Who were the best punchers during Marciano's era?

Comparing the statistics and making an assumption based on them is pretty much nit-picking I admit.

But going by their best performances on film, I'd say that while Louis still may have still had the heavier hands and certainly the greater skill, Henry was quicker with better stamina. Louis had real difficulties putting them together at that point which is why I think quite a few fighters could last the distance with that version of Louis.

Bob Baker was pretty good in my opinion and he may have been one to go to the final bell with Louis at that stage. I think it was the speed and pressure of Henry that troubled him.

 

Bob Baker was certainly pretty good, with a long string of wins over second-tier guys, but he was ko'd by the two most dangerous punchers he faced, Moore and Satterfield. Ko'ing him is perhaps slightly more impressive than ko'ing Savold, but this must be balanced with Henry's across the board performance, which includes going all the way with Buford three times. I think it all comes out a wash, and I judge Louis the more proven puncher who had, after all, ko'd Walcott in 1948.

 

Joe Louis was still one of the best bangers, his reflexes slowed and was not as aggressive possibly but he has a remarkable KO record against top contenders and was 66-2 with 52 KO's......true he was not KOing everyone in his last 8 fights or so but guys were just content to survive and Louis was looking for the win but most of the opponents at least hit the floor before they decided to take the survival route

 

Louis clearly had the punch but he couldn't chase them down like he used to. Most of those last fights were busy tune ups fought in a short amount of time while he was holding on to his ranking and waiting for a title shot, it wouldn't surprise if he stepped off the gas against some of his more survival minded opponents and settled for a points win either.

 

In all fairness that Bivins fight isn't the most fair representation of Charles either. Ugly stuff. Charles close losing effort to Harold Johnson is more impressive.

 

Looked like both men were a little too familiar with each other by that point.

 

I think it´s always funny when people call proven contenders or even champs at hw "blown up lhws".

 

Just something which occurred to me--I checked Louis's record on boxrec, and I don't think he ever went the distance in even one fight with a fighter as mediocre as Frank Buford.