Punching power, my top 10 list

[ValMar]

Boxing Writer - very good post !

[funso banjo baby]

Ustinov, helenius, stiverne are not particularly hard punchers.

haye's weapon is his speed

as for price...he used to look like a hard puncher before his awful defeats but needs another live opp in order for us to tell if he still has it

klitchko rarely showed one punch ko ability

AJ seems like a hard puncher

deontay certainly did against tomato cans but tends to struggle now

1) Helenius and Stiverne showed good power in some of their fights. Stiverne definitely hits harder than Vitali if you compare their fights against Arreola. As for Ustinov not being the big puncher, I agree.

2) Haye's speed might be his biggest asset, but his power is very good too. Just compare impact of his punches and punches of Vitali, Fury and Helenius on their common opponent Derek Chisora.

3) I don't think KO losses could make Price weaker puncher than he was before. His chin is probably even worse now than it was and his confidence is probably gone forever, but how can losses take something from your power?

4) LOL, you obviously confused Wladimir with Vitali. Wladimir had a lot of one-punch brutal KO's throughout his career - Chambers, Pulev, Brock, Jackson etc. Chris Byrd said Waldimir hits harder than Tua and 3 times harder than Vitali.

5) No argument here.

6) Deontay's power is very good, as was shown in his fight against Szpilka. He is just telegraphing his punches so clearly that better opponents either duck, block or soften them.

I think most people are of the opinion that most of Wladimir's defences were frustratingly tedious because of his inability to finish opponents. He would just stick the jab out with a follow up slice. Under no circumstances can he be considered a big puncher.

you also emphasised my points when you claimed Wlad and Helenius made NO impact on Chisora with their punches.

Stiverne is a Don King hype job. He threw a massive right at Arreola's nose in the first fight but that's been pretty much it. he seems a fairly average puncher at world class.

You also emphasised my point about David Price ie he is not loading up with any confidence anymore....precisely because of his nerves.

I do think Haye is a big puncher, no question. But the speed of his punches I think still makes him a real threat in the divison. Now that he's matured physically into a large heavy (compared to his first stint) it will be interesting to see how he does against a bona fide opp.

[Badhusker]

1. Klitschko
2. Joshua
3. Ortiz
4. Haye
5. Wilder
6. Price
7. Stiverne
8. Helenius
9. Povetkin
10. Ustinov

Good list, although a little mixed up. Take Ustinov off and replace him with Parker. Wilder 5th? I seriously doubt any heavy hits harder than him. Wlad and Haye will attest to that...even from sparring with pillow gloves on. Wlad should not even be on the list based on his last performance. He used to be a big puncher.

[Boxing Writer]

Ustinov, helenius, stiverne are not particularly hard punchers.

haye's weapon is his speed

as for price...he used to look like a hard puncher before his awful defeats but needs another live opp in order for us to tell if he still has it

klitchko rarely showed one punch ko ability

AJ seems like a hard puncher

deontay certainly did against tomato cans but tends to struggle now

1) Helenius and Stiverne showed good power in some of their fights. Stiverne definitely hits harder than Vitali if you compare their fights against Arreola. As for Ustinov not being the big puncher, I agree.

2) Haye's speed might be his biggest asset, but his power is very good too. Just compare impact of his punches and punches of Vitali, Fury and Helenius on their common opponent Derek Chisora.

3) I don't think KO losses could make Price weaker puncher than he was before. His chin is probably even worse now than it was and his confidence is probably gone forever, but how can losses take something from your power?

4) LOL, you obviously confused Wladimir with Vitali. Wladimir had a lot of one-punch brutal KO's throughout his career - Chambers, Pulev, Brock, Jackson etc. Chris Byrd said Waldimir hits harder than Tua and 3 times harder than Vitali.

5) No argument here.

6) Deontay's power is very good, as was shown in his fight against Szpilka. He is just telegraphing his punches so clearly that better opponents either duck, block or soften them.

I think most people are of the opinion that most of Wladimir's defences were frustratingly tedious because of his inability to finish opponents. He would just stick the jab out with a follow up slice. Under no circumstances can he be considered a big puncher.

you also emphasised my points when you claimed Wlad and Helenius made NO impact on Chisora with their punches.

You are ABSOLUTELY 100% confusing Wladimir with Vitali. Wladimir never fought Chisora, it was Vitali whom I mentioned considering Chisora, not Wlad. Vitali gave horrendous beating to some of the guys he fought without knocking them down. Briggs, Arreola, Peter, Sullivan, Beane, Hoffman, Sanders.

Unlike Vitali, Wladimir was always a very hard puncher.

Wladimir Klitschko knocked down/out such guys:

1) Alex Shultz. He was always known for a very good chin and was knocked down only once in his career. Wladimir knocked him down twice and referee stopped the fight ater the seconds knockdown.

2) Chris Byrd. Wlad knocked him down twice in the first fight and KO'ed older Chris in the rematch. 1,5 years after Wlad brutalized Byrd, Povetkin pummeled 37 y.o. for Chris for 11 rounds and couldn't even knock him down or really hurt him. Byrd's father stopped the fight against Povetkin just because Chris was taking too much punishment.

3) Guys like Jefferson, Shufford, Barrett, Wolfgramm, Bostice weren't great at all, but they were decent, and Wlad managed to knock them down/out with every power punch he connected. Wlad knocked Bostice down 4 times in 4 minutes and 27 seconds of their fight, Povetkin couldn't knock him down once, while he pummeled him like a punching bag for 1,5 minutes more.

4) Ray Mercer was totally shot, yet his chin was still with him, and Wlad knocked him down in the first round with a left hook and stopped him in 6.

5) Wlad knocked down Brewster who was never down before, he KTFO'ed unbeaten Brock with a brutal right hand, KO'ed Austin, Peter, Thompson (who was never stopped before) and knocked out COLD Eddie Chambers with a single left hook, whom Povetkin couldn't even hurt with his best punches. Wlad also was the first man to knock down Povetkin, who was never down before or after that fight in the pros, and brutally KO'ed Kubrat Pulev with a single left hook.

Emanuel Steward who trainder both Wlad and Lewis said Wlad is hared puncher of the two. The same thing said Phil Jackson, who fough both of them.

Also, here is how the guy who fought Bowe and Lennox in the amateurs sparred all the best heavyweights of the 90s except of Bowe and Tyson (i believe it was Kevin Ford) compared their power:

Riddicks power wasnt memorable to me. It probably got better as he got older, cause he never even remotely buzzed me in either of our contests.

Lennox hit like a ****ing tank. He cowed me; I won the first round, and he literally broke my spirit and took my soul with a right uppercut and straight right hand in the 2nd. I tried to stay away, and forgot to punch. He never got me quite as good again, but I will never forget those two punches. When we sparred years later, he hit very hard. Distinctly unpleasant to be hit by the man.

David Tua was unpleasant. I can't see myself getting stopped by him early, as he never really staggers me, but every shot hurt, and he'd bang. Every other guy I ever sparred would box when I got aggressive, but David would stand his ground and give. I'd get these horrible headaches after sparring with him, and Dave told me once that whenever he knew I was on the dance card, he'd drink extra water for his brain. Nice guy. Hit like a wrecking ball. David Tua hit hard enough to knock my headgear clean around my face. Dude had a pretty limited style, but that left was quick as a cobra when he was sharp, and boy did it have bite. Having sparred them both, Wladimir would school Tua and probably turn out his lights. He just lacks almost any sort of refinement to his violence. Granted, I don't really either unless I'm really, really on that day, but the best heavyweights I've sparred handled me a lot easier than David did.

Feels kinda bad critiquing the dude, though. He's a fun guy, super hospitable and friendly, hit like a truck and put me through plenty of painful paces. I only hope our careers and lives don't end up with me required to face him with 12's and no mask. I can't afford the surgery.

Evander Holyfield was a machine gun. He put me on my butt first round we ever sparred with a 7 or 8 punch volley. He just punched well; He'd move around and when he let them go, they hit, hard and fast and in large numbers. He was the weakest of the group since Bowe, but probably the most dangerous. He never found me difficult to find, and turned me into a bobble head more than once.

George Foreman was tricky. His jab was absolutely numbing-Ive never felt a jab like that, where your whole face would feel like it got novacained after he hit you with it. He'd also throw light punches primarily, almost pitty pat, till he had the opening, and then he'd wallop you. His punches had the most force; They didn't hurt any worse than Tua or Lewis, but I remember how badly they'd screw with my balance. His shots moved me. He also broke my nose with a straight right.

Wladimir Klitschko hit me by far the hardest, though. I couldn't get past the jab, and his right hands hit like thunder. They reminded me of Lewis', but they were quicker and sharper. Wladimir staggered me regularly in sparring. There are literally whole rounds I don't remember. He also knocked me out with a left hook. Not down, out. Only time in my life I've seen canvas and not been able to stand up by 10 seconds."

So, Wladimir Klistchko is definitely very hard puncher. Frusrtating thing about him is that after Sanders and Brewtser defeats he fought extremely catiously. Lennox was often too catisous also, but he was always way more willing to risk than post-2004 version of Wlad. Also the bad thing about Wlad is that he never even tried to devepole a right uppercut, which could have been extremely dangerous weapon. I think that Wlad was probably just so scared to be hit with a counter left hooks after throwing his right uppercut, that he didn't want to work on this technical element much even in sparrings. Remember how Steward was shouting at Wlad before the 12th round in Eddie Champbers fight? He knew Wlad could take him out
at any time, but even against such a small guy as Eddie, who was never known for his power, Wlad was afraid to risk.

There a lot of things that can be questioned about Wlad, but his his power can't be questioned at all.

[asdfjkl]

Povetkin hits a lot harder as most of these, somehow his reach is so short, he barely got the chance to prove it. Despite his KO record recently.
Briggs, Whyte, Takam probably hit a lot harder as Haye for example.

[funso banjo baby]

1) Helenius and Stiverne showed good power in some of their fights. Stiverne definitely hits harder than Vitali if you compare their fights against Arreola. As for Ustinov not being the big puncher, I agree.

2) Haye's speed might be his biggest asset, but his power is very good too. Just compare impact of his punches and punches of Vitali, Fury and Helenius on their common opponent Derek Chisora.

3) I don't think KO losses could make Price weaker puncher than he was before. His chin is probably even worse now than it was and his confidence is probably gone forever, but how can losses take something from your power?

4) LOL, you obviously confused Wladimir with Vitali. Wladimir had a lot of one-punch brutal KO's throughout his career - Chambers, Pulev, Brock, Jackson etc. Chris Byrd said Waldimir hits harder than Tua and 3 times harder than Vitali.

5) No argument here.

6) Deontay's power is very good, as was shown in his fight against Szpilka. He is just telegraphing his punches so clearly that better opponents either duck, block or soften them.

I think most people are of the opinion that most of Wladimir's defences were frustratingly tedious because of his inability to finish opponents. He would just stick the jab out with a follow up slice. Under no circumstances can he be considered a big puncher.

you also emphasised my points when you claimed Wlad and Helenius made NO impact on Chisora with their punches.

You are ABSOLUTELY 100% confusing Wladimir with Vitali. Wladimir never fought Chisora, it was Vitali whom I mentioned considering Chisora, not Wlad. Vitali gave horrendous beating to some of the guys he fought without knocking them down. Briggs, Arreola, Peter, Sullivan, Beane, Hoffman, Sanders.

Unlike Vitali, Wladimir was always a very hard puncher.

Wladimir Klitschko knocked down/out such guys:

1) Alex Shultz. He was always known for a very good chin and was knocked down only once in his career. Wladimir knocked him down twice and referee stopped the fight ater the seconds knockdown.

2) Chris Byrd. Wlad knocked him down twice in the first fight and KO'ed older Chris in the rematch. 1,5 years after Wlad brutalized Byrd, Povetkin pummeled 37 y.o. for Chris for 11 rounds and couldn't even knock him down or really hurt him. Byrd's father stopped the fight against Povetkin just because Chris was taking too much punishment.

3) Guys like Jefferson, Shufford, Barrett, Wolfgramm, Bostice weren't great at all, but they were decent, and Wlad managed to knock them down/out with every power punch he connected. Wlad knocked Bostice down 4 times in 4 minutes and 27 seconds of their fight, Povetkin couldn't knock him down once, while he pummeled him like a punching bag for 1,5 minutes more.

4) Ray Mercer was totally shot, yet his chin was still with him, and Wlad knocked him down in the first round with a left hook and stopped him in 6.

5) Wlad knocked down Brewster who was never down before, he KTFO'ed unbeaten Brock with a brutal right hand, KO'ed Austin, Peter, Thompson (who was never stopped before) and knocked out COLD Eddie Chambers with a single left hook, whom Povetkin couldn't even hurt with his best punches. Wlad also was the first man to knock down Povetkin, who was never down before or after that fight in the pros, and brutally KO'ed Kubrat Pulev with a single left hook.

Emanuel Steward who trainder both Wlad and Lewis said Wlad is hared puncher of the two. The same thing said Phil Jackson, who fough both of them.

Also, here is how the guy who fought Bowe and Lennox in the amateurs sparred all the best heavyweights of the 90s except of Bowe and Tyson (i believe it was Kevin Ford) compared their power:

Riddicks power wasnt memorable to me. It probably got better as he got older, cause he never even remotely buzzed me in either of our contests.

Lennox hit like a ****ing tank. He cowed me; I won the first round, and he literally broke my spirit and took my soul with a right uppercut and straight right hand in the 2nd. I tried to stay away, and forgot to punch. He never got me quite as good again, but I will never forget those two punches. When we sparred years later, he hit very hard. Distinctly unpleasant to be hit by the man.

David Tua was unpleasant. I can't see myself getting stopped by him early, as he never really staggers me, but every shot hurt, and he'd bang. Every other guy I ever sparred would box when I got aggressive, but David would stand his ground and give. I'd get these horrible headaches after sparring with him, and Dave told me once that whenever he knew I was on the dance card, he'd drink extra water for his brain. Nice guy. Hit like a wrecking ball. David Tua hit hard enough to knock my headgear clean around my face. Dude had a pretty limited style, but that left was quick as a cobra when he was sharp, and boy did it have bite. Having sparred them both, Wladimir would school Tua and probably turn out his lights. He just lacks almost any sort of refinement to his violence. Granted, I don't really either unless I'm really, really on that day, but the best heavyweights I've sparred handled me a lot easier than David did.

Feels kinda bad critiquing the dude, though. He's a fun guy, super hospitable and friendly, hit like a truck and put me through plenty of painful paces. I only hope our careers and lives don't end up with me required to face him with 12's and no mask. I can't afford the surgery.

Evander Holyfield was a machine gun. He put me on my butt first round we ever sparred with a 7 or 8 punch volley. He just punched well; He'd move around and when he let them go, they hit, hard and fast and in large numbers. He was the weakest of the group since Bowe, but probably the most dangerous. He never found me difficult to find, and turned me into a bobble head more than once.

George Foreman was tricky. His jab was absolutely numbing-Ive never felt a jab like that, where your whole face would feel like it got novacained after he hit you with it. He'd also throw light punches primarily, almost pitty pat, till he had the opening, and then he'd wallop you. His punches had the most force; They didn't hurt any worse than Tua or Lewis, but I remember how badly they'd screw with my balance. His shots moved me. He also broke my nose with a straight right.

Wladimir Klitschko hit me by far the hardest, though. I couldn't get past the jab, and his right hands hit like thunder. They reminded me of Lewis', but they were quicker and sharper. Wladimir staggered me regularly in sparring. There are literally whole rounds I don't remember. He also knocked me out with a left hook. Not down, out. Only time in my life I've seen canvas and not been able to stand up by 10 seconds."

So, Wladimir Klistchko is definitely very hard puncher. Frusrtating thing about him is that after Sanders and Brewtser defeats he fought extremely catiously. Lennox was often too catisous also, but he was always way more willing to risk than post-2004 version of Wlad. Also the bad thing about Wlad is that he never even tried to devepole a right uppercut, which could have been extremely dangerous weapon. I think that Wlad was probably just so scared to be hit with a counter left hooks after throwing his right uppercut, that he didn't want to work on this technical element much even in sparrings. Remember how Steward was shouting at Wlad before the 12th round in Eddie Champbers fight? He knew Wlad could take him out
at any time, but even against such a small guy as Eddie, who was never known for his power, Wlad was afraid to risk.

There a lot of things that can be questioned about Wlad, but his his power can't be questioned at all.

I was confusing vlad with vitali....but I generally don't see much difference in their styles, and the same criticism of wlad fully applied to vitali as well.

Have a look at Vitali throwing everything at corrie sanders

[ValMar]

Boxing Writer, you are right again. Yes, there are many things to be questioned about Wlad, but he has a power. Real power. And, I have to add : Wlad is a genuine gentlman/sportsman and an extremely intelligent person. And I would like to see him retired soon. I don't want to see him humiliated, simply, he has not deserved this.

[jezzamundo]

Povetkin hits a lot harder as most of these, somehow his reach is so short, he barely got the chance to prove it. Despite his KO record recently.
Briggs, Whyte, Takam probably hit a lot harder as Haye for example.

Tyson had a shorter reach than Povetkin - that didn't stop him from delivering it with regularity. Povetkin is certainly a good puncher, but I think he tends to get guys out of there with combinations and/or an accumulation of punches, rather than individual powerful blows. The Takam KO came largely from his superior stamina, which may have been partly due to the (then legal) substance he was likely on. I think the eight above him on the list are bigger punchers, but he definitely hits harder than Ustinov.

Briggs has always had good power, though he hasn't knocked out anyone good since 2006.

Whyte's power is hard to judge at this point, he's the only person to hurt Joshua to date and has a record of stopping guys early, but he hasn't looked too impressive of late.

Takam has respectable power, but he has never stopped a top 20 heavyweight - I doubt he hits as hard as Haye - if he did I think he'd have stopped Parker.

[jezzamundo]

Ustinov, helenius, stiverne are not particularly hard punchers.

haye's weapon is his speed

as for price...he used to look like a hard puncher before his awful defeats but needs another live opp in order for us to tell if he still has it

klitchko rarely showed one punch ko ability

AJ seems like a hard puncher

deontay certainly did against tomato cans but tends to struggle now

Helenius is/was a murderous puncher, but lost some of his pop due to injuries and in other fights, failed to land his punches due to poor training and conditioning. I can see a point in leaving him off the list at this point, as he hasn't impressively stopped anyone decent in a long time.

Stiverne has always been a huge puncher, he certainly has more one-shot power than Povetkin. His slow footspeed, lack of athleticism and relatively poor conditioning means he doesn't get to land his heavy hands as often as he would like and based on his last showing against Rossy, he may well be done at the top level. Hopefully he shows up lighter and in better shape for Povetkin, then he'll have at least a puncher's chance.

Price is definitely a huge puncher, just lacks durability and stamina.

Wlad is unquestionably a devastating puncher, just very defensively minded.

Deontay's fights are lasting longer because of his relative lack of boxing ability for a top level fighter, not due to any lack of power, although aside from his right cross, I don't think he hits as hard as Wlad or AJ.