Most underrated puncher of all time?

[theory]

My vote goes to Pipino Cuevas. I've never really heard anyone praise his punching power. Of course, he was very unorthodox and was more of a brawler then a boxer. I always hear people talk about Tyson, Foreman, Sugar Ray Robinson, Moore, but no one ever seems to praise Cuevas.

What are your thoughts? Please discuss.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Cuevas had bone crushing power and I think he is pretty widely known for it. What's underrated about him imo was his chin and how good he was for a couple year stretch.

I think Holyfield's power is incredibly underrated. So many people talk about it like a weakness yet he was the first man to drop Bowe & Mercer, stopped Qawi at Cruiser when Foreman couldn't drop him, took out Mike, had Big george more hurt than anyone else in his comeback, several one punch destructions and power in both hands with every possible punch. He wasn't a Dempsey or tyson, but his punch gets tossed aside far too often.

[King Carlos]

How do you mean? The fighters whose power is most often overlooked for one reason or another? Or the most overlooked power punchers in general? Cuevas is hardly underrated as a puncher, either way you slice it. As for overlooked power punchers:

Ezzra Sellers
Eugene Hart
Matthew Hilton
Colin Jones
Jose Luis Lopez
Paul Fuji
Pat Barrett
Lew Jenkins
Ricardo Moreno
Romeo Anaya
Sung-Kil Moon

[dempseyfire]

I used to concur Evander's power was under-rated but after rewatching lots of his fights I now disagree. The man had to literally unload his Sunday best many times over to put guys down. His KDs of Bowe and Mercer are impressive but just look at the shots he unloaded on the likes of Dokes, Cooper, Moorer, Stewart etc. without taking them out. Not a feather-duster by any means but power was certainly not one of his big strengths. Also disagree Holyfield had Foreman hurt the most in his comeback . . George was in his worst straits vs a journeyman (I think it was Ken Lakusta) who really wobbled Foreman bad. Cooney also badly wobbled him with a left hook. To make my point, Holyfield had Foreman in minor trouble after landing about 10 unanswered punches on the man!

Now to the topic of under-rated hitters, I'd add Dick Tiger, Jerry Quarry, Jack Sharkey, and Lloyd Marshall.

[Grimm]

Ray Leonard

Lot's of time people over look his power but he could crack

[King Carlos]

Yeah, Tiger's KO percentage is very deceptive. He could really crack.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

kO percentage is often a measure of opposition as much as true power. I can't imagine anyone in the know would consider Vitali a bigger puncher in his division than Ike williams was in his.

[Goodnight, Irene]

In speaking of the Heavyweights, people only want to mention the all-time greats when discussing punching power.

Brutally under-rated as a result of this is Maxxy Baer.

[Counter-puncher]

Baer's a good call and carlos already gave the only name i was thinking of, Pat Barrett

[King Carlos]

Baer's a good call and carlos already gave the only name i was thinking of, Pat Barrett

Barrett dished out some of the most brutal one punch knockouts I've ever seen from any fighter. Sickening power. A shame he was such a lazy bastard. He had great physical tools.

[BoxBuzz]

Whitaker could crack, but seldom was he willing to commit to do so. Since that very act puts you in at least a bit of vulnerable position. Which he seemed to disdain.

But I did see him put some people WAY off balance by simply NOT being at the spot his opponent thought he was. I think I saw a fighter fall down just swinging at air on one occasion. Too bad that couldn't be called a KD, because as I recall in that fight, I thought it was more effective than his punches.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I found Whitaker's opponents far less willing to engage than he was. He threw upwards of 1,000 punches a fight in his prime.

[King Carlos]

Whitaker shut guys down through defensive/countering prowess and punching accuracy. They got to the point where they simply weren't willing to open up and commit to anything for fear of being further embarassed. The Haugen fight being the prime example.

[Expug]

Cuevas was feared during the seventies.He was known as a viscous puncher and thats where its at.I think he really made his bones against Weston and Ranzanny.
Even at the end of his career he was respected.
He fought a guy I used to spar with all the time named Louis mateo here in Chicago.
Louis had a decent chin and Cuevas belted him right out.

Hilton is a good call.He and I have a common opponent Matthew knocked him out.I won a four round dec.Back to back fights.

Wilfred Benitez is a guy who was underated as a puncher.
Just ask Maurice Hope.

[Controversial]

Baer's a good call and carlos already gave the only name i was thinking of, Pat Barrett

Good call on Pat Barrett, when he connected it was sleep time !!

[Martin Sosa Cameron]

This South American fighters:

Angel Rodriguez, Uruguay (LH)
Jose Carattoli, Argentina (LH)
Rafael Merentino, Argentina (Middle)
Eduardo Lausse, Argentina (Middle)

[theory]

What I meant was that his punching power was overlooked. Heh.

[palooka]

Michael Nunn was an excellent boxer who could really punch when he set his feet.

[palooka]

My vote goes to Pipino Cuevas. I've never really heard anyone praise his punching power. Of course, he was very unorthodox and was more of a brawler then a boxer. I always hear people talk about Tyson, Foreman, Sugar Ray Robinson, Moore, but no one ever seems to praise Cuevas.

What are your thoughts? Please discuss.

Pipino was well known as a very destructive puncher throughout his career and (I think) stopped or knocked out all his title defences.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

What I meant was that his punching power was overlooked. Heh.

It wasn't though, he was well known as one of the most menacing punchers in Boxing.

[theory]

Okay, I'll try again. I'm having trouble with my words, I guess.

What I'm trying to say is that he's never on those lists with other top power punchers. You hear shit like, "Oh, Tyson punched really hard." Or, "Foreman was one hell of a puncher." Or, whatever. You never hear much of Cuevas, at least I never really have on these forums.

I mean, where would you guys put Pipino on a list of the most brutal punchers?

Top 5? Top 10?

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Okay, I'll try again. I'm having trouble with my words, I guess.

What I'm trying to say is that he's never on those lists with other top power punchers. You hear poop like, "Oh, Tyson punched really hard." Or, "Foreman was one hell of a puncher." Or, whatever. You never hear much of Cuevas, at least I never really have on these forums.

I mean, where would you guys put Pipino on a list of the most brutal punchers?

Top 5? Top 10?

Probably between 30 & 40 off the top of my head. Modern fans don't talk much about him because a look up of his record doesn't reveal many famous victims and his overall record isn't glossy.

Anybody who knows him knows that he could punch like hell. There is nothing underrated or overlooked about it from a historical stand point. I doubt you could find an all time punchers list without him being on it.

[dempseyfire]

One guy who could really bang was Dallas HW Teddy 'The Pill' Krueger.

[Jaywheel]

Have to agree with King Carlos on Matthew Hilton.

[palooka]

Pipino is not as well known as big heavyweight punchers with casual fans. He is listed at number 31 on The Rings 100 Greatest Punchers. A bout between Tito and Pipino would have been a super match up. Another monster puncher was (apparently) Freddie Steele; I read he could knock fighters cold with either hand.