How is Tyson not the greatest heavyweight puncher?

[imp]

I've been looking at "greatest puncher" lists and I'm very surprised to see that people actually rate several heavyweights as better punchers than Tyson.

I get it, I get it. Rating old timers above relatively newer guys makes you look more knowledgable... yeesh.

Were there guys that hit harder? Probably. Were there guys with faster hands? Probably.

But who had that combination of technique, speed and power? The ability to hurt a guy with any punch (including a jab), the ability to switch up between the head and the body?

Someone actually rated Joe Frazier as a better puncher than Mike Tyson. I wish I could spit in his face in person.

Tyson has the best mix of speed, power and accuracy for a heavyweight ever known to man. What lacked in Tyson was his mental stability. But no one could question his raw and pure fighting ability.

Both great posts. ^^

And lets not forget the fact that tyson was smaller than everyone else.

It has its advantages/disadvantages but he was smaller and at 5.11 he had to have superb head movement and defense to even have a chance..which he did.

[Master]

Tyson may not be the greatest puncher of all time because he relied too much on speed, timing, combinations and not raw power.

[ykdadamaja]

Tyson may not be the greatest puncher of all time because he relied too much on speed, timing, combinations and not raw power.

Tyson's timing was impeccable... accurate and timed precisely.

[Master]

Tyson may not be the greatest puncher of all time because he relied too much on speed, timing, combinations and not raw power.

Tyson's timing was impeccable... accurate and timed precisely.

He also weighed only 220lb. I am sounding like Max Power now, where is that twat gone?

[cambay411]

I will probably get alot of shit for saying this but Tyson is underrated. Even tho he is underrated he still should have been better than what he was.

Why is he underrated? For the exact reason the OP started this thread. Tyson has more 1st round KO's than anyone ever im sure and this in itself proves he is the best puncher/KO artist of all time. No one KO'd dudes like Tyson.

Its easy to forget what Tyson did and remember what he didnt do (understandably so).

We have never had to wonder so much about what a fighter could have been. And we have never seen a fighter not live up to there potential so much has Tyson but he is still an ATG. Its as amazing as it is disappointing.

[Vendettos]

He's in my top 3 because of his delivery of punch, and all aspects together.

But in terms of pure power alone, it's close between a lot of fighters.

Frank Bruno had an absolutely, devastatingly powerful right hand, but nowhere near the speed, agility or technique Tyson had. I remember reading something about a test they did with Bruno on his punch and the power was apparently incredibly high.

Lots of people have power but Tyson knew how to use it.

[Beanflicker]

He's in my top 3 because of his delivery of punch, and all aspects together.

But in terms of pure power alone, it's close between a lot of fighters.

Agreed 100%. In terms of pure power, I think there are probably a bunch of guys that trump Tyson. Guys like Foreman and Shavers had more pure power than him I'd be willing to bet.

If we're talking about the overall force of the punch, I'd say Tyson's speed and technique probably leveled it out though.

But who are your other top 3 punchers, or specifically the ones you would rate above Tyson at HW?

[El Kabong]

Tyson is up there, fast hands, good power with both hands.


Joe Louis
George Foreman
Lennox Lewis
Rocky Marciano
Jack Dempsey
Vitali Klitschko
Wladimir Klitschko
Ron Lyle
Earnie Shavers

There are plenty to consider, but I'd say Prime Tyson is no lower than Top 5. I would put Louis, Marciano, and Foreman at or around the same ranking...not much between those 4. All knocked fighters out consistently, all had KO wins vs some very solid competition at the very top of the division.

[Beanflicker]

There are plenty to consider, but I'd say Prime Tyson is no lower than Top 5. I would put Louis, Marciano, and Foreman at or around the same ranking...not much between those 4.

What's the logic for ranking Foreman above Tyson? He had godlike power in his fists, but his technique was awful, he was very slow and inaccurate with his punching. He was just fortunate enough to have two wrecking balls in his fists and destroyed whatever they managed to land on.

I think Louis and Marciano are great names to consider, but I think Tyson's superior speed and power would put him over the top of those guys.

[El Kabong]

George Foreman had poor technique to start with, but 68 KO's out of 76 wins shows how long he carried his power and how good he was at finishing a fight.

Foreman 89.47% KO rate
Tyson 88% KO rate

They're closer than you want to give Foreman credit for.


And just for shits and giggles

Louis 78.7% (lower than I expected honestly)
Marciano 87.7%
Vitali 91.11%
Wlad 83.6%
Shavers 91.89%
Lyle 72%
Dempsey 77.27% (lower than I expected again)

So there are the actual KO percentages

[Vendettos]

He's in my top 3 because of his delivery of punch, and all aspects together.

But in terms of pure power alone, it's close between a lot of fighters.

Agreed 100%. In terms of pure power, I think there are probably a bunch of guys that trump Tyson. Guys like Foreman and Shavers had more pure power than him I'd be willing to bet.

If we're talking about the overall force of the punch, I'd say Tyson's speed and technique probably leveled it out though.

But who are your other top 3 punchers, or specifically the ones you would rate above Tyson at HW?

Honestly I'd say Foreman and Shavers, but there's some others like Bruno, Briggs, etc, but those guys are just power really.

I don't rate Marciano up there based on his era of very small heavyweights, granted he could bang but what would really have done against a Wlad Klitschko?

[El Kabong]

I don't rate Marciano up there based on his era of very small heavyweights, granted he could bang but what would really have done against a Wlad Klitschko?

It's not a matter of how he'd do vs today's heavyweights it's about the power he had and man did he ever have it. Not only that he had some MASSIVE KO's late in fights where he'd plant a punch square on his opponent's jaw and put them to sleep.

[Master]

I don't rate Marciano up there based on his era of very small heavyweights, granted he could bang but what would really have done against a Wlad Klitschko?

It's not a matter of how he'd do vs today's heavyweights it's about the power he had and man did he ever have it. Not only that he had some MASSIVE KO's late in fights where he'd plant a punch square on his opponent's jaw and put them to sleep.

Agreed, Wlad gets late knock outs but they are generally down to battering the opponent until they have very little to fight back with.