If you ask 100 random boxing fans who the biggest power puncher of all time was, you might see the Top 3 being some combination of Earnie Shavers, Mike Tyson and Deontay Wilder.
However, with such a subjective debate, there’s a whole host of boxing legends who have the power to claim that title – and popular British boxing icon Tony Bellew has one of his own.
Tony Bellew names boxing legend as the biggest puncher of all time
Who is the biggest puncher of all time? Is it the fighter with the highest percentage of KO/TKOs, or is it someone who had so much power that you genuinely feared for their opponent’s life?
Whilst Mike Tyson, Earnie Shavers, Deontay Wilder, or even Rocky Marciano might be in the mix to claim that accolade; British boxing icon Tony Bellew believes that there is only one fighter who deserves to be crowned king…
“This is without doubt the greatest puncher boxing has ever seen!” Bellew wrote on Twitter (X) over the festive period, sharing a short 61-second compilation from the one and only, George Foreman.
“He knocked out living legends,” stated the Scouse superstar, adding how “I’ve never seen power like this at the level he was showing it at!”
‘Big George’ not only ended his professional career as a two-time heavyweight champion but hung up the gloves with a truly ridiculous 89.47% KO rate.
Just a few hours earlier, Bellew had also revealed which boxer is his personal Greatest of All Time – with that accolade going to former four-weight world champion, Roy Jones Jr.
“No one has ever come back down in weight and been able to have the same effect that they’ve once had,” he stated in a separate post under a video of Jones’ 2004 KO loss to Antonio Tarver.
“Roy going to HW was the pinnacle! He walks away after Ruiz it’s not even a question who the [GOAT] is.. I still think he is the [GOAT] but the carry on after this is [heartbreaking].”
Ring Magazine had Foreman as the fifth-biggest puncher in boxing history
A few years ago, Ring Magazine put together a comprehensive list of their 100 greatest punchers in boxing history – with George Foreman only coming in at number 5.
It should be noted that since this list was produced a number of years ago, it doesn’t include some of the more devastating KO artists from our modern era, but it’s still fascinating to see Ring Magazine’s Top 10.
- Joe Louis (66-3, 52 KOs)
- Archie Moore (186-23-10, 132 KOs)
- Sandy Saddler (145-16-2, 104 KOs)
- Jack Dempsey (53-6-8, 43 KOs)
- George Foreman (76-5, 68 KOs)
- Earnie Shavers (76-14-1, 70 KOs)
- Sugar Ray Robinson (174-19-6, 109 KOs)
- Julian Jackson (55-6, 49 KOs)
- Ruben Olivares (89-13-3, 79 KOs)
- Wilfredo Gomez (44-3-1, 42 KOs)
What do you think about George Foreman being labeled as the biggest puncher in boxing history, and where would modern hitters like Wilder and Beterbiev rank on your list?
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