HW Punchers - Who Faced The Five Best?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Russell, Dec 16, 2008.


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  1. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    A game of sorts. What heavyweights faced the five best punchers? Did they live to tell the tale?

    To begin, I've always been amazed by the caliber of punchers Lennox Lewis faced since he was so "chinny". His top five in my opinion, no real order, would look like...

    Mike Tyson
    David Tua
    Shannon Briggs
    Tommy Morrison

    Beyond those four I think it becomes questionable. The last fighter there would either be Vitali, Ruddock, Bruno, Mason or potentially even Lionel Butler. I'm not sure who I'd favor.

    Mason was really a poor mans Frank Bruno in many ways. Vitali in my opinion was a guy who wore you down, he was in no way a one punch KO artist like Tyson, Tua, Morrison or Briggs.

    All said and done, a unbelievable set of punchers.
     
    Russell, Dec 16, 2008
    Russell, Dec 16, 2008
    #1
  2. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    Ali fought a nearly unheralded level of punchers as well.

    Earnie Shavers
    George Foreman
    Mac Foster
    Sonny Liston

    And then rounding that list out it'd be either Bonavena, Frazier, Moore or Patterson.
     
    Russell, Dec 16, 2008
    Russell, Dec 16, 2008
    #2
  3. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    I don't think he ever fought all five, but Everett Bigfoot Martin fought

    1. George Foreman

    2. James " Boncrusher" Smith

    3. Tim Witherspoon

    4. Michael Moorer

    5. Gary Mason

    6. Johny Duplooy

    7. Riddick Bowe

    8. Tony Tucker

    9. Herbie Hide

    10. Wladimir Klitschko ( twice )

    11. Bert Cooper

    12. Lamon Brewster

    Is he still alive? Yes. Does he have a brain left????????
     
    mr. magoo, Dec 16, 2008
    mr. magoo, Dec 16, 2008
    #3
  4. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    :lol::lol::lol:
     
    Russell, Dec 16, 2008
    Russell, Dec 16, 2008
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  5. rydersonthestorm

    rydersonthestorm Boxing Addict Full Member

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    frank bruno was a massive puncher, his one shot power was up there with some of the very best, it was his stamina and chin that manly let him down.
     
    rydersonthestorm, Dec 16, 2008
    rydersonthestorm, Dec 16, 2008
    #5
  6. DamonD

    DamonD Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Marion Wilson's been in there with some crazy competition. A real who's-who, with some good punchers.

    I also feel that more fluid combinations could've made him even more deadly. Sometimes he'd have someone really stunned with a shot but would not have those follow-up punches ready that could've put them down.

    Per punch, though, he was a beast.
     
    DamonD, Dec 16, 2008
    DamonD, Dec 16, 2008
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  7. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    Jaaaackhammah'! :lol:
     
    Russell, Dec 16, 2008
    Russell, Dec 16, 2008
    #7
  8. DamonD

    DamonD Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Yeah, always liked Marion :D

    All those fights and just a single stoppage loss...from cuts. Combination of a tremendous chin and the ringcraft to protect himself right when hurt. A real rock. Should've had a win over Mercer too.
     
    DamonD, Dec 16, 2008
    DamonD, Dec 16, 2008
    #8
  9. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    He also dropped a undefeated Jeremy William's hard, made Mercer look bad when Marion had a new and good trainer behind himself.

    Took Orlin Norris to a SD, and beat the ultra dangerous Mike Hunter.

    Dropped an old Greg Page, damn near knocked out Ezra Sellers, fought on with his iron chin intact TO THE ****ING AGE OF 60.

    I mean, all this with Joe Calzaghe plus level **** poor punching technique and a career that started when he was past 30 years old.

    Definitely wouldn't think that by looking at his record of 40 plus losses.
     
    Russell, Dec 16, 2008
    Russell, Dec 16, 2008
    #9
  10. Sweet Pea

    Sweet Pea Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    As far as punchers go, I'd rate Ruddock, Bruno, and Vitali over Briggs at least. Arguably Morrison and the shot version of Tyson he faced as well.
     
    Sweet Pea, Dec 16, 2008
    Sweet Pea, Dec 16, 2008
    #10
  11. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    I think Ruddock's knockouts were partly due to his ability to land unorthodox shots with that "Smash" of his. He had massive power, but consider his knockout ratio wasn't terribly high.

    I feel Briggs had more one shot knockout power then Ruddock, and I believe Shannon has the record for 1st round heavyweight knockouts, on top of Marion Wilson saying he was the hardest puncher he ever faced in a interview.

    Tyson did say no one ever hit him harder then Ruddock, though. Not sure when that was said, or here, but still.
     
    Russell, Dec 16, 2008
    Russell, Dec 16, 2008
    #11
  12. DamonD

    DamonD Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Tyson has said that quite a bit over the years actually, and never changed.

    Sometimes it's not the guys you always expect that catch you with the biggest shot of your career. McCall went 300 rounds sparring with Tyson, and yet has always said the heaviest punches he ever took were from Bert Cooper.
     
    DamonD, Dec 16, 2008
    DamonD, Dec 16, 2008
    #12
  13. Duodenum

    Duodenum Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Louis: Max Baer, Buddy Baer, Jimmy Braddock, Tony Galento, Max Schmeling, Jersey Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles, Rocky Marciano, take your pick.

    His chin's badly underestimated because of the number of knockdowns he sustained, but he was frequently dropped while coming in (thus magnifying the impact of those punches). Only Schmeling ever really knocked him completely senseless. (After his fight with Marciano was stopped, he did walk back to his corner under his own power after being helped up.)
     
    Duodenum, Dec 16, 2008
    Duodenum, Dec 16, 2008
    #13
  14. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    I don't see how Braddock finds his way alongside those other punchers?
     
    Russell, Dec 16, 2008
    Russell, Dec 16, 2008
    #14
  15. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Braddock was the Tommy Hearns of the 30s light heavyweight division before his hand problems busted him down to journeyman level.

    At heavyweight he is hard to guage but Louis did say that he was one of the hardest hitters he had faced up to that point.

    Some names that might have been on that list are Lou Nova, Tami Maurellio, Abe Simon.
     
    janitor, Dec 16, 2008
    janitor, Dec 16, 2008
    #15
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