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ESPN 20 Greatest KO's
Brian Kenny and Bert Sugar hosted “Who’s Number One” last night and the topic was the 20 Greatest KO’s in history. The list was Bert Sugar’s and his criteria was essentially fourfold:
The importance of the fight (which basically means championship fights), the drama (or ebb and flow), suddenness and there being video so they could show it. Here’s his list.
20) Floyd Patterson KO3 Ingemar Johansen-One left hook and Ingo’s foot is quivering.
19) Ray Mercer KO4 Tommy Morrison-Eight punches while the Duke is helpless
1Bob Foster KO4 Dick Tiger-One swooping left hook and the Sheriff is champ.
17) Muhammad Ali TKO3 Cleveland Williams-The Ali peak
16) Jersey Joe Walcott K07 Ezzard Charles-Craft by subtraction
15) George Foreman TKO2 Joe Frazier-Down goes Frazier!
14) Joe Louis KO13 Billy Conn-Conn is champ…for twelve rounds.
13) Diego Corrales TKO10 Jose Luis Castillo-You’d better effin’ get inside!
12) Muhammad Ali KO8 George Foreman-Ali Bomaye!
11) Thomas Hearns KO2 Pipino Cuevas-A shotgun outdone by a howitzer.
10) Jack Johnson KO12 Stanley Ketchel-Give Stan his teeth back Jack.
9) George Foreman KO10 Michael Moorer-It happened!
7) Buster Douglas KO10 Mike Tyson-42 to 1?
6) Carmen Basilio TKO12 Tony DeMarco-Sheer Brutality
5) Marvin Hagler KO3 Thomas Hearns-Destruct and Destroy
4) Sugar Ray Robinson KO5 Gene Fullmer-One punching Fulmer? Going backwards? At 35?
2) Joe Louis KO1 Max Schmeling-Good Lord.
1) Jack Demspey-Luis Firpo-Dempsey goes through the ropes
Now I think this is a pretty good list. But what’s the point of a post if one doesn’t disagree? I think one thing Sugar gets wrong is the quality of the guy getting KO’d. I don’t care how brutal it is, drilling Tommy Morrison, Cleveland Williams or even Pipino Cuevas is not that big a deal when one only has twenty slots! Using Bert’s criteria here is my list.
Here is my alternative list.
20) Jersey Joe Walcott KO7 Ezzard Charles-Joe had been feinting before the left hook all night. This time he just throws it!
19) Floyd Patterson KO3 Ingemar Johansen-The foot is still quivering
1
17) Archie Moore KO11 Yvonne Durelle-The Mongoose gets off the floor four times, twice when he shouldn’t have to stop the Canadian.
16) Bob Foster KO4 Dick Tiger-Tiger hadn’t been stopped in 15 years and Foster almost killed him.
15) Julio Cesar Chavez TKO12 Meldrick Taylor-Taylor is two seconds from winning but his body is gone.
14) George Foreman KO2 Joe Frazier-Give Joe credit, he kept getting up.
13) Diego Corrales KO10 Jose Louis Castillo-Another comeback for the ages
12) Tommy Hearns KO2 Roberto Duran-How is it possible for Duran to be overmatched? Hearns descended like an avenging angel.
11) Marcel Cerdan TKO11 Tony Zale-One of the finest combinations in history finishes the Man of Steel.
10) Jack Johnson KO12 Stanley Ketchell-Hello? Teeth?
9) Joe Louis KO13 Billy Conn-I guess he couldn't hide, could he?
7) Sugar Ray Leonard TKO 13 Tommy Hearns-You’re blowing it son!
7) Ray Robinson KO5 Gene Fulmer-Yeah it is THAT good!
6) Buster Douglas KO10 Mike Tyson-Five great punches to finish it.
5) Muhammad Ali KO8 George Foreman-Ali cements his place in the pantheon
4) Sandy Saddler KO4 Willie Pep-NOBODY KO’s Willie Pep!
3) Rocky Marciano KO13 Jersey Joe Walcott-Is he dead?
2) Marvin Hagler KO3 Tommy Hearns-Man oh man.
1) Joe Louis KO1 Max Schmeling-probably the most important night in boxing history.
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Originally Posted by marbleheadmaui
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