"KO-proof" Fighters

[BigStereotype]

Here's one: Johnny Tapia. Excellent defense, ungodly chin, as KO Proof as they come. Some of the shots he took from Barrera would have put down welterweights and he, a career light bantamweight, ate them and didn't even flinch.

[Wild Blue Yonda]

The best examples featuring strictly current, active fighters would be James Toney, Bernard Hopkins & Floyd Mayweather. A few others, such as Shane Mosley & Evander Holyfield, are close, but since Mosley brawls just a little too much (& his best division, IMO, was LW --- where some of the fiercest competitors of all-time reside), Holyfield has actually been stopped before (albeit, never in his prime), I cannot include them.

Juan Manuel Marquez is another great fighter very tough to beat inside the distance who probably peaked as a FW, but I would pick at least one fighter through history (Sandy Saddler) to beat him inside the distance, so he's a no-go as well.

The only fair way to run this, IMO, is to say that Fighter X is KO-proof within their best weightclass specifically --- otherwise, you can push anyone high enough in weight to the point where they'd be KO'd (even the virtually KO-proof Pernell Whitaker, or a fighter with a huge resistance to weight-jumping challenges, such as Henry Armstrong or Manny Pacquiao). To do that, you have to then compare that fighter to the greats of his division.

Using that system, I can't see any Jr. Welter knocking out Oscar De La Hoya. I cant imagine Bernard Hopkins getting taken out at Middle, or anybody putting away the Lightweight Whitaker. Benny Leonard is another at LW who was just about unknockoutable. Willie Pep (pre-crash) is a decent shout at Feather. I would pick maybe Joe Louis to knock out Muhammad Ali, maybe, but it's tough to leave Ali off this list. Likewise for Julio Cesar Chavez --- I would possibly pick him to be stopped by Duran at Lightweight, but he's still as tough as they come. Holyfield could be included if you compared him to the great Cruisers. Maybe Joe Calzaghe at Super-Middle? A fight with a prime Roy Jones (who still had both a killer punch & killer instinct at 168) would sure test Calzaghe's mighty fine whiskers, though.

Edit: Gene Tunney (Light-Heavy) & Ray Robinson (Middle). Two more outstanding instances. I am tempted to list Carmen Basilio at Welter, but what to make of a fight between he & Hearns at 147? Would be touch-&-go.

[Bigdaddy_Vh]

Haglar, David Tua, Vitali Klitschko, Ali, lamotta

[Barn]

Jake the bronx bull lamotta. seriously nobody today could ko him.

This, just look at the shots he took from a P4P hardest puncher ever in Ray Robinson and didn't go down never mind knocked out.

[SBleeder]

In his prime, I can't see anyone knocking out Chuvalo.

[Prince Mongo]

I am surprised Hagler has not been mentioned more.

[winky's right]

good luck finding someone who could k.o. a prime winky @154, Lol.

[Barn]

good luck finding someone who could k.o. a prime winky @154, Lol.

Thomas Hearns possibly.

[The Surgeon]

NOBODY is KO proof.

Some people who were damn near it in my eyes tho would be LaMotta, Hagler, Tapia and Whittaker

[The Surgeon]

good luck finding someone who could k.o. a prime winky @154, Lol.

Winky was solid, still is and his defence was top notch but Julio Cesar Vasquez nearly knocked him out, he had him down plenty and really hurt in the 9th round