We will take a look at “7” heavyweight champions and one contender asking who was the hardest hitter.
Starting with Jack “Manassa Mauler” Dempsey, from Salt Lake City, Utah, holding the title from July 1919 to September 1926 with five defenses. His record was 53-6-8 with 43 knockouts.
The one with the most defenses at 25 is Joe “The Brown Bomber” Louis out of Detroit, Michigan. His record was 66-3 with 52 knockouts. He held the title from 1937 to 1949. From March of 1942 until June of 1946 when he was inactive serving in the US Army.
Rocky “The Brockton Blockbuster” Marciano, out of Brockton, Massachusetts. He held the title from September 1952 to April 1956. He had the overall best record at 49-0 with 43 knockouts and six defenses.
“Smokin” Joe Frazier was the 1964 Olympic champion though losing two fights to Buster Mathis. The latter broke his thumb, so Frazier went to Tokyo, winning the Gold Medal. Out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Frazier won the NYSAC version stopping Mathis in March of 1968.
In February of 1970, he stopped WBA champ Jimmy Ellis adding the WBC vacant title. He made nine defenses before his title. His record was 32-4-1 with 27 knockouts. His biggest win was over the returning former champion Muhammad Ali who defeated him in their next two fights.
Defeating Frazier was the 1968 Olympic Gold Medalist in Mexico “Big” George Foreman from Houston, Texas. From January 1973 to October of 1974, he held the title. He re-won the title in November of 1994 for the second time. His record was 76-5 with 68 knockouts.
The lone non champion was Earnie “Black Destroyer” Shavers, from Warren, Ohio. His record was 76-14-1 with 70 knockouts.
He lost back-to-back title attempts against Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes.
Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder won the Bronze Olympic Medal in 2008 and was from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He was champion from January 2015 to February 2020. His record was 43-3-1 with 42 knockouts. He had ten defenses including a draw.
“Iron” Mike Tyson lost in the Olympic trials in 1984 twice to Henry Tillman whom he knocked out in the professional ranks. He was from Henderson, Nevada, winning the title in November of 1986 to February of 1990. He made nine defenses. His record was 50-6 with 44 knockouts.
There you have it with 8 of the hardest punchers in the history of the heavyweight divisions. Who do you say was the hardest puncher?
