BoxRec

This thread is inspired by Bakhodir Jalolov's recent fight, which makes me wonder if he has the power to get to the top of the division.

So, who are your nominees?

They generally can punch. To be honest, Uysk is probably in the running, as is Fury.

Not sure how much power Tunney brought up to heavy.

Carnera is difficult to grade.

L. Spinks maybe... although did he whack Evangelista and Mercado, so maybe not.

Were Hart or Burns considered bangers?

Tommy Burns in all likelihood

I don't think Jack Johnson had ever"KO'd" any of his opponents with a single punch.
(He was adefensive fighter)
btw someone may bring up the fight with Stanley Ketchel, but it looked like in watching
that old footage Kentchel may have had been smashed in the mouth with an 'elbow" first.

Gene Tunney was a masterful boxer, but not a big puncher. Same as Ezzard Charles for the most part. I'd imagine they could both belt you a little harder than Burns though who still gets my vote until further notice

James J. Corbett.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑21 Oct 2026, 16:46 Gene Tunney was a masterful boxer, but not a big puncher. Same as Ezzard Charles for the most part. I'd imagine they could both belt you a little harder than Burns though who still gets my vote until further notice

Tunney held back on his punching power at some point earlier pro boxing career.
Tunney was known as a "rib cracker" and he had knocked out some of his opponents
to 'next Wednesday".
once after he had nearly 'killed" a man in the ring, he had vowed never to "fight in anger" ever again
and he didn't.

Boxing isn't Fighting in anger to begin with though. It's controlled, calculated aggression. At least if you're doing it well that's the idea.

Caractacus wrote: ↑21 Oct 2026, 17:23

gilgamesh wrote: ↑21 Oct 2026, 16:46 Gene Tunney was a masterful boxer, but not a big puncher. Same as Ezzard Charles for the most part. I'd imagine they could both belt you a little harder than Burns though who still gets my vote until further notice

Tunney held back on his punching power at some point earlier pro boxing career.
Tunney was known as a "rib cracker" and he had knocked out some of his opponents
to 'next Wednesday".
once after he had nearly 'killed" a man in the ring, he had vowed never to "fight in anger" ever again
and he didn't.

Yeah, Tunney was certainly not the hardest, but he had some power as did Charles and Burns.

For the 20th century, I might go with Hart. Sharkey and Braddock didn't have much power either though that was in part because they had a lot of hand problems throughout their careers and often couldn't throw a lot of hard punches. Leon Spinks didn't have a lot of pop either.

I always forget Braddock. He's definitely one of the people that belongs in the conversation as well.

In the case of Spinks his lack of punching power was all the more noticeable since he always chose to slug it out with everybody.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑Yesterday, 20:03 I always forget Braddock. He's definitely one of the people that belongs in the conversation as well.

In the case of Spinks his lack of punching power was all the more noticeable since he always chose to slug it out with everybody.

How about Michael Spinks

He's been mentioned. I don't think he's the lightest punching Heavyweight Champion, but he'd be on the list for sure.

George Foreman

- Perfect Topic for idjits. Neon Leon rules over all other Hvy Champs that includes his Cruiser fights. It's not even close. Best ever Comic Relief...R.I.P.

BroughtonRulesRefuge wrote: ↑Today, 10:27 - Perfect Topic for idjits. Neon Leon rules over all other Hvy Champs that includes his Cruiser fights. It's not even close. Best ever Comic Relief...R.I.P.

Is that why you're on here then ?

BroughtonRulesRefuge wrote: ↑Today, 10:27 - Perfect Topic for idjits. Neon Leon rules over all other Hvy Champs that includes his Cruiser fights. It's not even close. Best ever Comic Relief...R.I.P.

Corbett had five kayos over 18 bouts. He scored exactly one legitimate knockout over a boxer who weighed more than 175 pounds and that was John L. Sullivan. Three of them were of men who were 175 or under. Then there's Kid McCoy. That match is widely regarded as a fix and I doubt that McCoy was over the modern light heavyweight limit.

Neon Leon hit harder than Gentleman Jim. I'll wave my idjit flag with pride.