Which of these 3 heavyweights hit harder?

Marciano in terms of raw power
Louis was the best overall puncher

 

Agreed!

I think Louis barely edges out Dempsey as the heaviest two-handed puncher. Marciano's left was too ordinary to consider him as good a hitter as these two.

 

For whatever it's worth, Nat Fleischer did grant Dempsey this specific designation in 1957.

While this may have been true earlier in his career, he continued to work on the development of his hook. That was the biggest surprise to Joe Louis when they fought, for Rocky to score his first knockdown of Joe with it. His hook was the first thing Louis asked him about afterwards. I think his double hook starching of Kid Mathews was the finest single instant of action Marciano ever produced in his career.

 

Agreed, good post. :good