Tua the hardest hitting heavyweight ever?

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Tua hardest puncher ever?? possibly...

But 1st of all let me say this- KO PERCENTAGES MEAN NOTHING, U MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE QUALITY OF OPPOSITION AND THE MANNER OF THE STOPPAGES!!!

Peter McNeely had a better KO percentage than Tyson when they faught, does that mean McNeely was a better puncher?? Please!

Great point!

I never understood how earnie shavers is considered such a great puncher. If you add up the cumulative record of his opposition its probably something like 200 wins and 700 losses

The whole "hardest puncher" thing is one of those abstract questions. Different kinds of punches, different physiques lead to different kinds of power. But quality of opposition is a major factor..it's much easier to KO a guy looking to get lucky or cash a quick paycheck than it is fighting quality opp with a desire to win. Lots of guys with high KO % for the first 20-25 fights or so then not see many after that.

Tua has that powder-keg explosive type power that can leave someone's brain a mess. Tyson explosive and fast. Foreman leverage and thudding. Those are my top 3 as well.

Shavers always gets a mention because anyone who ever fought him said that he is the hardest hitter they ever faced.

There are 2 clinchers for me: Muhammad Ali & Larry Holmes.

Muhammad fought some of the biggest punchers of all-time & he cites Shavers as the hardest.

Larry Holmes, who fought both Tyson & Shavers said that Shavers was the harder hitter.

I believe that Shavers is more heavy handed that Tyson for instance, but I believe Tyson is the more effective KO artist; a man more likely to KO a top quality opponent than any other HW in history because of his handspeed, two handed power & combinations.

[Majesty]

Earnie Shavers was probably the hardest hitting.

[El Kabong]

Joe Louis, George Foreman, Earnie Shavers...I think those guys deserve the nod over Tua

[HattonTheHammer]

Earnie Shavers was probably the hardest hitting.

tyson lives up to his name as the hardest puncher in the game

If tyson caught someone flush in the late 80s, early 90s they werent rocked...or knocked down they were out of the fight completely

[Beanflicker]

I think the distinction also needs to be made between huge power and Great Puncher. They are not the same thing. Joe Louis was a better puncher than Tua, but there is no way he generated the same power in his punches. Tua was a BIGGER puncher, Louis was a BETTER puncher.

Joe Frazier doesn't deserve to be mentioned. AMAZING left hook, so-so right hand, but most of his ko/tko wins were accumilation. More often than not Joe would bang away at his opponent and wear them down before the KO.

A huge puncher (guys like Julian Jackson) will more often than not blast a guy out with one punch.