Cleveland Williams hit harder than Sonny Liston

Dokes was not washed up, he was ranked #3 and had won 4 fights before Ruddock destroyed him.

Who cares about Smiths list of hardest punchers? Ruddock was the only guy to KO him and Smith had an iron chin. That's all that matters.

 

Maybe Ruddock hit him with a shot that he did not see it coming?

Ali is the only man who knocked out iron chinned Oscar Bonavena and Bonavena fought Frazier and Lyle. Do you think Ali hit harder than Frazier and Lyle? I know you didn't think so pal

 

I agree with all this. In regards to Douglas he once put a man on the canvas with his left jab. I believe it was Mike Adonis Williams? Not sure.

Pretty much any heavyweight that size could load up one big hook hoping to get lucky its gonna be a hard punch. The reasons you stated are exactly why it's not the best way to box. Even when Ruddock landed Tyson was ready for it.
Razor Ruddock's right hand wasn't even close to as strong as Buster Douglas's right cross. Ruddock's jab when he used it didn't have the same pop as Buster's left lead.

Bonecrusher did go the distance with Tyson. Those of us who saw that fight know Smith fought to survive. Not giving Tyson a chance to stop him. I do give him credit for taking some shots from Mike Weaver (both were pretty old)
All things considered Buster hit as hard and certainly more effective.

 

The fact he was the only guy to KO an iron chinned opponent means his power is legitimate and world class. Nothing more, nothing less. The original discussion I was having was if Douglas or Ruddock hit harder. The evidence is firmly in Ruddocks favor as he has stopped at least 2 very durable opponents and KOd or stopped multiple world class opponents.

Apparently you haven't been paying attention. ETM mentioned that Douglas KOing Tyson when Ruddock couldn't in 2 fights is proof Douglas hit harder. I disagreed with this approach so why on earth would I then turn around and claim Ali KOing Bonavena is proof he hits harder than Frazier and Lyle? This is why you don't just butt right into a conversation.

No, it doesn't prove Ali hits harder than them, but it proves Ali had real world class punching power to those who say he was feather fisted. You can add him being the only one to KO Foreman as well. Not a top 10 puncher of all time, but when he let his hands go he could obviously crack. This is why ABC logic is stupid when your only evidence is "who KOd who". Frazier brutally stopped Ellis in 4 while it took Ali 12 to stop him on his feet. Frazier also destroyed Chuvalo and Mathis who went the distance with Ali. What do you make of that?

 

McCall said Douglas hit harder than Lewis

 

It is still power it's just attached to a chinny overrated fighter that lures out all the body beautiful obsessed weirdo's. I am almost certain if he looked average we'd never hear half as much about Clev, but here we are swamped to the brims with guys who belong on the bodybuilding forum.

 

BEST PUNCHER
LENNOX LEWIS: There was two; both come from London. The first one was with Bruno. I got hit with a right hand (in the first round) … and it made my eye swell. It made me timid coming in because if you hit it again, it’s gonna split, and I never had my eye cut in a fight. The second one would have to be in the third round of the second fight with Lennox Lewis. The punch I got hit with – and I remember that punch – it was a wallop. I looked over his shoulder and saw his momma rooting for him to knock me out, and I thought of my momma not being there. When that man hit me I was going to retaliate, and I broke down. The overhand right that hit me sent me reeling into the ropes, and as I came back I could have just held him if I hadn’t broken down. I thought, “Wow.” I just shut down. I’d pick Lennox. I’m just going off what went through my mind. Bruno hit me dead in the eye, but it wasn’t as brutal as far as the shock to my body or pain as that right hand was. When Lennox hit me with that right hand in the third round, that was a crunching right hand. It makes me think I don’t know how I could take the punches that came after it with my hands down.

 

Well because a 180 pound Rocky Marciano didn't punch harder than Williams.

 

There's actually another interview. Where he said Bert Cooper hit the hardest. Here's the interview:

BoxingInsider: Who was the hardest puncher you faced?

Oliver McCall: “Bert Cooper. Left hook. That was the hardest punch that I ever felt and that I had to overcome. It felt like a truck had hit me. I never got hit by a truck but it felt like if a truck would have hit me.”

BoxingInsider: Who else is up there? Lennox?

Oliver McCall: “No, Lennox wasn’t one of the hardest punchers that I…Buster Douglas hit me harder than Lennox did. Right hand.”

BoxingInsider: How about Tyson? Is he up there?

Oliver McCall: “Tyson right there too. Lennox would probably be about fifth.”

I actually made a thread about it: https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/oliver-mccall-interview.678337/

 

So he's all over the place and one can't take anything he says at face value. Drugs and mental problems will do that.

 

I know pretty frustrating actually...

 

I wouldn't worry too much as it's only his opinion. Sure he got hit by certain guys but there are loads of occasions where one guy will say X hit far harder than Y but another will say noway Y was definitely the bigger banger. It's as clear as mud. Rare is the occasions where you get so many agreeing in unison like in the case of Shaver's.

There's often subtle little vendetta's involved too.

 

That's why I would pick the more consistent quotes as the harder puncher. Sure, Patterson said Johansonn hit harder than Liston while Marshall and Machen would say Satterfield and Williams hit harder.. Liston's quote of his power were more consistent. Wepner, Williams, Valdes and another guy I couldn't remember would say Liston hit the hardest.

 

Scrap Iron Johnson fought Frazier, Foreman and Liston but Sonny was the only one to stop him. I believe Johnson said Sonny by far hurt him the most. Liston was older then but maybe his experience helped him. Those other guys might have been green.

Sonny Liston's lefthook was perhaps the most devastating weapon in heavyweight history. If there is any better its a short list. Liston's right carried force but it was more of a clubbing punch unlike Joe Louis or Lennox who had snap on theirs.

 

Liston's certainly got the results.