The heavyweight division of boxing produces some of the biggest and most dramatic knockouts in the sport, with multiple happening every year.
Ahead of his planned return to the sport later this year, former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has shared a list of the top 10 hardest punchers in heavyweight history on his Instagram, calling them all ‘big bangers.’
Here, we’ll take a look at the 10 heavyweights that made the list which Fury clearly agrees with.
10
Sonny Liston
Nicknamed ‘The Big Bear’, Sonny Liston became the undisputed world heavyweight champion in 1962 after knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round, repeating the knockout the following year in defence of the title.
Liston was deemed to be unbeatable before being defeated by Muhammad Ali, but rumours floated that Liston had been drinking the night before and fought with a dodgy shoulder.
9
Lennox Lewis
Lewis was a three-time champion and held the undisputed championship. In his first three years as a professional, he won several regional heavyweight championships, including the European, Commonwealth, and British titles.
He would defeat Donovan Ruddock to gain the number one rank in the WBC, and was given the title after Riddick Bowe gave up the belt after refusing to fight the Brit.
Up until recently, when Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury, he was the last heavyweight to have undisputed status.
8
Joe Louis
The ‘Brown Bomber’ was seen as the first African-American to be a national hero in America due to what he did in and out of the ring.
He would be heavyweight champion for 12 years between 1937 and 1949, defending his title 25 consecutive times, still the record across all weight classes, as well as having the longest reign for a boxer as champion.
7
Wladimir Klitschko
Klitschko was known for his quick hand speed, boxing IQ, and his physical strength, not allowing himself to get tired out against opponents.
After a successful amateur career, ‘Dr. Steelhammer’ carried that over to the professional scene, losing only fives times out of his 69 fights, with one of those defeats coming against Fury when the two met for the heavyweight championship in Germany in 2015.
6
Joe Frazier
Probably best known for his Thrilla in Manilla fight with Muhammad Ali in 1975, Frazier won a gold medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics as an amateur.
After his defeat to Ali, that would be his last world title challenge as he chose to retire in 1976, before later returning in 1981. Frazier would boast an impressive knockout record with 27 of his 32 wins coming by way of knockout.
5
Mike Tyson
Tyson would establish himself as one of the biggest punchers in the heavyweight division, knocking all of his first 19 opponents out, with 12 coming in the first round.
He still holds the record of the youngest heavyweight champion at the age of 20, also being the first to unify all three belts in succession. He would end his career with 50 wins coming from his 59 bouts, with seven losses, and two no contests. Sadly one of those losses comes against Jake Paul, who he fought at 58 years old.
4
Rocky Marciano
Marciano is regarded as one of the best heavyweights ever. He is the only heavyweight champion to finish his career undefeated, winning all 49 of his bouts, with 43 of them coming by way of knockout. He held his title for four years between 1952 and 1956, defending it six times.
Marciano also holds the highest knockout-to-win percentage of 85.71%.
3
George Foreman
‘Big George’ was a two-time heavyweight champion and an Olympic gold medallist in the 1968 Summer Olympics.
As an amateur, he would turn professional the following year, defeating Joe Frazier to win the heavyweight title in 1973. He would defend his belt twice before suffering his first professional loss against Muhammad Ali in their infamous Rumble in the Jungle bout in 1974.
2
Earnie Shavers
Earnie Shavers was a two-time world heavyweight challenger whose career spanned 26 years, accumulating 91 fights in that time.
He built a reputation as being one of the hardest hitters in the heavyweight division. 23 of his 70 knockout wins would come in the first round for a 76.7% knockout rate. He was unsuccessful twice in becoming champion, losing to Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes in 1977 and 1979 respectively.
1
Deontay Wilder
Wilder would end the drought for an American heavyweight champion, becoming the first one since 2007, making it the longest for America without a heavyweight boxing champion.
‘The Bronze Bomber’ was known for his explosive punching power, with the highest knockout-to-win ratio at 97.72% after winning 43 of his 44 fights by knockout; the only time being so in his first professional bout against Bermane Stiverne in 2015.