Boxing: Legendary big-hitters command respect

Mar 13 2008 icWales

THE sight of Enzo Maccarinelli reeling drunkenly across the O2 Arena ring in London after having his senses scrambled by the big right hand of David Haye evoked some of boxing’s most indelible memories.

Of the similarly senseless jigs of so many of Mike Tyson’s early victims; of George Foreman being toppled like a mighty oak in Zaire; of the jaw-breaking Julian Jackson uppercut which ended Herol Graham’s world title dreams.

For all of its enduring love affairs with the sweet-styling Sugar Rays and the fleet-footed, flash-fighting generations whom their successes inspired, there is nobody more beloved in the whole of boxing than the big one-punch knockout artist.

Through history, they have come in all shapes and sizes. From the tiny, sub-seven stone Jimmy Wilde, the Welsh flyweight who scored 99 knockouts in 134 fights and whose unique strength remained a mystery to doctors who studied him.

And the vicious Mexican bantamweight brigade led by Carlos Zarate, whose murderous punches accounted for 46 of his first 47 victims inside the distance, and all but eight of those in five rounds or less.

To the mighty heavyweight titans including two-time unsuccessful contender Earnie Shavers.

“Shavers’ punches numbed your bones,” said Larry Holmes.

Tex Cobb joked: “Earnie could punch you in the neck and break your ankle.”

Today’s big-punching stars strike terror into their divisions yet often bring questionable chins and stamina issues to the table, flaws which make their concussive potential all the more exciting.

Here we take a look at 10 of the hardest punching fighters in the sport today:

1 EDWIN VALERO

This lightning-fast Venezuelan super-featherweight polished off his first 18 opponents inside the opening round, and currently boasts not only a perfect 23-0 (23) record, but the WBA title to go with it.

Ordinarily such a talent, blessed with explosive power in either hand, would already be a modern-day sensation. But Valero is banned from fighting in the United States because of irregularities in a brain scan.

2 WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO

Forget Klitschko’s dismal, safety-first points success over Sultan Ibragimov to unify the titles earlier this month, the giant Ukrainian’s big right hand is more than a match for most top heavyweights.

Klitschko’s 50-3 record includes 44 stoppage wins and worthy opponents like Chris Byrd, Calvin Brock and Ray Austin – not to mention granite veteran Ray Mercer – have all failed to stay on their feet far beyond halfway.

3 DAVID HAYE

The secret is out. In the way he took just five minutes to demolish Maccarinelli at the weekend, Haye proved he easily has the power to move up a division and leave some of the best heavyweights in the world on the canvas.

Questions remain about stamina and punch resistance. But the fact remains that if Haye, now 21-1 (20), hits home first, there is probably no fighter on the planet who would manage to remain upright.

4 MANNY PACQUIAO

Filipino buzz-saw Pacquiao is known for the sheer quantity of his shots but it is the power he possesses in either hand which is the biggest factor behind his rise towards the top of the pound-for-pound list.

Pacquiao best underlined his strength by decking Juan Manuel Marquez three times in an extraordinary opening round of their 2004 fight. And two successive stoppages of Erik Morales underlined his concussive ability.

5 DANIEL PONCE DE LEON

Mexican warrior Ponce de Leon fights like a man possessed and his swinging right hooks have carried him to 30 early victories out of 34 explosive contests as a professional.

While his knockout power can be somewhat inconsistent, when he is on form Ponce de Leon is an unstoppable force – note his stunning 52-second knockout of unbeaten Filipino Gerry Penalosa in March last year.

6 KERMIT CINTRON

Slippery Cintron boasts a 29-1 (27) record and is desperate to use his knockout power to rise further than the IBF welterweight title he currently holds. Three big stoppage wins since claiming his world crown certainly augur swell.

7 VIC DARCHINYAN

Darchinyan was a super-flyweight phenomenon, clattering 22 of his 26 opponents before being sparked out himself by Nonito Donaire in one of last year’s biggest shocks. It remains to be seen quite how his first career loss will affect his future.

8 RAFAEL MARQUEZ

The all-action Marquez may be on a downer after two successive losses to his great rival Israel Vazquez. But few can argue with the Mexican’s explosive record of 33 stoppage wins, many against calibre opponents, from 37 pro wins.

9 KELLY PAVLIK

Successive seventh-round knockout wins over tough guys Edison Miranda and Jermain Taylor rocketed Pavlik to worldwide fame. The unassuming Ohio native was pushed the distance by Taylor in a rematch, ending a run of 10 straight stoppage wins.

10 RICARDO TORRES

The Colombian light-welterweight has 28 early wins from 32 along with a solitary stoppage loss to Miguel Cotto. Small wonder he remains one of the most avoided names in a division crowded with big-name stars.