world champion Klitschko brothers has the one attribute that his brother lacks: a solid chin. He does not, however, have Wlad's handspeed or one shot power, and though very strong, appears less physically impressive than his brother.

4. Samuel Peter (30-2-0)

Lacking the height of the above mentioned fighters, Peter's physicality is based entirely on his natural brute strength. Claiming to have never lifted weights in his life, the Nigerian possesses the most one-shot power of any Heavyweight.

5. Vlad Virchis (24-2-0)

Standing 6'4 1/2" and weighing close to 250 lbs, Vladimir Virchis is truly an immovable object. Known for getting outboxed for rounds on end before icing opponents with a single shot, the iron-chinned Ukrainian is a good example of having the physical tools but lacking the skills to compete at the top level.

 

Cruiserweight

1. Pawel Kolodziej (22-0-0)

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Standing 6'5" and regularly topping the scales at 200 lbs, former WBC Youth Champion Pawel Kolodziej is a big physical presence at Cruiserweight. Having never been down, his chin appears a strength, and his 2 meter wingspan could provide a big problem for all the top Cruiserweights. His main criticism so far is that upon shutting opponents down early on, he is too content to win round after round instead of going for the kill, ala Mikkel Kessler.

2. BJ Flores (21-0-1)

A former Heavyweight, both in the professional ranks as well as the amateurs (where he repeated as US National champ), the 6'2" Flores has moved to Cruiserweight with immediate success. A fluid boxer-puncher, Flores used his 80" reach to outbox his first top ten opponent in Darnel Wilson in February this year. He returns to action next month.

3. Firat Arslan (29-4-1)

Having taken Brudov, Drozd, Hill, and Darnell Wilson's best shots flush on the chin, only to walk them down and ragdoll them later on in his fights, the human tank Firat Arslan could very well top this list as the #1 Cruiswerweight. Possesing tremendous strength and stamina to complement his iron chin, the only thing that Arslan lacks is any semblance of boxing skill.

4. Steve Cunningham(21-2-0)

Standing 6'3" and possessing an 82" reach, the former IBF champion looks like a bodybuilder yet posseses slick moves and boxing skills. The only things keeping him from the very top of the list are the fact that he seemed to be better suited to the old 190 lb limit, and his mediocre power.

5. Guillermo Jones (36-3-2)

Another tall Cruiser, the 6'4" Jones won the WBA version of the crown this year by besting Firat Arslan. His 76" reach is above average, yet hardly impressive. Jones is known as a very rugged infighter who has all the physical tools to dominate. Questions have, however, arisen regarding his natural weightclass, as he started his pro career at 147 lbs.

 

Let's hear some more lists people, your top 5 in any weightclass. :good

 

Let's hear your Heavyweight top 5. :good

 

Light Welterweight

1. Juan Urango (20-1-1)

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Standing an average 5'7" tall, Juan Urango is built like a tank. The only 140 lber that was physically able to bully Ricky hatton around, Urango landed a shot that will be remembered as candidate for Knockout of the Year 2008, against Carlos Wilfredo Vilches in late April.

2. Ricardo Torres (32-2-0)

At 5'8" tall, Torres does not look overly impressive for a 140 lber. His looks can be deceiving however, as Torres posseses true two-fisted power. Having rocked P4P star Miguel Cotto in nearly every round of their fight (and landing the Puerto Rican on the canvas for the first time in his career), Torres also destroyed fellow top Lightwelterweight Kendall Holt in their first fight, and dropped him twice in their rematch. Strong in the clinch and holding a KO ratio of close to 90%, Torres is the epitome of a physical fighter.

3. Kendall Holt (25-2-0)

The 5'9" Holt posseses a tremendous 74" reach, long enough to give him the reach advantage over the remainder of the top 10 fighters at 140 lbs. Holt is strong, but lacks true knockout power. Although that perception may be changing, with his surprise KO of Ricardo Torres in the first round of their explosive rematch.

4. Vivian Harris (29-3-1)

At 5'11 and with a 74" reach, "Vicious" Vivian Harris is a tall order for any 140 lber in the world. Harris is currently on a comeback after losing to Junior Witter by stoppage last year.

5. Herman Ngoudjo (17-2-0)

At 5'9" and with a 73" reach, Ngoudjo is a big Superlightweight. A mere 9 KO's in 19 fights prevents him from rating any higher among the 140 pounders.

 

Very good choice. I would have him in my top 8. Heavyweight, though thin on talent, is full of monstrously sized fighters.

 

Thank you. :good

I thought Hatton used his underrated boxing skills to outbox Juan round after round in their fight, to a very wide decision. When they did get to the clinch however, Juan seemed the stronger man.

Only Hatton was hurt in that fight, by a big shot to the body in the 4th.

 

Come on ESB, let's get some more lists, for all the weightclasses!