Who are the fighters who hit extremely hard, and by all rights could have been devastating punchers, but instead chose to box in conservative, unexciting fashion?
Emile Griffith was said to be a hard puncher prior to the Benny Paret fight. However his record doesn't suggest it.
There was this guy who shook Ron Lyle to the core with one punch, damaging Ron far more with one blow than even the mighty George Foreman could. The same fella left hooked Oscar Bonavena onto ***** Street, achieving more with one hook than even left hooker extraordinaire, Joe Frazier, managed to achieve with dozens of his legendary bombs. As a 22 year old kid, he had Sonny Liston more dazed than the noted bomber, Cleveland Williams, had ever managed in either ofmhis two attempts. Just as well for heavyweights everywhere that Ali preferred to float like a butterfly. He might have become something quite special if he'd worked on his punching a bit more.
Other than that, the more obvious answers are the likes of Ezzard Charles, Emile Griffith and (don't s******) Chris Eubank, all of whom put the brakes on their power after ring deaths/near fatalities. Maybe add Nigel Benn to that list. @Flash24 you mentioned Emile and his record doesn't suggest a power puncher but he did put Dick Tiger down. Did anyone else outside of Bob Foster - with one of the best punches of one of the best punchers of a full two traditional weight classes higher than Emile - turn that trick? You're right in saying his record belies his power but I think it must have been there, largely unused but there.
Adrian Broner actually hits pretty hard when he lets his hands go. Two things ruined it: attempting to be a discount Mayweather, and being scared to let his hands go after Maidana destroyed his confidence. Look at the Shawn Porter fight, you see for a brief moment the power Broner used to have with tbag vicious left hook which dropped Porter. Had he let his hands go earlier, he might have actually stopped Porter which would have been extremely impressive.
I'm sure it was. Most sports writers of the era said he could hit hard. I've watched many of his old fights, his technique was excellent. (But so was Howard Davis Jr.) From what I've seen theirs no reason he couldn't ,
Frankie DePaula in their lightheavy bout right afer the Foster ko-by, decked Tiger twice, and also was decked twice by the Tiger man enroute to Tiger's 12 round decision victory.
After his stoppage losses, Waldo was hesitant to use his ridiculous power. Jack Johnson is another who often did just enough to win but when put to the task had real power.
What do you reckon about Howard? Think he could have been a bit more of a banger and, if so, what stopped him? Don't really know much about him so I'd welcome your thoughts (or anyone else's for that matter), old chap.
Davis had excellent technique, but he rarely set his feet. So I digress and would say he had excellent LOOKING technique.
