Greatest fighter ever with two '1-punch KO/TKO' losses = _________? (w/ photos)

I'm thinking it's probably between RJJ:

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vs Glenn Johnson (overhand right = KO punch)

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vs Tarver II (left hook = KO punch)


or...


Lennox Lewis:

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vs Oliver McCall (overhand right = KO punch)

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vs Rahman I (overhand right = KO punch)

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These are the only good fighters I remember who twice suffered losses via 1-punch KO.

Jones showed susceptibility to both the left hook and the overhand right, whereas both of Lennox's 1-punch KO defeats resulted from right hands.

Overall, I have to say that Jones was a much, much better fighter than Lewis. Jones' reflexes were some of the finest the sport has ever seen, and he was a multi-division champion.

Lewis was a very solid champion who used his size to maximum advantage, particularly after his two 1-punch KO losses forced him to adopt a more defensive style. Hall of Fame trainer Emmanuel Steward helped Lewis play to his strengths and minimize his weaknesses, and Lewis would never be knocked out again after his dramatic 5th-round defeat to Hasim Rahman in [SIZE=-1]Johannesburg, South Africa[/SIZE].

Still, as great as Lewis may have been, RJJ is one of the true athletic marvels in the history of the sport. Though both men were unfortunate enough to suffer two 1-punch KO setbacks, the similarities, IMO, end there.


Better fighter: Jones, and it's not close.
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Can you think of anyone else who you would put on this list? Is he better than the two men mentioned? Do you think Lewis is better than Jones, all-time?

 

Wow. Really? I guess you could say Lennox had better skills than RJJ. Roy's skills weren't so great, but his reflexes were so good it almost didn't matter.

 

That's cool, Lennox was a specimen.

Sweat Pea - You're right, RJJ did/does have skills, just different ones than a lot of other traditional fighters. He is not good at rolling with punches, nor working off of a jab (or even using a jab). When he still had amazing reflexes, he could get away with not using/having these skills, but it's a lot tougher now as he's gotten up in years

 

A guy who I can think of that was once destroyed by 1-punch KO is Duran (by Hearns). But I don't think it ever happened again, and not in the same fashion (1-punch).

 

I'll try to make it easy for you:

RJJ did/does have skills, just different ones than a lot of other traditional fighters. He is not good at rolling with punches, nor working off of a jab (or even using a jab). When he still had amazing reflexes, he could get away with not using/having these skills, but it's a lot tougher now as he's gotten up in years

That was in the post above yours.

"Skill" does not = 'talent' or reflex. RJJ had supreme talent and reflexes. As soon as his reflexes just barely faded, his lack of technical skills became much more obvious and debilitating. Things like pulling back after throwing a punch with his head straight up, inability to work off of a jab, or using effective clinches.

These skill deficiencies, for example, are what seperates an RJJ from a PBF. Floyd has a lot of talent (not as much as RJJ), but he also has amazing skill. That's why even when his talent and reflexes fade a bit, he will still be an effective fighter.

Jones? No. As we've seen.

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Two other guys who don't quite make the cut, but are close:

#3: Fernando Vargas

- KO by ODLH
- KO by SSM

All the damage in both KO's were from huge left hooks, although neither was technically stopped from just that one shot. In both instances, however, Vargas was all-but-finished after the left hook landed

#4: Thomas Hearns

- KO by Marvin Hagler
- KO by Iran Barkley

Each of the finishing blows were from huge right hands. Barkley's KO was for all intents and purposes a 1-punch KO, although I believe the ref let the fight continue for like one or two more punches.

Hagler doesn't really count because Marvin had just tagged Hearns with a huge right hand which sent Hearns literally running/backpedaling around the ring. That punch landed about 5 seconds or so before the last right came crashing down, ending the fight with the ref stepping in to stop the action.
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Of course, Vargas isn't in the same class as Jones, Lewis and Hearns. But Hearns is one legendary fighther who comes very close to making this list. But not quite.

 

Lewis referred to the right hand which dropped him as a 'lottery punch.' In other words, to him it was a 1-punch KO. If you look at write-ups of the fight, it is referred to as a 1-punch KO.

You're right, to be totally accurate, the thread should be "1-punch KO'd/TKO'd." I figured most would understand what I was talking about and to be honest, I was running out of room for a title.

I guess the best way to qualify it is "getting stopped (KO/TKO) by 1 punch which results in a knockdown after which the fight is immediately stopped, with no other punches being thrown by either fighter. Also, there were no previous knockdowns in the round for the fighter who is 1-punch KO'd."

That's why Hearns and Vargas don't qualify, because each continued after being drilled (Hearns against Barkley, Vargas against both SSM and ODLH).

This is a very elite club, the 'excellent fighter with two 1-punch KO losses.' I'm really curious how many we can come up with.

 

I totally agree.