Who Was The Hardest Puncher Marciano Met?

These tiers, I'm not seeing it at all.

If someone wanted to say Ruddock could hit as hard as Liston, or was a better one-punch hitter than Bruno, I'd accept that, for an example.
If someone said Lennox Lewis hit as hard as anyone, that's reasonable.

I'd say Witherspoon is sometimes, based on several of his performances, not regarded as a killer puncher. On the other hand, he was a murderous puncher

I can throw doubt on Shavers, because he hardly knocked anyone decent out. Norton and Ellis ... but people tell me Norton was a bit chinny, Ellis was a small guy.

Foreman, Liston could clubbed guys around, I rarely seen them knock a guy cold with one big shot.

etc.

 

Well, then it all comes down to definitions.
What being a "hard puncher" means.
Whatever "power" means.

 

Well, for a start, he knocked out loads of fighters. I think he holds the record.
When Walcott's been discussed here, his relatively low KO numbers were cited against him.
The hard evidence for, say, Earnie Shavers, seems to be KO numbers.

 

Well, Joe Bugner knocked out more heavyweights than Sonny Liston.

 

The point being, it's all highly subjective.

 

I don't know.
How many out-of-shape light-heavies, glass chinned tomato cans and hapless taxi drivers did GEORGE FOREMAN knock out ?
Who's counting ?
How many of EARNIE SHAVERS' 68 KO victims would go the distance with Archie Moore?

All valid questions, we don't know the answers to.

 

Walcott and Moore were respected and described as punchers in their day. By writers, fellow fighters and trainers.

That's how reputation starts in almost every historical case.

This "top tier" stuff is highly contentious, imo.
How many tiers are there ?
How many guys in your top tier?

 

:good exactly its all down to definition and interpretation. Myself I feel that a severe puncher must be someone who lands severe punches and knocks out world class fighters.

I understand the other view that the "first tier" punchers hurt more With less and require less leverage and sharpness to get the job done but alternately might not be any more deadly than the sharp shooter all in all. It is subjective. Anticipation has a lot to do with it too.