best body punchers of all time?

[tiny_acres]

At heavyweight a guy who is overlooked in this department is Gerry Cooney. His left hook to the body ranks up there with anybody's . . broke Ron Lyle's ribs (sending him through the ropes) and keeled Larry Holmes over with that punch.

Yes I agree. Cooney's left hook is one of the pest I have ever saw.
It is a shame that people look at him as a joke.Because he was far from it.

[palooka]

Lots of good picks. Anyone think a man like Battling Nelson would be a good addition? Famed for his unique left hand shot to the body, no?

Is he the man that perfected the pinch? I read about an old time boxer who would smash his hand into the opponents body and give it a strong pinch - apparently it was very painful and effective.

[jaclem3]

glad to see joe louis appear in this thread. he had so much skill in each department that his body punching is sometimes overlooked.

[Counter-puncher]

glad to see joe louis appear in this thread. he had so much skill in each department that his body punching is sometimes overlooked.

I don't think anyone could see Schmeling squirming in agony on the ropes without recognising Joe's excellence as a bodypuncher

[palooka]

glad to see joe louis appear in this thread. he had so much skill in each department that his body punching is sometimes overlooked.

I don't think anyone could see Schmeling squirming in agony on the ropes without recognising Joe's excellence as a bodypuncher

Louis broke 2 of Max's vertebrae - don't think that's ever been done before or since.

[elmersalsa]

Mike McCallum
Barry McGuigan

There's a reason why the great Mike McCallum is called "The Body Snatcher"

[Jpreisser]

Lots of good picks. Anyone think a man like Battling Nelson would be a good addition? Famed for his unique left hand shot to the body, no?

Is he the man that perfected the pinch? I read about an old time boxer who would smash his hand into the opponents body and give it a strong pinch - apparently it was very painful and effective.

I don't recall reading anything about a pinch, however, I do know that he would extend his thumb and forefinger upon delivery to extend penetration. He ended Gans with a withering body assault and he was referred to as a Frazier-like fighter in Gans' biography.

Lew Tendler said Mickey Walker was the hardest body puncher he ever faced and claimed to have pissed blood two weeks after their title fight. Writer Damon Runyon stated that there were few body punchers in Walker's class.

[elmersalsa]

California's Manuel Ortiz is the best Chicano fighter ever. Was World Bantamweight Champion for 8 years. He made 15 title defenses in his first reign. He was one of the truly remarkable fighters of the 1940s decade. A true 100 all time great P4p in my view

[marchegianorock]

Alexis Arguello. Roberto Duran, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr

[King Carlos]

Alexis Arguello. Roberto Duran, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr

Is this really the first mention of Arguello in the entire thread? He's always one of the very first to pop into my head on the topic of body punchers.

[tagjohnson]

Danny Lopez. Although he is known for his lights out, one punch knockout head shots, just watch his second fight with David Kotey.

[SNG]

Not the greatest body puncher but I recently rewatched Juan Manuel Marquez's fight with Katsidis and his body work was exquisite in that fight.

[badkatt]

mccallum

[Ezzard]

Ray Leonard gets overlooked

[Jpreisser]

Not the greatest body puncher but I recently rewatched Juan Manuel Marquez's fight with Katsidis and his body work was exquisite in that fight.

I hope you have seen the Peden finish: https://youtu.be/8atXOXrsDMs