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The Ten Biggest Punchers in Boxing Today
The Ten Biggest Punchers in Boxing Today
By Mike “Rubber Warrior” Plunkett-October 2, 2009
I love big punchers. Sure, watching a gifted ring technician diffuse an aggressive foe tends to impress me more than some, but nothing causes me to change plans and take notice than the application of heavy-handed destruction and the threat of sparks. All too often fans tend to get caught-up with a certain handful of names given their explosive track record, but as I see it, there are a few lesser lauded fighters out there packing a howitzer, only pulling it out when the opportunity presents itself as opposed to swinging for the rafters after issuing weeks of threats.
I’ve compiled a list of ten of the most devastating punchers today, as I see them. Some specialize on lightning strikes while others work a foe into a trap that few can escape. Each paid the price to get to the point they are at long before we ever began to take notice, fueled by what-have-you and in search of highlight-reel delivery and glory. God bless them all.
Manny Pacquiao
The current consensus pound-for-pound king of boxing didn’t get to the pinnacle of the sport by rolling over a series of no-hopers or by winning his titles in the various divisions he’s campaign in by picking and choosing the most opportune and vulnerable opposition. He did it the old fashioned way; he powered his way through them – and not always carefully. Pacquiao seemed to zone-in sometime back around the period where he obliterated Lehlohonolo Ledwaba for the IBF Super Bantamweight title. Since then as he has moved-up in weight, the sheer volume of his delivery has ensured that his power has made the difference, and more often than not, a decisive victory has been the result. Incredibly, as he has continued to climb northward through lightweight, light welterweight and welterweight, that power seems to have increased. No doubt improvements in balance and punch placement have added to his success, but it his God-given ability to short-circuit a foe’s nervous system with a timely placement of two or three solid punches capped by his short, straight left hand that has seen him add to an ever-growing bank account and legacy. As I see it, Manny’s success is based on the volume of his power punches. Watch for it the next time he fights. He doesn’t just wing them and hope for the best. He turns the volume way up with each and every punch, and all of them are world-class dynamite.
David Haye
Say what we will about “The Hayemaker” as a heavyweight, he was devastating at his natural weight when he fought in the cruiserweight division. His highlight reel stoppages of Enzo Maccarinelli and Jean Marc Mormeck illustrated the explosive combustibility of his God-given power, and at the highest possible level. Going back further in his career, there was no shortage of mushroom clouds, and whether you question his ability to absorb punishment as a heavyweight or how well his power carries as he looks to chop down bigger men, the sense of danger that looms cannot be understated. Haye can crack.
Kelly Pavlik
After being white-washed by a veritable fistic Methuselah in Bernard Hopkins last year, the current WBC/WBO middleweight champion has endured more than his share of criticism and frustration. Sure, there are some rough edges that need to be worked on, and nobody will accuse Pavlik of having the defensive prowess of Pernell Whitaker, but the gangly Ohio native has the one attribute most all professional prizefighters wish for; pure, thudding punching power in either hand.
Juan Urango
Strange as it may seem, Colombia produces more than its fair share of natural punchers. It has gotten to the point that when I hear or read of a heavy-handed Latino tearing-up his opposition, I look to see if he is from Colombia, and more often than not over the last few years, that seems to be the case. Urango won the vacant IBF Light Welterweight title earlier this year by easily outpointing the dependable Herman Ngoudjo over twelve, and the last time I looked a unanimous decision win isn’t a knockout – but something the “Iron Twin” did over the course of that contest made his opponent uncharacteristically tentative, and it wasn’t his footwork. In his most recent bout, Urango pasted fellow gunslinger Randall Bailey, posting an emphatic 11th- round knockout in defense of his title, hammering his dangerous foes the way a blacksmith would labor with hot iron. There was no explosion and it didn’t resemble exacting surgery, but it certainly put an exclamation mark on the effort and as his place among his heavy-handed countryman. The next time Urango steps into the ring to go about business, don’t expect athletic wizardry or poetry in motion – and be sure to keep your seat during all of the activity for however long it lasts.
Mikkel Kessler
A few years back before Joe Calzaghe out-finessed the current WBA Super Middleweight champion in a terrific unification contest for all of the marbles, Kessler was regarded as the most dangerous and threatening opponent for the undefeated Welshman on the strength of his refined boxing skills and fight-ending straight right hand. As evidenced by his single-shot destruction of Markus Beyer three years ago, somebody in the way of his accurate and thudding left jab runs the risk of becoming prey to his well-timed right hand. When that practiced one-two is timed just right, a trip to the showers in short order usually ensues. Recently, “The Viking Warrior” again proved his world class punching precision and power, dispatching mandatory challenger Gusmyr Perdomo with a 4th- round TKO. In November Kessler is scheduled to face the undefeated Andre Ward, a gifted southpaw stylist in the kick-off round of the Super Six Tournament in what will be his most crucial and significant challenge, post-Calzaghe.
Wladimir Klitschko
It’s in vogue to dismiss Dr. Steelhammer as “fragile” or “robotic”. Sure, he isn’t the second coming of Cassius Clay, nor does he lend a sense of forged in the fire, industrial-strength grit when he stands his ground, but consider his formidable offensive attributes, good enough to compile a record of forty-seven knockouts to date, several of which have been highlight reel-worthy stoppages of heavyweight co-titlists or top-flight contenders. Behind a busy and accurate left jab resides one of the heaviest and damaging right hands in the heavyweight division. Correctly thrown, it has the potential to discombobulate anybody today. If that isn’t enough, the current IBF/IBO/WBO Heavyweight Champion is especially adept at turning that left jab over into an underrated hook, a punch he has used more than once to alter the ebb and flow of the action or to end matters in his favor. Watch him the next time he gets into the ring, as bad as so many in North America try to make him out to be, there’s a reason why nobody has touched him in years.
Vic Darchinyan
If you have seen the “Raging Bull” in action, you know he is a heavy handed puncher and an intense seek and destroy-type fighter bent on stopping his opposition. He possesses power in both hands, and for better or for worse, Vic cranks them up, full power with every shot. He has demonstrated fight-ending power at the highest levels, flattening Irene Pacheco, Luis Maldonado, Victor Burgos and Dimitri Kirillov. In his most recent display of shock and awe, he supplemented his IBF Super Flyweight championship with the WBA and WBC titles when he drilled the talented and long-reigning Cristian Mijares via 9th- round knockout. At his proper weight, Darchinyan has the goods to paste anybody.
Edwin Valero
With a current record of 25-0, 25 KO’s, can there really be any question regarding the world-class level of power behind the fists of this sometimes mysterious Venezuelan southpaw? Sure, many questions remain given the quality of his opposition to date, but he does what one is supposed to do with B and C-caliber foes – he blows them out of the water. A recent move up to lightweight netted him the vacant WBC title. Having drilled his well-traveled, albeit aging foe into the canvas three times in a little over a round, is it any wonder why hardcore fans want to see him engage in a shootout with a talented and stubborn foe used to having his own way as opposed to the fear stricken? Expect “El Inca” not to disappoint when that moment finally arrives. Until then, have your drink ready and in-hand when Valero answers the bell. Anything less and you run the risk missing his destructive work.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
By Mike “Rubber Warrior” Plunkett-October 2, 2009
I love big punchers. Sure, watching a gifted ring technician diffuse an aggressive foe tends to impress me more than some, but nothing causes me to change plans and take notice than the application of heavy-handed destruction and the threat of sparks. All too often fans tend to get caught-up with a certain handful of names given their explosive track record, but as I see it, there are a few lesser lauded fighters out there packing a howitzer, only pulling it out when the opportunity presents itself as opposed to swinging for the rafters after issuing weeks of threats.
I’ve compiled a list of ten of the most devastating punchers today, as I see them. Some specialize on lightning strikes while others work a foe into a trap that few can escape. Each paid the price to get to the point they are at long before we ever began to take notice, fueled by what-have-you and in search of highlight-reel delivery and glory. God bless them all.
Manny Pacquiao
The current consensus pound-for-pound king of boxing didn’t get to the pinnacle of the sport by rolling over a series of no-hopers or by winning his titles in the various divisions he’s campaign in by picking and choosing the most opportune and vulnerable opposition. He did it the old fashioned way; he powered his way through them – and not always carefully. Pacquiao seemed to zone-in sometime back around the period where he obliterated Lehlohonolo Ledwaba for the IBF Super Bantamweight title. Since then as he has moved-up in weight, the sheer volume of his delivery has ensured that his power has made the difference, and more often than not, a decisive victory has been the result. Incredibly, as he has continued to climb northward through lightweight, light welterweight and welterweight, that power seems to have increased. No doubt improvements in balance and punch placement have added to his success, but it his God-given ability to short-circuit a foe’s nervous system with a timely placement of two or three solid punches capped by his short, straight left hand that has seen him add to an ever-growing bank account and legacy. As I see it, Manny’s success is based on the volume of his power punches. Watch for it the next time he fights. He doesn’t just wing them and hope for the best. He turns the volume way up with each and every punch, and all of them are world-class dynamite.
David Haye
Say what we will about “The Hayemaker” as a heavyweight, he was devastating at his natural weight when he fought in the cruiserweight division. His highlight reel stoppages of Enzo Maccarinelli and Jean Marc Mormeck illustrated the explosive combustibility of his God-given power, and at the highest possible level. Going back further in his career, there was no shortage of mushroom clouds, and whether you question his ability to absorb punishment as a heavyweight or how well his power carries as he looks to chop down bigger men, the sense of danger that looms cannot be understated. Haye can crack.
Kelly Pavlik
After being white-washed by a veritable fistic Methuselah in Bernard Hopkins last year, the current WBC/WBO middleweight champion has endured more than his share of criticism and frustration. Sure, there are some rough edges that need to be worked on, and nobody will accuse Pavlik of having the defensive prowess of Pernell Whitaker, but the gangly Ohio native has the one attribute most all professional prizefighters wish for; pure, thudding punching power in either hand.
Juan Urango
Strange as it may seem, Colombia produces more than its fair share of natural punchers. It has gotten to the point that when I hear or read of a heavy-handed Latino tearing-up his opposition, I look to see if he is from Colombia, and more often than not over the last few years, that seems to be the case. Urango won the vacant IBF Light Welterweight title earlier this year by easily outpointing the dependable Herman Ngoudjo over twelve, and the last time I looked a unanimous decision win isn’t a knockout – but something the “Iron Twin” did over the course of that contest made his opponent uncharacteristically tentative, and it wasn’t his footwork. In his most recent bout, Urango pasted fellow gunslinger Randall Bailey, posting an emphatic 11th- round knockout in defense of his title, hammering his dangerous foes the way a blacksmith would labor with hot iron. There was no explosion and it didn’t resemble exacting surgery, but it certainly put an exclamation mark on the effort and as his place among his heavy-handed countryman. The next time Urango steps into the ring to go about business, don’t expect athletic wizardry or poetry in motion – and be sure to keep your seat during all of the activity for however long it lasts.
Mikkel Kessler
A few years back before Joe Calzaghe out-finessed the current WBA Super Middleweight champion in a terrific unification contest for all of the marbles, Kessler was regarded as the most dangerous and threatening opponent for the undefeated Welshman on the strength of his refined boxing skills and fight-ending straight right hand. As evidenced by his single-shot destruction of Markus Beyer three years ago, somebody in the way of his accurate and thudding left jab runs the risk of becoming prey to his well-timed right hand. When that practiced one-two is timed just right, a trip to the showers in short order usually ensues. Recently, “The Viking Warrior” again proved his world class punching precision and power, dispatching mandatory challenger Gusmyr Perdomo with a 4th- round TKO. In November Kessler is scheduled to face the undefeated Andre Ward, a gifted southpaw stylist in the kick-off round of the Super Six Tournament in what will be his most crucial and significant challenge, post-Calzaghe.
Wladimir Klitschko
It’s in vogue to dismiss Dr. Steelhammer as “fragile” or “robotic”. Sure, he isn’t the second coming of Cassius Clay, nor does he lend a sense of forged in the fire, industrial-strength grit when he stands his ground, but consider his formidable offensive attributes, good enough to compile a record of forty-seven knockouts to date, several of which have been highlight reel-worthy stoppages of heavyweight co-titlists or top-flight contenders. Behind a busy and accurate left jab resides one of the heaviest and damaging right hands in the heavyweight division. Correctly thrown, it has the potential to discombobulate anybody today. If that isn’t enough, the current IBF/IBO/WBO Heavyweight Champion is especially adept at turning that left jab over into an underrated hook, a punch he has used more than once to alter the ebb and flow of the action or to end matters in his favor. Watch him the next time he gets into the ring, as bad as so many in North America try to make him out to be, there’s a reason why nobody has touched him in years.
Vic Darchinyan
If you have seen the “Raging Bull” in action, you know he is a heavy handed puncher and an intense seek and destroy-type fighter bent on stopping his opposition. He possesses power in both hands, and for better or for worse, Vic cranks them up, full power with every shot. He has demonstrated fight-ending power at the highest levels, flattening Irene Pacheco, Luis Maldonado, Victor Burgos and Dimitri Kirillov. In his most recent display of shock and awe, he supplemented his IBF Super Flyweight championship with the WBA and WBC titles when he drilled the talented and long-reigning Cristian Mijares via 9th- round knockout. At his proper weight, Darchinyan has the goods to paste anybody.
Edwin Valero
With a current record of 25-0, 25 KO’s, can there really be any question regarding the world-class level of power behind the fists of this sometimes mysterious Venezuelan southpaw? Sure, many questions remain given the quality of his opposition to date, but he does what one is supposed to do with B and C-caliber foes – he blows them out of the water. A recent move up to lightweight netted him the vacant WBC title. Having drilled his well-traveled, albeit aging foe into the canvas three times in a little over a round, is it any wonder why hardcore fans want to see him engage in a shootout with a talented and stubborn foe used to having his own way as opposed to the fear stricken? Expect “El Inca” not to disappoint when that moment finally arrives. Until then, have your drink ready and in-hand when Valero answers the bell. Anything less and you run the risk missing his destructive work.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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