For me it's a no contest;It's the straight right hand Marciano landed on Louis that sent him flying through the ropes and ALMOST out of the ring - Rocky Marciano put his WHOLE body behind that punch,combined with all his might. It was wicked and the sweetest/most powerfull sraight-right I have ever seen - especially in terms of power and end result.
Can't say any one shot, really. Too many great ones to mention. However, there were a few practitioners that were pretty routine with the way they wrecked guys with that punch....... Arguello Rosario Hearns (the rights he landed against Duran or Cuevas might qualify) Michael Spinks Danny Lopez Duran Louis Lennox Lewis Etc. etc.......
I bet there are better ones but Klitschko/Brock stands out in my books. That punch looked as if it went right through his face, then his body goes numb http://youtube.com/watch?v=xE_8IUTByLs
Well that's what I compared it to earlier - but if you watch the Marciano/Louis fight - in round 8 when he landed that punch;You could picture his fist crushing his face. Wlad's right in that fight doesn't compare...Close but Marciano put him unconscious and through the ropes.
The thread is subjective so you can pick many, but one that stands out in my mind from a historical perspective was the right that Foreman delivered which knocked out Moorer.
The right Tszyu hit Pedro Sanchez with to get the first knock down, beautiful shot, if you blinked you would have missed it.
Tszyu comes to mind first because his whole aresenal was a set up for the straightest right hand in boxing. Many of Lennox's brilliant right hands come to mind, but the Ruddock demolition was particularily impressive. Also, Monzon's near decapitation in Nino Benvenuti in the 12th was pretty spectacular. Tyson v Botha? Oh, I got it, Hearns v Duran. I'll take that and Monzon's.
Hearns v Duran, Hearns v Cuevas and Lewis v Ruddock seconded. Also, my favorite, Hearns v Andries. Worthy mention Ali v Folley.
But he was tagging lewis up with alot of elbows before that. I mean he was throwing elbow shots as combos and landing. That takes away from it for me. Dirty..dirty. And lewis was old as dirt anyway in his prime he would of beat Marciano. He was damned near 40
Why the hell was marciano allowed to throw elbows in a boxing match.. I mean for real, was that legal back then? He threw more elbows intentionally then I have ever seen. I am watching the entire round on youtube.. WHAT THE HELL????
Sal, you know your stuff. :yep I don't. :-( But I will always remember that right hand that TH hit Duran with. I don't now why. I was sad, I know that. BTW I like the way you put it " a few practitioners" That's classic. :good