I'll start it off with a list of terrific body-punchers, we can get some more on the list, and then we can narrow it down: Julio Cesar Chavez Alexis Arguello Roberto Duran Roy Jones Mike Tyson Mike McCallum Joe Frazier Thomas Hearns Gerald McClellan Ricky Hatton Miguel Cotto Bob Fitzsimmons Jose Luis Castillo Ruben Olivares Marco Antonio Barrera Ray Robinson Bernard Hopkins Frank Klaus Henry Armstrong Gene Fullmer
Dempsey took out Brennan and Carpentier with bodyshots, and broke George Godfrey's ribs in sparring. He was also lifting Willard into the air with digs downstairs. Let's see, who else hasn't been mentioned? Marciano and Zarate, Wilfredo Gomez and Lupe Pintor, Carlos Palomino and Pipino Cuevas. Sandy Saddler's body attack lifted Pep's title. Eddie Mustafa Muhammad and Mike Spinks both deflated Marvin Johnson with shots downstairs. (Eddie had the best long range body attack of his era, not needing to get low and inside to do significant damage.) Saad Muhammad believed that the way to attack a southpaw was with left hooks to the body. When he defended his belt against Louis Pergaud in Nova Scotia, he carried that plan out to the letter, resulting in the easiest defense of his reign. (The 17-1 Pergaud sputtered into a 12-15-2 career finish.) Tommy Burns had a very good body assault. Andy Ganigan was very dangerous. His right hook to the body set up his knockdown of Arguello, and his straight left to the torso scored the clinching knockdown of his fight with O'Grady (himself a very good bodypuncher). Ken Norton and Jimmy Young were both very good at scoring points downstairs. Oddly, I can't include Shavers on this list, as hard as he hit. Earnie's lack of endurance tended to offset any long term advantage his body attack might have provided him with. His right to Norton's body produced the first knockdown against Kenny, and he was a dedicated body puncher, but it did not supply him with the sort of success one might expect for somebody with his numbing power. I think Cooney was more effective in this area, digging his right in well to the body. Jeffries dethroned Fitz with his hook downstairs, ruined Corbett with the same punch in their return go, and fractured Gus Ruhlin's ribs for the nickelodeons.
My Fav, Top 10 Body Punchers. 1. Julio Ceasar Chavez 2. Roberto Duran 3. Alexis Arguello 4. Lupe Pintor 5. Pipino Cuevas 6. Salvador Sanchez 7. Mike Tyson 8. Ruben Olivares 9. Wilfredo Gomez 10. Jose Luis Castillo
'The Body Snatcher' Mike McCallum. Can't be bothered to do a top 10 it's too late and I need to catch up on some sleep lol.
In no particular order Chavez McCallum Marciano Dempsey Arguello Chuvalo Ray Robinson Frazier Duran LaMotta
