The best punch trackers on the market
25th September 2020
By: Max Taylor
Knockouts are the undisputed entertainment factor of boxing. They play a massive part in why fans flock to the sport as nobody, for so long, has been putting on gloves and technically, yet instinctively hammering away at each other over-scheduled three-minute rounds like boxers have been. There are many who have stepped inside the squared circle and consequently dropped some jaws by hitting others. Only a few have done this fight in fight out though and accumulated a plethora of stunning knockouts that fans have grown to enjoy after being hardwired over the years to find beauty in the viciousness of a knockout. In the fifth and final instalment of this BoxingGuru series that will range from the big to small hitters, we rank the boxers who possess the greatest knockout reels to date and next up is the lightweight division!
CHECK OUT THE BEST PUNCH TRACKERS ON THE MARKET
Watch our ‘Top 5 Lightweight Knockout Reel’ video below…
5) Oscar De La Hoya
As this series descends into the lighter weights, it is more of a rarity to find those with the Julian Jackson-esque singular punch power. This entry is a good example of a boxer who combined other assets with his power to establish himself as a highly regarded knockout artist.
The Golden Boy hit as though he had gold plastered into his gloves, his savage flurries and predatorial instinct shone at lightweight resulting in The Ring ranking him as the 20th greatest of all time in this respective division. De La Hoya embodied a promise given to boxing fans after leaving the amateur ranks with a 223-5 record and an Olympic gold medal.
His time at 135lbs delivered said promise with viciousness and world honours before starting new endeavours at higher weight classes. As mentioned previously, the Mexican American was not a one-punch pugilist but instead fought for a place on this list through his overwhelmingly fast combinations where his power was generated from.
If his adversaries showed the smallest glimpse of vulnerability, De La Hoya would wish into existence a TKO/KO win through his elite combination punching which is why he gets the recognition here at number 5.
Chosen knockouts in the video below: Derrell Coley, Jorge Paez, Oba Carr.
CHECK OUT THE GREATEST HEAVYWEIGHT KNOCKOUT ARTISTS EVER!
4) Kostya Tszyu
Next on the list is one who was another superb amateur talent that overachieved. The ‘Thunder from down under’ was one of the best to ever do it at 140lbs. The Ring magazine recognised this awarding him as the best super-lightweight boxer of the 2000s.
Tszyu’s dismantling of Zab Judah in 2001 not only peaks his knockout reel but saw him become the first undisputed champion in the division since Takeshi Fuji in 1967. Breaking records as well as jaws, the Soviet-born brawler had high-class boxing IQ, allowing him to enter the paid game with a record of 259-11 and go eight years undefeated between 1997 & 2005.
When reviewing Tszyu’s career and fighting spirit, he should be regarded as one who never held back as the Australian native always came forward with supreme power and torque on his shots. His technical knowledge and underrated footwork usually allowed him to find a home for his crushing right cross which would eventually be followed up by bombs from all angles.
A great lateral mover, Tszyu threw decapitating combinations and always twisted the leg and hip on hooks to optimise his power. His extensive knowledge of generating power was passed down to current knockout artists like Alexander Povetkin when he trained the heavyweight in 2012. The Hall-of-Famer may also have some words of advice to his son, Tim, who stands as an undefeated welterweight looking to recreate the legendary success his father did in brutal fashion.
Chosen knockouts: Juan Piet Bergman, Zab Judah, Calvin Grove.
CHECK OUT THE GREATEST LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT KO ARTISTS EVER!
3) Diego Corrales
This entry may be questionable to those attentive to Corrales’ career as he had most success and looked his hard-hitting best at 130lbs, the weight class referred to as the super-featherweight division. However, ‘Chico’ won the IBF & WBO belts at 130lbs who label this category as junior lightweight.
After becoming a two-time unified champion here, he then famously moved up to the legitimate lightweight class and carried his power all the way, debilitating the previously undefeated Acelino Freitas to become a two-weight world champion.
It was almost as if Corrales was allergic to not unifying world titles at any weight he fought, as his next fight at lightweight cemented itself in boxing’s history books as one of the greatest comebacks in the sport. His knockout power rewarded him kindly in his career-defining win versus Jose Luis Castillo as, after being dominated and knocked down by the Mexican, ‘Chico’ found a way to knock him out and unify the titles at 135lbs.
His punching power was devastating and was aided by his usually superior reach advantage. If anybody attempted to get into close quarters with the late lightweight, he would check them with a short-left hook. One of his best weapons which increased the knockout number on his record was his counter right. Corrales loved Orthodox opponents as anytime they didn’t pull their lead hand back after throwing, he would punish them with a conscious threatening short right hand.
Despite being a lanky lightweight, the Las Vegas resident never shied away from fighting on the inside as he would deliver knockouts at that distance with the powerful hooks he possessed from either hand.
Chosen knockouts: Jose Luis Castillo, Acelino Freitas, Damien Fuller.
CHECK OUT THE GREATEST MIDDLEWEIGHT KNOCKOUT ARTISTS EVER!
2) Roberto Duran
The comeback that Corrales mounted was nothing short of incredible and this icon is no stranger to beating the odds either, winning The Ring’s comeback of the year twice in 1983 & 1989 and becoming the first boxer to ever do so.
This is a small glimpse into the plethora of record’s that Duran broke in his illustrious career. The Panama legend earned GOAT status by demolishing fellow lightweights and defending his world title 12 times which entailed 11 knockouts. The Ring recognised his superiority naming him the greatest lightweight of all time in 2001.
Before venturing into heavier weight classes and establishing himself as a quadruple weight world champion, Duran vacated the WBA’s 135lb strap he held for over six years.
The Ring’s fifth-best fighter of the past 80 years was a classic infighter who applied exhausting pressure. He possessed excellent IQ in the ring which allowed him to work inside and let his ‘hands of stone’ go. Duran would exercise level changes and jabs to close the distance and from there exhibited world-class offense and defense. His head movement in the pocket made his opponents miss and his elite counterpunching ability also made them pay. This saw him amass 70 knockouts in a career that spanned over five decades.
Chosen knockouts: Ray Lampkin, Lou Bizarro, Hiroshi Kobayashi.
CHECK OUT THE GREATEST WELTERWEIGHT KNOCKOUT ARTISTS EVER!
*Honourable mention* – Lew Jenkins
A punching power phenom who broke into The Ring’s top 100 greatest punchers of the all-time list along with the next honorable mention. Jenkins is positioned at 62 there thanks to his legendary punching ability that earned him a TKO victory over Lou Ambers to capture the lightweight title in 1940.
This rise would also be the start of his downfall where he began excessively consuming alcohol and drugs and erased his potential to become a long-lasting great lightweight champion. Sammy Angott reality checked Jenkins by dethroning him only 1.5+ years after he won world honours.
The ‘Sweetwater Swatter’ not only put his life on the line fighting inside the ring but did the same outside, serving in the Coast Guard during World War Two as well as being awarded the Silver Star for serving in 1950. His career paths exemplified how he was a born fighter with a killer instinct.
*Honourable mention* – Joe Gans
Boxing Scene’s third-best lightweight boxer of all time had emphatic knockout power alongside his esteemed technical ability. Gans was the first African American world champion of the 20th century and his accomplishments and accolades have sculpted him not only into a statue in Madison Square Garden but into one of the most influential fighters of the sport’s history.
He was idolized by fellow boxing legends like Sam Langford and Bob Fitzsimmons, even by greats who competed in the same division such as Benny Leonard. The Baltimore native reigned as a lightweight champion for six years and radiated invincibility during this time.
He was cut from a different cloth of the fighters of his era as he took a more calculated approach to boxing with controlled aggression and a game plan. This resulted in the ‘Old Master’ accumulating a record of 145-10-16 with 100 knockouts. A dominant record belonging to a legend who has knockout artistry that would impress Picasso.
THE BOXING GAME YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!
1) Edwin Rosario
Rosario was an action fighter who had crowds jumping off their seat as he captivated audiences with his entertaining style in the 1980s. He was destined for greatness, winning his first lightweight belt in 1983 against Jose Luis Ramirez. The rematch came about the following year where the Puerto Rican would lose an explosive war inside four rounds which was named Fight of The Year.
Rosario’s lionheart also made him a fan favourite and enabled him to overcome the toughest of challenges. The Ring gave this credit, awarding him with the comeback of the year title in 1986, an award our past two hard hitters have also found themselves winning.
‘Chapo’ was a knockout king and tops this group not only as the hardest puncher with the best reel but also with the highest KO percentage at 77%. His power is renowned by all as he sits as the 36th greatest puncher of all time in The Ring’s list.
When Rosario exerted said power in the ring 30-40 years ago, it was one of the most exciting sporting performances to experience. He actively moved his upper body, an asset to have when combination punching as it opened different angles for him to attack. This upper-body movement was also useful when the second, three-time lightweight champion in boxing history would throw his shots. This is because he would turn his punches in, maximising their power.
‘Chapo’ also had a fantastic sense of distance, knowing if he was in range to unload without even measuring with his jab. This enabled him to fire off his leg-crumbling straight cross before following up with finishing blows.
I stated, in the beginning, it was much harder to find a one-punch knockout artist in this lightweight division, but Edwin Rosario is that exact needle in the haystack.
Chosen knockouts: Edwin Viruet, Roberto Garcia, Juan Minaya.
Watch the greatest lightweight knockout artists below…
