Hardest Hitter of all time in heavyweight division.

The American Mac Foster had 36 fights winning 30 of those all by stoppage so 100% KO win rate,but lost his big fights to Quarry and Ali with his career failing badly after that .Im trying to think of another Heavyweight who had a big stoppage win streak but fell apart once he stepped up. There was also Lamar Clark another Ali victim with 42 stoppages from his 43 wins,Ali beating him in his 6th fight .

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/how-good-was-mac-foster.681566/
https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/9367

 

I guess this depends on how we work out the KO %age? I guess the fairest way is to take KO as percentage of all fights, not just wins as, and I am exaggerating a point to make a point, you could have the unlikely example of a fighter winning 1 fight by KO and losing 99 having a 100% KO rate.

Should we take into account what round? I dont think so, for me, its maybe easier to stop someone in the first if you are a massive puncher as fighters, to an extent, adapt to power and certainly styles, round 1 being the only one they are mostly unfamiliar with what is coming their way...conversely, we can argue that someone who carries their power deep into a fight...like Wilder...is more impressive and is showing a more 'natural' power...yes their opponent might be tiring, but so are they.

Then we have manner of KO. Clean shots stopped with single shots, or say less than 4 show devastating 'power'. Some fighters with heavy hands and a good engine have decent KO rates because of those attributes but are not in and of themselves, incredibly powerful.

I think it will always be an eye test, I dont think we can measure power statistically alone. Earnie Shavers doesnt have a ko rate above 85%, but he was a monstrous puncher. Lewis doesnt and he could bang.

Personally, I think for single shot power, brutal, fight ending dont blink stuff, it has to be Wilder. Strangely I rank Wlad very highly, higher than Foreman, just. I think for absolute 'psi' 'thudding' power, Foreman, Bruno are on the same page, then we have the athletic, explosive power of the likes of Tyson, Morrison. Attritional power must go to Marciano? And power that comes from technique Louis.

Then we have massive punchers who perhaps don't have quality resumes, Mike Bent, Herbie Hide, Shannon Briggs...from memory, Mike Grant had big power, didnt he?

I am aware I have answered the point of the post without answering it at all, just riffing on a thought guys.

Have a wonderful day all, peace and love, Px

 

Nope. It was the other way around. Chris Byrd said Wlad hits 3 times harder than Vitali. Kevin Johnson (fought Vitali sparred Wlad) said getting hit by Vitali is like getting his by Caddilac while getting hit by Wlad is like getting hit by a huge truck. Phil Jackson rated Vitali's power levels below Wlad's, Briedis who sparred both, also said Wlad hits much, much harder. People who sparred or fought both brothers say that their power isn't even comparable, it's leagues apart. I think the only boxer who said Vitali hit harder than Wlad was Przemyslaw Saleta for some reason.

 

Many years ago, a fighter whose name escapes me said similar about Frazier and Foreman. Getting hit by Joe was like getting hit by a smaller car going ver fast, and getting hit by George was like getting hit by a much bigger car travelling more slowly...

 

george chuvalo

 

Holmes also compared Shavers and Tyson that way.

 

That is why I think we all need to define what we mean by "hardest hitter" otherwise we will just be talking in circles missing each others points.