How is Tyson not the greatest heavyweight puncher?

[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

[Mr140]

He may have better way to delver the punch but hell Foreman as slow as he was fucking put people way just by tapping them. I think Foreman's gifts make him better heavyweight puncher because he didn't even have to land to well or through fast to knock you out. Also Tyson when faced with a great fighter in Holyfeild i don't think he mange to hurt Holyfeild as much as Foreman did and that man was like 40 i think maybe older not sure exact age so i don't have a problem with Foreman being better puncher or rated higher because he didn't need technique and he was able knock people out in his late 40's.

[Master]

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

You missed out the great Bruno from your list.

[Beanflicker]

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

I'm not really interested in KO percentage because it isn't really relevant to who was the better puncher because there are a ton of other factors that enter into a guy's KO percentage as well.

I'm talking about the whole package, not necessarily who hits the hardest, who had their power the longest, who knocked out more guys, ect.

We all know Tyson, Foreman, Marciano, Dempsey, Shavers, Louis, ect were great KO artists. But watching them and examining everything: technique, speed, power, combination ability, the variety of punches used effectively, ect, who could possibly be a better "puncher" than Tyson?

There are guys in that list that no doubt trump in in certain aspects (Foreman probably trumps him in pure power), but when added all up who has a better combinaton of all those factors than Tyson?

[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.