My top 20 Biggest Punchers 1940-1950 Rough Draft

Read this..

Youll never question his punching power again

http://cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/wail1000_rocky.htm


Sheppard kayoed Granite Chinned Hall of Famer Joey Maxim in one round. Archie Moore, who fought over 200 professional fights said Hatchetman Sheppard was the hardest hitter he ever fought. As did Maxim, and pretty much everyone else who fought Sheppard.

 

I would argue the contrary. When you have huge punchers like Lee Q Murray and Hatchetman Sheppard not making the top 5, then you have very good depth. The 1940's was loaded with punchers, imo.


Turkey Thompson was an enormous puncher. He was the David Tua of the era. 5'9 210lb with a wicked left hook. He knocked out a whole slew of Ring Magazine top 10 contenders, including a brutal one round knockout over the murderous Elmer Ray in a historical win. With a different ref, he also scores a 1 round knockout win against Bob Pastor(having knocked him down 6 times in the first round).

 

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Well he might be higher when my final list comes out.

 

Ray was a much better fighter than both. Ray had Knockout power in both fists. He was a big puncher. He was also a skilled swarmer who could outpoint you. Thompson and Franklin, did not have much else besides there freakish power. In some of Ray's biggest fights, he won by decision. He did not floor either Charles or Walcott. He did not need to rely on his power as much as guys like Franklin, and Turkey did.



Turkey Thompson was an enormous puncher. He was the David Tua of the era. 5'9 210lb with a wicked left hook. He knocked out a whole slew of Ring Magazine top 10 contenders, including a brutal one round knockout over the murderous Elmer Ray in a historical win. With a different ref, he also scores a 1 round knockout win against Bob Pastor(having knocked him down 6 times in the first round). He also knocked out a bunch of men who were either at the time/once were Ring Magazine top 10 including Elmer Ray, Lee Q Murray, Eddie Blunt, Gus Dorazio, Johnny Haynes, Al Hart, Pat Valentino. Thompson even knocked out a 7'2 300lb Big Ben Moroz, whom sported a 15" height advantage on Thompson!!

Thompson was easy to outbox. But Few men of the era could go toe to toe with Turkey and come out alive. Elmer Ray couldn't. Thompson blasted him outta there. Perhaps only Joe Louis could have. So I rank Thompson very high as a puncher, but not necessarily a fighter. He was David Tua in 1945.


Lem Franklin's heavyweight run from 1939-1941 is one of the greatest untold stories in history. Franklin literally tore through the division, beating contender after contender by knockout to earn a # 2 ranking. Frankling went 19-0 with 17 knockouts during this incredible run!

Frankling during this 3 year period knocked out the following men who were/at one time Ring Magazine top 10....Lee Savold, Perk Daniels, Willie Reddish, Eddie Blunt, Jimmy Bivins, Hatchetman Sheppard, Tony Musto, Abe Simon. Unbelievable! Note he wasn't beating these men by decision, he knocked all of them out!!

Ray went on a great knockout streak during the mid 1940s, but he did not knockout anywhere near the calibre of competition Franklin did. It's a shame Franklin did not get the title shot instead of the Abe Simon rematch(Which simon got by getting knocked out by Franklin!!!)

 

I thought about putting him on Chris(he would rate extremley high) but he really did not establish a heavyweight identity until the 1950s. He did defeat some highly rated heavyweights during this time, but he never really campaigned as a heavyweight, and Ring Magazine never put him in their rankings. Should I include him?

 

Anyone think I should switch up my top 8? Is Hatchetman too low? How about Lee Q Murray? Is Harry Bobo too low?