There have been many power punchers in the sport’s history who’ve favored a good left hook as their in-ring weapon of choice.  

But who boasted the best in recent times? 

Before we further explain, let’s first pay homage to and acknowledge those who are a part of the emeritus category: Ray Robinson, Joe Frazier, Floyd Patterson, Henry Cooper, Bob Foster, Joe Louis, and Pipino Cuevas.

Now onto modern history. 

To qualify for the top ten under these parameters, a boxer must have competed in a professional boxing match from 1990 through present day and whose left hook was their key to victory when the stakes were at their highest.

With that, let’s begin with those who just missed the cut: David Tua, Jeff Lacy, and Andy Ruiz Jnr

And now onto the top 10…

10. Danny Garcia 

Record: 37-4 (21 KOs)

Garica is a unique fighter of the modern era. Garcia owes some of his success to a “no-look” left hook he landed against Amir Khan and Erik Morales. Garcia’s brilliance was a willingness to exchange, while not getting rattled. Garcia’s left hook was his most devastating blow, but his ability to plant his feet and look to land an impactful shot at junior welterweight made him the best in his era. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was effective. He returns to the ring on Saturday against Daniel Gonzalez. The bout will stream on Millions.Co. 

Best Example: Danny Garcia KO4 Amir Khan 

9. Marcos Maidana

Record: 35-5 (31 KOs)

Maidana disguised his left hook behind a jab and was willing to reach wildly at times, which led him to an upset win over unbeaten Adrian Broner. Maidana’s left hook became most effective when he began to work with Robert Garcia, as he refined his clubbing blow. Garcia refined Maidana's natural aggression with some craft to give him a late-career resurgence. Maidana even gave Floyd Mayweather a tough bout in their first contest. Maidana proves that you can be an elite fighter without following every traditional rule in textbook boxing. 

Best Example: Marcos Maidana UD12 Adrien Broner

8. Tommy Morrison

Record: 48-3-1 (42 KOs)

Morrison was a candle burning on both ends of the wick.  He was reckless and wild, with power in both hands. Morrison would maximize his leverage on his left hook and throw it with conviction, though he didn’t always stay defensively responsible when throwing it. Morrison’s punches at times looked exaggerated, looking as if he looked to get the most out of each blow, which caused him to tire in some fights. 

Best Example: Tommy Morrison KO6 Razor Ruddock

7. Ryan Garcia

Record: 24-2 (20 KOs)

Garcia saw social media and a left hook make him a superstar. The left hook was at least 70 percent of his magic. Garcia would land it early in fights with devastation. Fans like punchers, and Garcia’s ability to strike like a coiled snake with his reflexive lead left hook became an iconic punch of his era, a modern remix of the punch Nonito Donaire mastered. Garcia, with model looks and knockout power, grabbed people’s attention. Can he win a title?  Some have questioned a lack of versatility outside of his hook. The future will answer that shortly.

Best Example: Ryan Garcia KO7 Luke Campbell

6. Nonito Donaire 

Record: 43-8 (28 KOs)

Donaire has had two Hall of Fame careers, and his left hook played a major role. Donaire might have the greatest counter left hook in boxing, and applied the punch to the lower weight classes. Donaire has speed, power, and timing that allow him to time opponents coming in and use their momentum against them to land the crushing blow.

Best Example: Nonito Donaire KO5 Vic Darchinyan

5. Miguel Cotto

Record: 41-6 (33 KOs)

Cotto has one of the best left hooks to the body in recent memory, but he could also catch an opponent on the chin with the thunderous blow. Cotto threw at the body with malice and bad intentions and precision, leaving many opponents in pain after it landed. The junior welterweight version of Cotto exploited this punch, even after the damage sustained in the Antonio Margarito fight. Cotto moved up various weights, even dropping middleweights with his signature punch. 

Best Example: Miguel Cotto KO9 Yuri Foreman

4. Mike Tyson

Record: 50-7 (44 KOs)

Tyson was a unique, once-in-a-lifetime fighter. He had it all. Speed, power, footwork, and boxing IQ. That was best seen by his ability to land the left hook. He could slip a punch and counter with a devastating left hook within seconds. He would do what great fighters do: turn offense into defense and defense into offense. His left hook was a more prominent weapon during the 1980s, but its ferocity can be seen the following decade, most notably against Frank Bruno and Razor Ruddock. 

Best Example: Mike Tyson KO3 Frank Bruno

3. Oscar De La Hoya

Record: 39-6 (30 KOs)

De La Hoya’s left hook wasn’t flashy, but it was just as effective as any on the list, if not more so. De La Hoya would plant his feet and throw a textbook left hook, which always seemed to land before his opponents knew what was happening. The brilliance of De La Hoya’s hook came from one of the best jabs in boxing. Fighters would try to block his jab, allowing him to throw a curve punch to land. De La Hoya’s left hook is one to be studied and replicated. If they created a left hook in a laboratory, it would be De La Hoya’s. 

Best Example: Oscar De La Hoya SD12 Ike Quartey

2. Roy Jones Jnr

Record: 66-10 (47 KOs)

Jones’ leaping left hook inspired a generation of fighters to try it. Jones did the impossible and made it look effortless. He could throw a lead left hook like a jab and score a knockout with it. He could showboat and land it as well. Jones was unlike anything boxing had ever seen before as he landed punches, especially left hooks, that didn’t seem feasible. 

Best Example: Roy Jones KO1 Montell Griffin (rematch)

1. Felix Trinidad

Record: 42-3 (35 KOs)

Ranking any fighter as number one comes with some debate, but Trinidad’s iconic left hook was something out of this world. It was thrown like a jab, but would go around the gloves of his opponent, creating a whip-like effect when it landed. Trinidad, who was notorious for getting knocked down in fights, getting up, and landing the left hook. Trinidad could hurt you to the head and the body with that punch. Trinidad also had power in both hands, so avoiding the right hand made the left hook more of a threat. In the modern era, Trinidad’s left hook was something to see.

Best Example: Felix Trinidad KO12 Fernando Vargas