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ESPN Classic has come up with its top 20 knockouts ever. But which is the greatest of all-time? We'll count them down on Wednesday, September 20 at 10 p.m. ET. But first, we want your input, SportsNation!
Which FIVE knockouts below are the greatest of all-time? (Vote for FIVE)
Jack Johnson-Stanley Ketchel (1909) -- In the 12th round, there was a 30-second flurry that decided a fight that was too close to call otherwise. Johnson dropped Ketchel and also went down himself, but got up and hung onto the ropes as Ketchel was counted out.
Jack Dempsey-Luis Firpo (1923) -- There were 11 knockdowns in this two-round extravaganza, including Firpo hitting the canvas seven times in the first round. However, Firpo bounced back to knock Dempsey through the ropes late in the first round. Dempsey got up at the count of nine, used the rest between rounds and eventually knocked out Firpo in the second.
Joe Louis-Max Schmeling II (1938) -- In what was Ring Magazine's ''Fight of the Decade'', Louis knocked down Schmeling three times in two minutes in the first round, and referee Art Donovan called it quits.
Joe Louis-Billy Conn (1941) -- Louis trailed on two of three cards (he was tied on the other), but two rights to the jaw of Conn ended the fight.
Tony Zale-Rocky Graziano III (1948) -- After splitting their first two head-to-head title bouts, Zale floored Graziano twice before getting the KO in the third round.
Jersey Joe Walcott-Ezzard Charles III (1951) -- Walcott was dominant in defense of his title and finished the fight in the seventh round.
Rocky Marciano-Jersey Joe Walcott I (1952) -- Marciano was knocked down for the first time in his career in Round 1 and was behind on the scorecards entering the 13th round when a right hand to the jaw KO'd Walcott.
Carmen Basilio-Tony DeMarco II (1955) -- Basilio rallied, despite trailing on all three cards and knocked down DeMarco twice in Round 12 to win by TKO.
Sugar Ray Robinson-Gene Fullmer II (1957) -- After Fullmer did as he pleased in rounds one through four, Robinson ended it with a left hook, exacting revenge from losing his belt to Fullmer four months earlier.
Floyd Patterson-Ingemar Johansson II (1960) -- Patterson became the first person to regain the World Heavyweight Title when he knocked Johansson down twice in the fifth round, the second of which ended the fight.
Muhammad Ali-Cleveland Williams (1966) -- Ali was younger and quicker, and it showed. He knocked Williams down three times in the second round and once in the third before it was waved off.
Bob Foster-**** Tiger (1968) -- Foster's trademark bomb floored Tiger in the fourth round, and he took Tiger's Light Heavyweight belt in the process.
George Foreman-Joe Frazier (1973) -- Foreman knocked Frazier down three times each in the first and second rounds to win by TKO.
Muhammad Ali-George Foreman (1974) -- In ''The Rumble in the Jungle'', Ali employed the ''Rope-A-Dope'' and knocked out Foreman in the eighth round.
Thomas Hearns-Pipino Cuevas (1980) -- The Hit Man needed less than two rounds to take the WBA Welterweight Title from Cuevas in Hearns' hometown of Detroit.
Marvin Hagler-Thomas Hearns (1985) -- Short, but exciting fight, featuring non-stop action. Hearns broke his hand and Hagler had a gash on his forehead. After both were checked out, Hagler came out and used a flurry to win by TKO in the third.
Buster Douglas-Mike Tyson (1990) -- Douglas, a 42-to-1 underdog, was knocked down late in the eighth round, but got up at the count of nine. Douglas then proceeded to KO the thought-to-be-invincible Tyson with a combination in the 10th round.
Ray Mercer-Tommy Morrison (1991) -- Morrison looked great early, but it all came to a halt when the ''Merciless One'' stopped Morrison 28 seconds into the fifth round.
George Foreman-Michael Moorer (1994) -- At age 45 and trailing on all three scorecards, Foreman looked like he was finished. But he rallied to become the oldest to win the heavyweight title with a 10th-round knockout.
Diego Corrales-Jose Luis Castillo I (2005) -- In what is considered a classic fight, Corrales was knocked down twice in the 10th round, only to rally for a TKO later in the round.
Which FIVE knockouts below are the greatest of all-time? (Vote for FIVE)
Jack Johnson-Stanley Ketchel (1909) -- In the 12th round, there was a 30-second flurry that decided a fight that was too close to call otherwise. Johnson dropped Ketchel and also went down himself, but got up and hung onto the ropes as Ketchel was counted out.
Jack Dempsey-Luis Firpo (1923) -- There were 11 knockdowns in this two-round extravaganza, including Firpo hitting the canvas seven times in the first round. However, Firpo bounced back to knock Dempsey through the ropes late in the first round. Dempsey got up at the count of nine, used the rest between rounds and eventually knocked out Firpo in the second.
Joe Louis-Max Schmeling II (1938) -- In what was Ring Magazine's ''Fight of the Decade'', Louis knocked down Schmeling three times in two minutes in the first round, and referee Art Donovan called it quits.
Joe Louis-Billy Conn (1941) -- Louis trailed on two of three cards (he was tied on the other), but two rights to the jaw of Conn ended the fight.
Tony Zale-Rocky Graziano III (1948) -- After splitting their first two head-to-head title bouts, Zale floored Graziano twice before getting the KO in the third round.
Jersey Joe Walcott-Ezzard Charles III (1951) -- Walcott was dominant in defense of his title and finished the fight in the seventh round.
Rocky Marciano-Jersey Joe Walcott I (1952) -- Marciano was knocked down for the first time in his career in Round 1 and was behind on the scorecards entering the 13th round when a right hand to the jaw KO'd Walcott.
Carmen Basilio-Tony DeMarco II (1955) -- Basilio rallied, despite trailing on all three cards and knocked down DeMarco twice in Round 12 to win by TKO.
Sugar Ray Robinson-Gene Fullmer II (1957) -- After Fullmer did as he pleased in rounds one through four, Robinson ended it with a left hook, exacting revenge from losing his belt to Fullmer four months earlier.
Floyd Patterson-Ingemar Johansson II (1960) -- Patterson became the first person to regain the World Heavyweight Title when he knocked Johansson down twice in the fifth round, the second of which ended the fight.
Muhammad Ali-Cleveland Williams (1966) -- Ali was younger and quicker, and it showed. He knocked Williams down three times in the second round and once in the third before it was waved off.
Bob Foster-**** Tiger (1968) -- Foster's trademark bomb floored Tiger in the fourth round, and he took Tiger's Light Heavyweight belt in the process.
George Foreman-Joe Frazier (1973) -- Foreman knocked Frazier down three times each in the first and second rounds to win by TKO.
Muhammad Ali-George Foreman (1974) -- In ''The Rumble in the Jungle'', Ali employed the ''Rope-A-Dope'' and knocked out Foreman in the eighth round.
Thomas Hearns-Pipino Cuevas (1980) -- The Hit Man needed less than two rounds to take the WBA Welterweight Title from Cuevas in Hearns' hometown of Detroit.
Marvin Hagler-Thomas Hearns (1985) -- Short, but exciting fight, featuring non-stop action. Hearns broke his hand and Hagler had a gash on his forehead. After both were checked out, Hagler came out and used a flurry to win by TKO in the third.
Buster Douglas-Mike Tyson (1990) -- Douglas, a 42-to-1 underdog, was knocked down late in the eighth round, but got up at the count of nine. Douglas then proceeded to KO the thought-to-be-invincible Tyson with a combination in the 10th round.
Ray Mercer-Tommy Morrison (1991) -- Morrison looked great early, but it all came to a halt when the ''Merciless One'' stopped Morrison 28 seconds into the fifth round.
George Foreman-Michael Moorer (1994) -- At age 45 and trailing on all three scorecards, Foreman looked like he was finished. But he rallied to become the oldest to win the heavyweight title with a 10th-round knockout.
Diego Corrales-Jose Luis Castillo I (2005) -- In what is considered a classic fight, Corrales was knocked down twice in the 10th round, only to rally for a TKO later in the round.
So I'll vote for the much later fights.
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