Its interesting to me how a reputation for power gets built up in boxing even if it is not earned or if it is earned but exaggerated a great deal. A modern example at least in my opinion would be Jermell Charlo, now he a pretty good power and was on a nice ko/tko streak heading into his Canelo fight but his ko ratio was only a little over 54 percent. Sonny Liston is a more historical example his 78% ko ratio is incredibly impressive but not nearly the amount you would assume based on the narrative around him. Drop some of your own picks in the thread.
Canelo if you ask me. After the Smith KO, and especially after the Kovalev KO, evey pre Canelo fight had 'x must watch out for Canelo's power' as the main analysis for the opponent's gameplan. He jumped weightclasses sure, but he also changed his style from combination punching to putting in all of his body in every single punch for maximum power, hence the lower punch output. He still had a sub 10% KO ratio after Kovalev
Keith Thurman is the obvious choice. Guy was hyped as a huge puncher, but truth is, he couldn't punch his way out of a wet paper bag. Once he left the club level circuit he was found to be packing pillows.
Lol, this reminded me of when Bivol KTFO Trent Broadhurst in the first round. He was 11-0 at the time, 9 wins coming via T/KO, and went on to stop Sullivan Barrera in the 12th round in his next fight. Many thought he was the next monstrous puncher of the division, some even claiming that Ward was afraid of his power. ... scored only 1 T/KO in his next 12 fights. This content is protected This content is protected
I agree especially in regards to the Charlo brothers. They were both hype jobs of the highest order. Whereas, I disagree strongly about Sonny Liston. He did, what very few HWs ever have done - basically start from the number 10 ranked HW and climbed his way up one at a time, basically knocking out each good ranked fighter he came up against. Until he was ranked the number 1 ranked HW, and became the champion by knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round, and again in the first round in the rematch. Sonny Liston was terrifying, mean and really could punch like crazy in both hands. He was one of the hardest punchers in HW history.
David Benavidez was always more of an accumulation puncher, and he couldn't hurt shot Gvozdyk and Morell when he moved up to 175
I have said this myself too, but I think we will find out for sure against Yarde. If he goes the distance then its clear that his supposed power has not carried up to 175.
Thurman has always been a massive puncher going back to the amateurs with huge gloves and head-gear. He badly hurt both Danny Garcia and Porter, who both had genuinely proven chins. Thurman is a big puncher, his hands are just brittle and have needed so many surgeries that he can't sit down on his shots the way he used to.
Would you please give it a rest with the whole "Charlo brothers are hype-jobs of the highest order" schtick? Both men have fought and beaten their fair share of world champions. Jermell was the undisputed champion at 154. Jermall is a two-weight world champion. Both men have proven themselves multiple times at world level. They are both very far from being unproven hype jobs. Thousands upon thousands of fighters would kill to have had either of their careers.