I'm going to put forward a short list:
Adonis Stevenson
Sergey Kovalev
Gennady Golovkin
Anthony Joshua
Roman Gonzalez
Naoya Inoue
There's poll too so vote and give reasons. Also, if you think of someone else, just post about them.
Atm it's likely between GGG & Kovalev not including any heavyweights. GGG probably edges Kovalev by a small margin.
We're talking finishers and not who's the best or most powerful puncher, so heavyweights can be included, although at heavy there's only AJ who can be seriously considered in this discussion at the highest level and even he hasn't beaten anyone of note.
If he stops Pulev or Stiverne, then he instantly jumps up higher imo.
In my opinion Stevenson has incredible punching power, at least as powerful as Beterbiev and Kovalev, but I don't think he's the best finisher here. I remember watching him against Bika, who has a great chin, but is a blown super middleweight and Adonis hurted him not only once but a couple of times, rocked him really good and I was very suprised how he didn't go for a knockout while having his opponent visibly hurt.
Edit: I think I'm going to vote for Golovkin.
I'd put Kov, GGG and then RG.
Stevenson is the best one punch KO artist in the sport right now and the Bika fight is a rarity, he has annihilated top light heavies, people tend to forget about Dawson, Cloud and Bellew.
I think in his weight class(es) yes he has beaten the better opposition over GGG and Kov. Has be beaten the bigger names? No, but thats the downside of flyweights not many are main stream but honestly a win over Estrada and Viloria in all reality is better than what GGG and Kovelev have done p4p wise. If he finishes Cuadras, I think thatd be an exclamation point to that but if Kov beats Ward than Id favor that win over anything Gonzlaez has done.
This really isn't a discussion about quality or perceived quality of resumes. Let's no waylay the point of this thread. We can discuss this in another thread if you so wish.
I'm going to put forward a short list:
Adonis Stevenson
Sergey Kovalev
Gennady Golovkin
Anthony Joshua
Roman Gonzalez
Naoya Inoue
There's poll too so vote and give reasons. Also, if you think of someone else, just post about them.
In my opinion Stevenson has incredible punching power, at least as powerful as Beterbiev and Kovalev, but I don't think he's the best finisher here. I remember watching him against Bika, who has a great chin, but is a blown super middleweight and Adonis hurted him not only once but a couple of times, rocked him really good and I was very suprised how he didn't go for a knockout while having his opponent visibly hurt.
Edit: I think I'm going to vote for Golovkin.
yeah he places punches very well, he has amazing eye hand coordination. If you notice he doesnt just throw just to thro like some fighters do, he finds openings and makes them pay.
i like how he always maintains balance...he also varies to speed and power of shots in his combos too
same reason I picked him...level of opposition and he stops guys in a variety of ways...combos, single shots, head then body or body then head
he may be the most skilled "puncher" in the game
yeah he places punches very well, he has amazing eye hand coordination. If you notice he doesnt just throw just to thro like some fighters do, he finds openings and makes them pay.
Gonzales is definitely the most fluid puncher and like you, I enjoy the way he can switch it up. Has he fought the best opposition when Kovalev has beaten 2 exceptional fighters...I dunno. But like I keep saying, Kov, GGG, RG in any order would be my top 3. And it seems most on here think the same.
I think in his weight class(es) yes he has beaten the better opposition over GGG and Kov. Has be beaten the bigger names? No, but thats the downside of flyweights not many are main stream but honestly a win over Estrada and Viloria in all reality is better than what GGG and Kovelev have done p4p wise. If he finishes Cuadras, I think thatd be an exclamation point to that but if Kov beats Ward than Id favor that win over anything Gonzlaez has done.
I voted Roman Gonzalez. Not a huge fan of his but I voted for him for 2 reasons, 1 out of everyone you listed, he has fought the best competition. 2 the way he works body head body head is text book finishing.
same reason I picked him...level of opposition and he stops guys in a variety of ways...combos, single shots, head then body or body then head
he may be the most skilled "puncher" in the game
I voted Roman Gonzalez. Not a huge fan of his but I voted for him for 2 reasons, 1 out of everyone you listed, he has fought the best competition. 2 the way he works body head body head is text book finishing.
Gonzales is definitely the most fluid puncher and like you, I enjoy the way he can switch it up. Has he fought the best opposition when Kovalev has beaten 2 exceptional fighters...I dunno. But like I keep saying, Kov, GGG, RG in any order would be my top 3. And it seems most on here think the same.
GGG has stopped the best middleweights of his time. They might not be great fighters but they are world level in his division and he has done away with them like a man beating on a boy.
Kovalev hasn't actually stopped a higher caliber of opponents apart from Pascal. But I personally would rate Kov higher because of the way he lands those last few punches. GGG likes to win but Kovalev likes to hurt.
Gonzales opposition is up for debate but I'm not getting into that. All 3 are the best finishers in the sport. If you can't recognise that about GGG then your as much a part of the problem as the GGG nuthuggers.
GGG is a good finisher but he has not stopped anyone worth much
Gonzalez may have stopped more titlist/champions than anyone in the sport today and several guys went on to win titles after they lost to him
Kovalev stoppages of Pascal(granite chinned) trumps anyone GGG has faced and stoppages of Cleverly, Campillo are on par with GGG's stoppages of Lemieux and Murray
Stevenson ktfo Dawson in one round, was the first to stop tavoris cloud, stopped bellew...all 3 in back to back fights
level of opposition was the deciding factor...cant minimize the importance of it.
GGG will be in the conversation one day....just not today
I'm going to put forward a short list:
Adonis Stevenson
Sergey Kovalev
Gennady Golovkin
Anthony Joshua
Roman Gonzalez
Naoya Inoue
There's poll too so vote and give reasons. Also, if you think of someone else, just post about them.
I voted Roman Gonzalez. Not a huge fan of his but I voted for him for 2 reasons, 1 out of everyone you listed, he has fought the best competition. 2 the way he works body head body head is text book finishing.
any idea why people are picking GGG when he hasnt stopped the level of opposition that Kovalev and Gonzalez have?
Inoue doesnt have many fights but he is a good finisher, Joshua is talented but he hasnt fought any top fighters yet.
I'd say the top 3 are Gonzalez, Kov and Stevenson....all 3 take top 3 honors because of power, finishing ability, and level of opposition stopped.
GGG has stopped the best middleweights of his time. They might not be great fighters but they are world level in his division and he has done away with them like a man beating on a boy.
Kovalev hasn't actually stopped a higher caliber of opponents apart from Pascal. But I personally would rate Kov higher because of the way he lands those last few punches. GGG likes to win but Kovalev likes to hurt.
Gonzales opposition is up for debate but I'm not getting into that. All 3 are the best finishers in the sport. If you can't recognise that about GGG then your as much a part of the problem as the GGG nuthuggers.
I'm going to put forward a short list:
Adonis Stevenson
Sergey Kovalev
Gennady Golovkin
Anthony Joshua
Roman Gonzalez
Naoya Inoue
There's poll too so vote and give reasons. Also, if you think of someone else, just post about them.
any idea why people are picking GGG when he hasnt stopped the level of opposition that Kovalev and Gonzalez have?
Inoue doesnt have many fights but he is a good finisher, Joshua is talented but he hasnt fought any top fighters yet.
I'd say the top 3 are Gonzalez, Kov and Stevenson....all 3 take top 3 honors because of power, finishing ability, and level of opposition stopped.
I'm going to put forward a short list:
Adonis Stevenson
Sergey Kovalev
Gennady Golovkin
Anthony Joshua
Roman Gonzalez
Naoya Inoue
There's poll too so vote and give reasons. Also, if you think of someone else, just post about them.
I chose Gonzalez....skills, power, speed and he probably has stopped more champions and championship level opposition than anyone today
Roman Gonzalez.....he is the best finisher. He throws seemless combos, is accurate, good speed, and doesnt smother his work
Also he has stopped the higher calibre of opposition.....112 and below mainstay Viloria, Akira Yaegashi, Yutaka Niida, Francisco Rodríguez, Jr, etc.
he may also have the most stoppages of champions/titlists of any active fighter today
chocolatito gets overlooked because of his size
Jonathan Guzman!
His Last Victim (Respect to Shingo Wake great effort from him but Guzman Power is REAL!):
http://www.asianboxing.info/uploads/7/1/4/4/7144872/610870709.jpg?202
Good shout. I wouldn't rank him above my short list but he is a good fighter just breaking into the world scene, with a serious instinct to hurt.
Jonathan Guzman!
His Last Victim (Respect to Shingo Wake great effort from him but Guzman Power is REAL!):
http://www.asianboxing.info/uploads/7/1/4/4/7144872/610870709.jpg?202
McCall was tough as a bull.. The guy has never been KO'ed before & was known for his toughness.. Lewis like Wlad did not have a great chin, He always played it like chess, but when he hurt his opponents he was always gone for the kill.. Thats what separates him from Wlad & I remember even Manny said the same about him in some interview.. Tyson was a good finisher in his short span of prime, but was shot to bits later, but still a tough guy to knock easily over..
I'm not questioning why Lewis couldn't stop McCall but even when Lewis could see McCall breaking down, he refused to throw punches. That's what I'm talking about. Manny literally screamed at him and eventually Lewis realised what his hands were for.
A good finisher doesn't need any encouragement to throw punches.
Agreed.
He's an excellent puncher. Never gets excited and smothers his work when he has them hurt.
That's why i still think he's a dangerous fighter. He has great power and if he hurts a fighter, i don't think they're getting let off the hook.
Haye is a solid puncher and solid finisher. I'd rate him highly at hw again if he'd beat a top guy. Thing is, as a finisher right now, is he better than any of the guys in the short list?