I am only listing five, from lightweight to heavyweight, based on boxing’s original eight weight classes. And I am only mentioning fighters that I have witnessed on live television or in-person, to avoid the inevitable hate mail and comments that readers are bound to send in response to my totally subjective list.
My criteria is based largely on the boxer’s "true knockout" percentage in all of his fights (at least 40). In case you were wondering, a true knockout is one where the victim does not beat the ten-count.
And without further adieu, I announce the "five hardest-hitting men, from 135 pounds to unlimited, that I have ever seen in living color," including some vintage YouTube footage to scramble your brain cells.
Heavyweight
George Foreman (True KO% 30.86). His greatest true knockouts were against Ron Lyle in ’76 (OK, so I didn’t see it live but the most exciting fight in heavyweight history was insane) and for the unified heavyweight championship against Michael Moorer nearly 20 years later.
Light Heavyweight
Roy Jones, Jr. (True KO% 19.35). In case you need a reminder about a prime Roy Jones’s punching power, please take a gander at Exhibit A (head) and Exhibit B (body). You remember now?
Middleweight
Julian Jackson (True KO% 26.23). Pound-for-pound, arguably the purest puncher of the past 20 years. This guy literally seemed to be able to render an opponent senseless before he even hit the canvas. Although his competition often was not the greatest, he was still a champion with lightning in his fists. Just ask former middleweight contender Herol Graham.
Welterweight
Thomas Hearns (True KO% 34.33). His nickname says it all. This side of Joe Louis, the "Hit Man" may have had the best overhand right in boxing history. His knockout of Roberto Duran was not a true knockout, technically-speaking, but it’s as close to the truth a knockout could be.
Lightweight
Diego Corrales (True KO% 24.44). "Chico" was the man. He’s known mainly for his epic wars against Jose Luis Castillo as well as his one-sided TKO loss to Floyd Mayweather, Jr. However, he was the hardest-hitting lightweight (130-5 lbs.) puncher that I have seen recently. I’m still mad at Acelino Freitas for depriving him of his true knockout when he quit in their lightweight unification bout.
Kentman says
Diego was thanking mother mary that Freitas wouldnt coninue to fight. I lost a lot of respect for Freitas after that, But I do recall him being very competetive early in that fight, if not hurting at least getting diego’s attention! Diego was happy to see Freitas walk to his stool!
Ja Dawson says
@Kentman There is some truth to what you say, but Chico was ready to take his head off. And let’s not forget, Diego was not the greatest boxer, as he often trailed slicker fighters and was often hurt by them early in his fights (his war against Roberto Garcia comes to mind as well as his first fight with Castillo obviously). Thanks for commenting.
Bob says
JD! Can’t really argue with your choices there…although I can still feel the Lewis v Rahman II KO today !! On another note….I know you had previous previewed the Agbeko v Mares fight before it was cancelled. Do you still see it Agbeko’s way? I am wondering if a back injury of this serious nature will show itself at some point in the fight…recently we had Nicky Cook v Ricky Burns in UK, that ended in R1 on back injury to Cook (who had a serious back issue which he thought he was over!)
Ja Dawson says
@Bob Rahman vs Lewis I was not too shabby either!
tom says
i like floyd too. not sure it will be a ko. same thought with dr k. i have him in a parlay.
Ja Dawson says
@tom yep, i feel that victor has been hand-picked. don’t let his “24×7” bravado fool you. he’s in over his head here.