Top 50 Heavyweight Punchers of all time....ENJOY

No Ruby Red???

 

All the way at 49. He should have been in the top ten imo, He did something that Jim Jeffires failed to do in two 20 rounders. He ko Tom Sharkey. Also he was able to ko Corbett quicker in 14 rounds, when Jeff had to catch up on over 20 rounds the first time(Wont count the rematch, Corbett was shot.)

 

Body, Chin, so what, in the end they got the ten count. Fitz could hit, and should be higher, at least on Jeff's level imo.

My Criteria:
All Around Puncing abilities/Technique, Fitz was a great punch techinquin, He knew were to land the punch for the most effect. If he lands the punch, most often you ant getting up.
One Punch power, Corbett and Sharkey.
Two Fisted Power, Hard to tell on the Corbett fight film, I would say yes perhaps.
Late/Clutch Power,, He was fighting in 20 rounders.
Finishing Abilities, One of the best finishers of all time.
Did They Ruin Opponents Physically?,, Well ok, I let this slide.
One Punch knockouts over durable ranked contenders, Tom Sharkey was durable.
Knockouts over Great Fighters, Corbett, Sharkey, off the top of my head.
Knockouts over good big men, Nope, Jeff was just too big lol.
Film, Newspaper Reputation, All that is there is the Corbett and Lang fight.
Contemporary Accounts, Accounts marvel at his power.
Size, Ok he was small.

 

On Fitz and big men--Fitz did knock out Ed Dunkhurst, who was at least at the trial horse level, with a win over Bob Armstrong, and who stood 6' 3 1/2" and weighed at least 232.

There were quite a few observers who saw them both who felt Fitz was a bigger puncher than Jeffries. Fitz actually did do better on the whole against common opponents--Corbett, Sharkey, Ruhlin, and Choynski. All these men went 20 or more rounds at least once with Jeffries, while Fitz ko'd Corbett, Ruhlin, and Sharkey. His "loss" to Sharkey and "draw" with Choynski were the result of really bizarre officiating or police interference. Both men were on the floor and out cold at the end. Fitz could have, and perhaps should have, been 5-0 with 5 knockouts against these men.

 

I thought this debate was about Fitz being rated #49 while Jeff is #21--not about Moore. Dunkhurst is larger than anyone Jeff ko'd and against common opponents, Fitz has the edge on Jeff, but I can understand the reluctance to rate a 165 lb'er over Jeffries. It goes against the modern consensus.

 

No. I guess not. But you do not have to pick Jeffries either.
On Fitz, I think it is unfair to say he drew the color line. He fought at least three black fighters--Edward Rollins, Harris Martin, and Jack Johnson. It is true he never defeated a good black heavyweight.

Against common opponents Fitz has a big edge:
1. Jim Corbett--Fitz put him down for a 10 count with a body punch--Jeff with a blow to the chin. I would call this even.
2. Gus Ruhlin--Jeff went 20 the first time and Ruhlin quit on his stool (off the film) after 5 in the second. Fitz knocked Ruhlin out in the 6th and Ruhlin was out cold. The referee stopped the fight without a count. Edge Fitz.
3. Tom Sharkey--Jeff goes 20 & 25 to decisions. Fitz puts Sharkey down for count in 8th but is DQ'd on an odd decision and in the rematch ko's Sharkey in 2. Huge edge for Fitz.
4. Joe Choynski--Jeff goes 20 to a draw. Fitz survives early knockdown to drop Choynski several times. Choynski is down and apparently out when the police stop the fight which is called a draw--big edge to Fitz
5. Jack Johnson--Johnson ko's Fitz in 2 & Jeff in 15. Even--Johnson, though, did express an opinion: "Jack Johnson years later always insisted that the freckled Englishman hit him harder than anyone ever did. Fitz was ancient when Johnson got around to him but to hear Jack tell it he still packed a wallop." Ted Carroll, Ring Magazine, June 1955.

Other opponents--Jeff has an edge here in quantity, if not quality. Old Peter Jackson, old Joe Goddard, a very young Hank Griffin, Pete Everett, and Jack Munroe are a deeper group than Fitz fought, but Fitz did knock out Peter Maher twice at his peak, as well as Jim Hall, who ko'd Frank Slavin. Edge to Jeffries.

Jeff ko'd Fitz twice--Okay. Huge edge to Jeff, but I think Fitz would have ko'd Fitz and I doubt if Jeff could have ko'd Jeff, if they were cloned.

 

Bombing out Maher ?

 

Frazier at #8 Godfrey at #20? Franklin at #23, Wlacott at #36, and Valdes at #43 seem out of place by a factor of 20+ slots down if you ask me.

I think many modern fighters hit harder. For example Brewster or Peter.