30 Best Knockout Punches in Boxing History
/granite-web-prod/7b/17/7b17bfeba0ff4499aa9cc2442438b0a6.jpeg)
A knockout is unique in all of sport. The walk-off home run in baseball, the halfcourt heave in basketball, football’s “Hail Mary” touchdown, all good. But nothing is as sudden, or as certain, as a haymaker.
It’s not just a flailing fist striking an unfortunate chin. The knockout is strength, skill, athleticism, bravery and timing — conspiring as concussive biomechanics. Today, with medical documentation on the damage that comes with repeated blows to the head, knockouts (KOs) are viewed through a different lens. We acknowledge the inherent cruelty of “the fight game.” Yet we can still recognize the beauty in what was poetically christened “the sweet science.”
All great KOs possess a signature quality. Some, like the “Suzie Q,” are denoted by the punch’s name. Others, such as the “Rumble in the Jungle,” come from the fight’s promoter. Many reflect the career arcs — some heroic, others tragic — of the combatants. This collection of the 30 best knockout punches in history represents boxing at its best. Tape up your hands, lace on the gloves, and in the words of famed referee Mills Lane, “Let’s get it on!”
30. The Fight: Fury - Wilder III
/granite-web-prod/e7/7c/e77c0d87472a4ec7aa20f0474a47a4b9.jpeg)
The fighters: Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder
Date: Oct. 9, 2021
Location: T-Mobile Arena – Las Vegas, Nevada
What was at stake: World Heavyweight Championship
How it ended: Fury wins by KO at 1:10 in Round 11 of 12
Quote: “Shots like that, they end careers.” — Fury
The knockout blow: Short right hook
Bottom Line: Fury vs. Wilder III
/granite-web-prod/ab/47/ab47bd4f45994ae28e08c2442fdf4f17.jpeg)
Three fights filled with pugilistic drama will ultimately be remembered for one final punch by the 6-foot-9, 278-pound British behemoth. Tyson Fury (31-0-1, 22 KOs) was sent to the canvas by Deontay Wilder two times in the fourth round but rallied with a furious final three rounds, connecting with 52 punches over that span.
He leveled the American in Round 10 (he’d also put him down in Round 3) but couldn’t finish the job. The lights-out moment arrived a round later, courtesy of a sharp right hook from short range that connected with GPS-like precision. Pinned in the corner as it landed, all Wilder could do is reach futilely for the top ring rope as he fell. The blow left Wilder face down, eyes glassy. According to members of Wilder’s camp, the “Bronze Bomber” didn’t fully regain his equilibrium until 48 hours after his punishing defeat.
29. The Fight: Alvarez - Kovalev
/granite-web-prod/a1/4b/a14b644b500047a694402b2541e7fea2.jpeg)
The fighters: Canelo Alvarez and Sergey Kovalev
Date: Nov. 2, 2019
Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena – Las Vegas, Nevada
What was at stake: World Light Heavyweight Championship
How it ended: Alvarez wins by KO at 2:15 in Round 11 of 12
Quote: “We knew it was going to take some time for me to get him.” — Alvarez
The knockout blow: Left hook-right cross combo
Bottom line: Alvarez vs. Kovalev
/granite-web-prod/a0/02/a00297539dcb4d38acbc2b204a8a2c4e.jpeg)
Canelo Alvarez moved up a challenging two weight classes to battle the Russian for his World Light Heavyweight belt. The Mexican’s crushing power did not desert him at 175 pounds. Despite holding his own for much of the contest, Sergey Kovalev was stopped for just the third time in his career.
Alvarez had been stalking him, hooking to the body to take the starch out of the bigger man’s jab. He found the range in the 11th round with a clinical 1-2 combo. Alvarez set up the finish with a chopping right to the top of Kovalev’s head that gave the champion pause. He moved in and drove home a left hook that sent the Russian staggering sideways. The right hand that followed could have leveled a building, much less a fighter. It ended with Kovalev on his knees, arms draped over the middle ring rope.
28. The Fight: Martinez - Williams II
/granite-web-prod/ff/69/ff694691965648acbfcc74b75846cfd6.jpeg)
The fighters: Sergio Martinez and Paul Williams
Date: Nov. 20, 2010
Location: Boardwalk Hall – Atlantic City, New Jersey
What was at stake: World Middleweight Championship
How it ended: Martinez wins by KO at 1:10 in Round 2 of 12
Quote: “I got caught with a punch.” — Williams
The knockout blow: Left hook
Bottom Line: Martinez vs. Williams II
/granite-web-prod/01/da/01da081b013a4cf7ab34f3c7b1bb7b38.jpeg)
Sergio Martinez and Paul Williams put in barely 4 minutes of work in their second clash. It was enough to be qualified as a classic, and one punch deserves most of the credit for that status. Martinez landed a devastating left hook early in the second round, knocking out one of boxing's most feared punchers and earning a measure of revenge after a loss in their first meeting.
Williams’ undoing began with a meaningless left jab, thrown without conviction. Martinez slipped it easily and stepped to the right, squaring up his shoulders and preparing his fearsome counter. Williams then tried a left hook, but the 35-year-old Argentine, firmly anchored and ready, simultaneously unleashed his own left hand. Its effect was instantaneous. Williams collapsed. He was out cold, rendered unconscious with a classic one-punch KO. The fight was waved off at the count of 7 and Williams stayed down for nearly a minute.
27. The Fight: Duran - Moore
/granite-web-prod/05/0b/050b861b9d554b2d86e78e3be8deef3a.jpeg)
The fighters: Roberto Duran and Davey Moore
Date: June 16, 1983
Location: Madison Square Garden – New York, New York
What was at stake: World Super Welterweight Championship
How it ended: Duran wins by TKO at 2:02 in Round 8 of 15
Quote: “Finish him off. Now.” — Nestor Quinones, Duran’s trainer
The knockout blow: Straight right
Bottom Line: Duran vs. Moore
/granite-web-prod/4b/86/4b868427157b44aaab16f169f33e1b97.jpeg)
A 32-year-old Roberto Duran facing the 23-year-old Davey Moore seemed like a mismatch. But on his birthday, Duran turned back the clock with a vintage performance. He punished Moore with his famed “Manos de Piedra,” bullying him around the ring and hitting him from all angles with the “Hands of Stone.”
A New York crowd primed to cheer for an American fighter instead embraced the Panamanian, chanting his name as he took control. Moore’s mother and girlfriend fainted in their ringside seats during the assault, which reached its zenith when Duran dropped Moore with a beautifully timed right hand in Round 7, sending the champion to the seat of his pants. A round later it was over, courtesy of a straight right that left a puffy and disfigured Moore dazed, prompting his cornermen to mercifully throw in the towel. Duran’s upset victory was a measure of redemption after the shameful “No Mas” defeat to Sugar Ray Leonard.
26. The Fight: Nunn - Kalambay
/granite-web-prod/c9/da/c9dad60b90b64075be8b31a0b5c2ae0e.png)
The fighters: Michael Nunn and Sumbu Kalambay
Date: March 25, 1989
Location: Las Vegas Hilton – Las Vegas, Nevada
What was at stake: World Middleweight Championship
How it ended: Nunn wins by KO at 1:28 in Round 1 of 12
Quote: “Nunn is young and very fast.” — Kalambay
The knockout blow: Left hook
Bottom Line: Nunn vs. Kalambay
/granite-web-prod/07/09/0709fec4b53f45c2a763e9ec82f0f3c7.png)
The fight marked the only time that Sumbu Kalambay was knocked out in 64 professional contests. A master ring technician, he came into the matchup with wins over Herol Graham, Iran Barkley and Mike McCallum on his ledger. The former copper mine electrician in his native Zaire had 26 knockouts in his 46 wins. Michael Nunn, 25, was a gifted athlete blessed with great speed and a marketable swagger. He wasn’t necessarily known for his power — until this night.
With a little more than a minute elapsed, the 32-year-old Kalambay released a left jab; Nunn easily deflected it with his right hand and pounced. He answered with a pulverizing left hook to the jaw, which dropped Kalambay like a stone. Kalambay attempted to rise, but referee Richard Steele had to hold him up and help him to his corner. The electrifying KO — the 23rd of Nunn’s career — was honored as Ring magazine’s Knockout of the Year.
25. The Fight: Tarver - Jones Jr. II
/granite-web-prod/7e/e6/7ee627580c4e482785460fb66afa4c59.png)
The fighters: Antonio Tarver and Roy Jones Jr.
Date: May 15, 2004
Location: Mandalay Bay Resort – Las Vegas, Nevada
What was at stake: World Light Heavyweight Championship
How it ended: Tarver wins by TKO at 1:41 in Round 2 of 12
Quote: “I never gave up on my dream, so here we are.” — Tarver
The knockout blow: Overhand left counter
Bottom Line: Tarver vs. Jones Jr.
/granite-web-prod/67/47/67478a9a679c41c59e1571204299296f.png)
There are few, if any, better examples of the proverbial “puncher’s chance” than Antonio Tarver’s inconceivable victory over Roy Jones Jr. In addition to being the champion, Jones was the best pound-for-pound fighter of his era. He’d been beaten just once in 50 previous fights — and that was on a disqualification. He’d already beaten Tarver, via 12-round majority decision six months previously.
None of that accounted for Tarver’s beautiful overhand left to the kisser, which landed a microsecond before a left from Jones found its intended mark. In form and execution, it was a perfect counterpunch. When Jones launched his right and crouched slightly on the follow-through, Tarver pulled the trigger. He knocked Jones under the ropes, and though the game champion managed to beat the 10-count, he stumbled across the ring, and referee Jay Nady wisely waved it to a close.
24. Shavers - Ellis
/granite-web-prod/a7/79/a779b0485ada4f3f93b22cb2efebeea7.png)
The fighters: Earnie Shavers and Jimmy Ellis
Date: June 18, 1973
Location: Madison Square Garden – New York, New York
What was at stake: Pride
How it ended: Shavers wins by KO at 2:39 in Round 1 of 10
Quote: “Only God hits harder than me.” — Shavers
The knockout blow: Right uppercut
Bottom Line: Shavers vs. Ellis
/granite-web-prod/a5/c9/a5c9f16abd894a6db756093a4798b571.png)
Regarded as one of the hardest punchers in boxing history, and not-so-subtly promoted as the “Puncher of the Century,” soft-spoken Earnie Shavers struck fear into fighters. He scored 68 victories by knockout in his career. As he rose through the heavyweight ranks, he had a string of 27 consecutive KOs, of which 20 were in the first round. Jimmy Ellis, a talented fighter who’d been in the ring with some of the best, was favored to win. His only two losses as a heavyweight were to Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
But Ellis got careless and paid for it. He threw a left that missed, and his momentum carried him forward, right into Shavers’ kitchen. Shavers unloaded a shotgun blast of a right uppercut that drove Ellis backwards. Ellis landed on his back, struggled to get to a sitting position, and was counted out before clumsily getting to his feet.
23. The Fight: Gatti - Gamache
/granite-web-prod/f8/e1/f8e18a275e2540fdaf31036b1f87d12d.png)
The fighters: Arturo Gatti and Joey Gamache
Date: Feb. 26, 2000
Location: Madison Square Garden – New York, New York
What was at stake: Pride
How it ended: Gatti wins by KO at 0:41 in Round 2 of 10
Quote: “No brawler in boxing is more crowd-pleasing than Arturo Gatti.” — Thomas Hauser, author
The knockout blow: Right hook
Bottom Line: Gatti vs. Gamache
/granite-web-prod/5f/2b/5f2b486db6cd44f4bc42548f5b34e512.jpeg)
Arturo “Thunder” Gatti was known for his formidable punching power. That quality was on display in a destruction of Joey Gamache. Although both fighters made the 141-pound catch-weight a day before, Gatti was at 160 on fight night. Gamache was 145. Was this an unfair matchup? The aftermath suggests it was.
Gamache, a former world champion, came in with 55 wins in 58 fights. He’d registered 30 KOs and was on a 10-fight win streak. But the violent finish landed him in the hospital for a week and ultimately ended his career. Attempting to go toe-to-toe, Gamache went down twice in the first. He hung on to finish the round, but was dazed, going to the wrong corner when the bell rang. The end came in savage fashion in Round 2, a three-punch combo capped by a thudding right hook to the side of Gamache’s head. His eyes were closed before the crash-landing was complete.
22. The Fight: Tyson - Berbick
/granite-web-prod/77/14/771457d7f7dd428989705ffb4bcd88b4.png)
The fighters: Mike Tyson and Trevor Berbick
Date: Nov. 26, 1986
Location: Las Vegas Hilton Outdoor Arena – Las Vegas, Nevada
What was at stake: World Heavyweight Championship
How it ended: Tyson wins by TKO at 2:35 in Round 2 of 12
Quote: “I made a silly mistake. I tried to prove my manhood with him.” — Berbick
The knockout blow: Left hook
Bottom Line: Tyson vs. Berbick
/granite-web-prod/6d/34/6d3421ab0a734f99a023ac59d18e2206.png)
“Iron Mike” Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion at age 20 with demolition of the Jamaican on “Judgement Day.” Trevor Berbick, making his first title defense after a unanimous decision over Pinklon Thomas, was no match for Tyson, who’d spent 1986 piling up a stunning 12 wins. Tyson knocked the 32-year-old down twice in the second round, the end coming late, courtesy of a cracking left hook to the temple.
The blow produced a bizarre delayed reaction. Berbick didn’t immediately crumple after impact. He seemed to pause in a suspended state before performing a scary sequence initiated by a slow fall. Attempting to continue the fight, Berbick momentarily regained his feet but careened backward and fell into the ropes. He untangled himself and rose again, this time vaulting forward with no balance, landing in the center of the ring. He struggled to his feet, barely staying upright, and the proceedings were halted by referee Mills Lane. One punch. Three knockdowns. As eerie a finish to a fight as you’ll ever see.
21. The Fight: McCallum - Curry
/granite-web-prod/c5/86/c586caeaae5e4e27ae38cca7ea014e1d.png)
The fighters: Mike McCallum and Donald Curry
Date: July 18, 1987
Location: Caesars Palace Sports Pavilion – Las Vegas, Nevada
What was at stake: World Super Welterweight Championship
How it ended: McCallum wins by KO at 1:14 in Round 5 of 15
Quote: “I set him up beautifully.” — McCallum
The knockout blow: Left hook
Bottom Line: McCallum vs. Curry
/granite-web-prod/c5/ab/c5ab1fcbaedc46eba1da9feb01f35586.png)
The pairing of Donald “The Cobra” Curry and Mike “The Body Snatcher” McCallum at 154 pounds represented a crossroads. Although McCallum was undefeated (31 wins, 28 KOs), and had never been off his feet, he held his title in relative anonymity. Curry, a charismatic successor to Sugar Ray Leonard, was a 2-to-1 favorite and a former welterweight champ.
Curry beat McCallum to the punch early, but he made a costly mistake in Round 5. Following an ineffective right-left-right combination, he lowered his hands. Perhaps he was anticipating another debilitating body shot from McCallum. He should have been defending the left hook. McCallum slid to his left and swung from down low. The momentum lifted his right leg off the ground as the left hand rose. The blow — perfectly timed and exquisitely aimed — struck flush on Curry’s jaw. He landed flat on his back. “The Cobra” had been defanged.
20. The Fight: Frazier - Foster
/granite-web-prod/8b/d4/8bd4ae9935d9446b805332937c49731b.png)
The fighters: Joe Frazier and Bob Foster
Date: Nov. 18, 1970
Location: Cobo Arena – Detroit, Michigan
What was at stake: World Heavyweight Championship
How it ended: Frazier wins by KO at 0:49 in Round 2 of 15
Quote: “You need a .45 to keep Frazier off you.” — Foster
The knockout blow: Left hook
Bottom Line: Frazier vs. Foster
/granite-web-prod/6c/e4/6ce4ad5f306d43cfb107c9de2eb74b9b.jpeg)
This was Joe Frazier’s first defense of his heavyweight title, and it came against pumped-up light heavyweight Bob Foster, who weighed 188 pounds to Frazier’s 209. “Smokin’ Joe” was a punching machine, with arguably the greatest left hook in boxing history. Foster was formidable, enjoying a 20-bout winning streak with 19 victories coming by way of knockout.
Frazier moved to end it early in Round 2. He knocked Foster down with a compact left hook and stood ready when the challenger barely beat the 10-count. Frazier delivered another monster left hook that had Foster staggering forward. Moments later, Frazier slammed a left-handed body shot to the ribs followed by a left hook to the head. Foster remained prone on the ring apron for more than a minute. Legend has it that, afterward in his dressing room, a dazed Foster attempted to put on his boxing shoes. His trainer asked him why, and he answered, “Getting ready to fight.”
19. The Fight: Jackson - Graham
/granite-web-prod/20/0a/200a6884d3804831828a9a35786fb984.png)
The fighters: Julian Jackson and Herol Graham
Date: Nov. 24, 1990
Location: Torrequebrada Hotel, Andalucia, Spain
What was at stake: World Middleweight Championship
How it ended: Jackson wins by KO at 1:13 in Round 4 of 12
Quote: “Three or four hours later, it all came back to me.” — Graham
The knockout blow: Counter right hook
Bottom Line: Jackson vs. Graham
/granite-web-prod/08/47/0847a68d2fc54953bfde3b814e84a784.png)
Former World Super Welterweight champ Julian Jackson squared off with British Middleweight belt-holder Herol Graham for the World Middleweight crown that had been vacated by Roberto Duran. As the bout unfolded, the outcome seemed assured. Jackson was behind on all scorecards. The American’s eyes were swelling shut.
Between Rounds 3 and 4 his corner was warned by the ringside doctor that the fight was in danger of being stopped because of eye-swelling. In the fourth, Graham had Jackson in trouble again, landing heavy shots in what looked to be an imminent knockout. But as the southpaw offered up a lazy left, Jackson launched a counter right-hook that detonated like a grenade. Graham was out before he hit the canvas and stayed down for nearly 5 minutes. He was never the same after the knockout, losing three of his next eight fights and ending his career on a downward slide.
18. The Fight: Jones Jr. - Kelly
/granite-web-prod/27/3f/273faf4ed3954af68807ae14f09b4f17.png)
The fighters: Roy Jones Jr. vs. Glen Kelly
Date: Feb. 2, 2002
Location: American Airlines Arena – Miami
What was at stake: World Light Heavyweight Championship
How it ended: Jones wins by KO at 1:55 in Round 7 of 12
Quote: “It’s hard to explain stuff like that.” — Jones
The knockout blow: Right-hand counter
Bottom Line: Jones Jr. vs. Kelly
/granite-web-prod/1b/3f/1b3f6f576e56479ead2c73a59ddb6210.png)
Bravado and showmanship have always been part of the fighter’s arsenal. This time it was executed to jaw-dropping perfection. Roy Jones Jr. still possessed phenomenal speed, timing and reflexes at this later stage of his career. He delivered a one-punch display that will always be mentioned when his name comes up among fight fans.
On this night, he knocked Glen Kelly down in the third (left uppercut) and the sixth (left-handed body blow). He was clearly feeling in control. Backed up against the ropes in the seventh, Jones taunted the Australian. He audaciously lowered both hands, put them behind his back, and stuck out his chin. Kelly flicked out a left jab and Jones countered viciously. He sent a right-hand counter solidly into Kelly’s jaw. Boom. It stands as one of the most spectacular one-punch stoppages in boxing history. Jones retired with 47 KOs to his credit. Dropping Kelly was one of his best.
17. The Fight: Patterson - Johansson II
/granite-web-prod/91/3b/913b5b3a7c724fb2a87f2d2c99172bb1.png)
The fighters: Floyd Patterson and Ingemar Johansson
Date: June 20, 1960
Location: Polo Grounds – New York, New York
What was at stake: World Heavyweight Championship
How it ended: Patterson wins by KO at 1:51 in Round 5 of 15
Quote: “Like two animals from another age.” — John Underwood, author
The knockout blow: Left hook
Bottom Line: Patterson vs. Johansson
/granite-web-prod/c7/19/c7193d5f0e5d4fc1b75c3dc891d5bae9.png)
The second of three great fights between the American and the Swede is remembered for the hardest punch of Floyd Patterson’s distinguished career. In their first meeting, Johansson had floored Patterson seven times to earn a TKO and become just the fifth heavyweight champion born outside of the U.S. His powerful right hand, known as “The Hammer of Thor,” helped establish him as an 8-5 favorite in the rematch.
It connected solidly in Round 2, but Patterson didn’t go down. He shook the cobwebs, and as his head cleared, his confidence grew. In Round 5, he hurt the champion with a right to the jaw, then connected with a second left hook that reached Johansson’s chin and knocked him down. Though he rose at 9, bleeding from the mouth and cut over one eye, the end was near. Patterson hit Johansson with three body shots, then ended it with a lunging, legendary left hook known as “The Gazelle Punch.”
16. The Fight: Pacquiao - Hatton
/granite-web-prod/8c/03/8c035d04e3384f90b09bf45f680b6554.png)
The fighters: Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton
Date: May 2, 2009
Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena – Las Vegas, Nevada
What was at stake: World Light Welterweight Championship
How it ended: Pacquiao wins by KO at 2:59 in Round 2 of 12.
Quote: “I didn’t have to count.” — Referee Kenny Bayless
The knockout blow: Left cross
Bottom Line: Pacquiao vs. Hatton
/granite-web-prod/a7/4d/a74d105f10434bb4a1ce61e5813c5d7c.jpeg)
Manny Pacquiao cemented his claim as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter with a clinical display of precision and power against Ricky Hatton. Pacquiao was always supposed to be quicker than Hatton, but showed he was a lot stronger, too, handling Hatton’s bullying, physical tactics while displaying incredible accuracy. Pacquiao landed 73 of his 127 punches; Hatton managed to find the target on just 18 of 78.
The night belonged to Pacquiao, despite a vocal contingent of British fans urging their fighter on. He dropped Hatton twice in the first before dispatching the bigger man for good. The end came decisively with seconds left in Round 2. Pacquiao teed up Patton with a solid right, followed with a left-right combo and then ended it with a vicious left hook to the chin. Famed announcer Jim Lampley called it “the most incredible one-punch shot of Manny Pacquiao’s incredible career.”
15. The Fight: Hearns - Duran
/granite-web-prod/af/08/af081495c1804842a5f1c385f76ba8cd.png)
The fighters: Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran
Date: June 15, 1984
Location: Caesars Palace Outdoor Arena – Las Vegas, Nevada
What was at stake: World Super Welterweight Championship
How it ended: Hearns wins by TKO at 1:07 in Round 2 of 12
Quote: “I couldn't just win, I had to win big because I was fighting a legend. — Hearns
The knockout blow: Overhand right
Bottom Line: Hearns vs. Duran
/granite-web-prod/cf/54/cf5472565c054b7d8f1e5705348ddadd.png)
An absolute cannon of a right hand made this an easy payday for Thomas Hearns. Before his undoing by “The Hit Man,” Roberto Duran had hit the deck only twice, the last time more than a decade earlier. Hearns’ weapon of choice, the right hand that had put so many opponents to sleep, produced an audible crack upon impact. After it landed, Hearns stepped back slightly, as if to admire his handiwork. Duran fell like a tree, a slow descent forward that made it clear he wouldn’t be getting up soon.
Duran didn’t tumble. There was no bracing. The first thing that hit the canvas was Duran’s bearded face. The 32-year-old former three-time world champion lay sprawled out and motionless. Referee Carlos Padilla signaled it was over without even beginning a 10-count. The punch reinforced Hearns’ place as one of the greatest punchers of the lighter weight classes.
14. The Fight: Zale - Graziano I
/granite-web-prod/47/90/47909598759a47418e1a6c8434fed3fc.png)
The fighters: Tony Zale vs. Rocky Graziano
Date: Sept. 27, 1946
Location: Yankee Stadium – New York, New York
What was at stake: World Middleweight Championship
How it ended: Zale wins by KO at 1:43 in Round 6 of 15
Quote: “Then I heard 8, 9, 10 … it all came so fast.” — Graziano
The knockout blow: Left hook
Bottom Line: Zale vs. Graziano I
/granite-web-prod/b8/cc/b8ccdb48cbb24a49a2d53e66eb8dcbc4.png)
A trio of fights between the brawling middleweights stands as one of the great rivalries in boxing history. Rocky Graziano, the rough, tough kid from New York was a 24-year-old sensation and a crowd favorite. Champion Tony Zale, 32, was making his first title defense following four years in the Navy. The two went at it hammer and tongs and a third of the way through the bout all but belonged to Graziano.
Zale was in such trouble in Round 5 that he could hardly get to his corner, his rubbery legs propelled by sheer will. In Round 6, Zale appeared to be a beaten fighter, bleeding badly from the mouth and nose. But he showed the heart of a champion to keep his title. Zale fired a right to the body, so powerful it moved Graziano backward, then followed with a flashing left hook to Graziano’s chin. Referee Ruby Goldstein counted Graziano out, pinning his arms to his sides in a protective embrace as he protested.
13. The Fight: Tyson - Spinks
/granite-web-prod/da/98/da987dae519547c29666769a4dd15e55.png)
The fighters: Mike Tyson and Michael Spinks
Date: June 27, 1988
Location: Convention Hall – Atlantic City, New Jersey
What was at stake: World Heavyweight Championship
How it ended: Tyson wins by KO at 1:31 in Round 1 of 15
Quote: “He was a guy waiting to go to the guillotine.” — Tyson trainer Teddy Atlas on Spinks
The knockout blow: Short right
Bottom Line: Tyson vs. Spinks
/granite-web-prod/cb/8d/cb8d9cd901854d2a9185ad21aad92827.png)
In the long history of the heavyweight division, only three championship fights ended faster. It took Mike Tyson all of 23 punches in 91 seconds to dismantle Michael Spinks and claim his 35th career victory. He attacked from the opening bell in his signature whirling dervish style. He dropped Spinks in the first minute with a sharp left uppercut to the head and a punishing short right hook to the body.
The former Olympic gold medalist didn’t fall, but dropped to one knee. He rose and gamely tried to meet Tyson’s rush with a right hand. It missed Tyson’s ducking head, leaving his own wide open. Tyson clipped Spinks with a left and then delivered a thunderous short right that turned out the lights. Spinks folded, his head slamming the canvas as he landed. His eyes rolled back, wide open, but entirely white. It was Spinks’ last match and his only loss as a professional.
12. The Fight: Dempsey - Firpo
/granite-web-prod/b9/64/b964f1c7a11e4e2fb121ec1798034c1c.png)
The fighters: Jack Dempsey and Luis Firpo
Date: Sept. 14, 1923
Location: Polo Grounds – New York, New York
What was at stake: World Heavyweight Championship
How it ended: Dempsey wins by KO at 0:57 in Round 2 of 15
Quote: “I didn’t even know he had knocked me out of the ring until I came to on my stool between rounds.” — Dempsey
The knockout blow: Left-right combo
Bottom Line: Dempsey vs. Firpo
/granite-web-prod/2d/6b/2d6b681221a34012b41fc188b457ed07.png)
Eleven knockdowns in two rounds stand as a testament to this fight’s vaunted status in boxing lore. Luis Firpo, the first heavyweight Hispanic contender, was knocked down seven times in Round 1, but the Argentinean rose to send Jack Dempsey through the ropes, out of the ring and down onto the typewriters on press row. There was little question that Round 2 would produce a victor — the pace was unsustainable — but which fighter’s arm would be raised in victory was anyone’s guess.
At the outset, the 187-pound Dempsey pursued the bigger Firpo with a fury, backing up his reputation as the “Manassa Mauler.” In contrast, the “Wild Bull of the Pampas” was leg-weary, his punches ineffectual. A volley of lefts felled Firpo for the eighth time. He gamely rose to his feet and unleashed a desperate right hand. But Dempsey ducked and countered, tattooing the challenger with a 1-2 combo — a left that did the real damage, and then a right for good measure, offered as Firpo was going down.
11. The Fight: Marquez - Pacquiao IV
/granite-web-prod/b2/46/b246c9fbc1bf4ed099501f5420a20b2f.png)
The fighters: Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao
Date: Dec. 8, 2012
Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena – Las Vegas, Nevada
What was at stake: Pride
How it ended: Marquez wins by KO at 2:59 in Round 6 of 12
Quote: “I got hit by a punch I didn’t see.” — Pacquiao
The knockout blow: Overhand right
Bottom Line: Marquez vs. Pacquiao IV
/granite-web-prod/98/c0/98c0639e5eee40ef943fe50bfc1d83a0.png)
The final of four meetings between two titans lived up to its billing, earning Ring magazine’s Knockout of the Year and Fight of the Year awards. Juan Manual Marquez had vowed to finally settle the score with Manny Pacquiao, after losing two close fights following a draw in their first meeting. Entering Round 6 of their fourth clash, Pacquiao was leading by a point on all three judges’ scorecards. Marquez was bleeding profusely from the nose and had been knocked down in the fifth.
Things looked to be falling into place for the darling of the Philippines. But the Mexican superstar landed a huge overhand right over an empty jab. Marquez’s glove crashed into Pacquiao’s chin. He crumpled in a heap, ending up prone and face down. Pacquiao landed more punches (94 of of 256) than Marquez (52 of 246), but he didn’t land the last one.
10. The Fight: Foreman - Frazier I
/granite-web-prod/b1/76/b176e9030aba415f92aa564f20df8394.png)
The fighters: George Foreman and Joe Frazier
Date: Jan. 22, 1973
Location: National Stadium – Kingston, Jamaica
What was at stake: World Heavyweight Championship
How it ended: Foreman wins by TKO at 2:26 in Round 2 of 15
Quote: “I didn’t want to hurt him anymore. I kept begging Yancey Durham (Frazier’s trainer) to stop it.” — Foreman
The knockout blow: Right half-hook-half-uppercut
Bottom Line: Foreman vs. Frazier I
/granite-web-prod/a1/ab/a1ab830aa4e04fe98ae651010635620f.png)
Joe Frazier (29-0, 25 KOs) arrived as the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. The Philadelphia fighter hadn’t been defeated in nearly a decade, when he was outpointed in the 1964 U.S. Olympic trials. His strong chin and signature left hook was viewed as an unbeatable combination. But Frazier departed the Caribbean a shattered shadow of his former self. He was the victim of six savage knockdowns in less than two rounds, the sound of Howard Cosell’s famed call “Down goes Fraz-ier! Down goes Fraz-ier” echoing into the night — and boxing history.
Each of George Foreman’s fearsome knockdowns was devastating and unique, a demonstration of power that the sport had never seen: a right hook, a right uppercut, a four-punch combo, a straight right, a left hook and then the right-handed half hook-half uppercut that lifted the 214-pound Frazier clean off his feet and handed the crown to the challenger.
9. The Fight: Chavez - Taylor I
/granite-web-prod/3c/ac/3cac19738113442c9c005c4f993c9097.jpeg)
The fighters: Julio Cesar Chavez and Meldrick Taylor
Date: March 17, 1990
Location: Las Vegas Hilton Outdoor Arena – Las Vegas, Nevada
What was at stake: World Super Lightweight Championship and World Junior Welterweight Championship
How it ended: Chavez wins by TKO at 2:58 in Round 12 of 12
Quote: “Meldrick suffered a facial fracture. He was urinating pure blood.” — Ringside physician Dr. Flip Homansky
The knockout blow: Straight right
Bottom Line: Chavez vs. Taylor I
/granite-web-prod/15/e2/15e2bc34c4264a47b3f5ab29e813a9d1.jpeg)
Meldrick Taylor put on a clinic for 11 rounds. A torrent of hooks, jabs, and straight rights added up to a big points advantage. Heading into the final round, all he had to do was stay out of trouble for 3 minutes. Legendary cornerman Lou Duva implored him, too. Pursued by the relentless warrior Julio Cesar Chavez, Taylor fell 2 seconds short of his goal.
With Round 12 nearing its end, losing by six points on one card and five on another, Chavez knocked down Taylor with a straight right to the jaw that left the 1984 Olympic gold medalist crumpled in a neutral corner. Taylor managed to get up at the count of 5 but he was in no condition to continue. Referee Richard Steele’s stoppage remains one of the most controversial finishes in boxing history. Chavez upped his record to 69-0 with 56 KOs. Ring magazine named it the Fight of the Decade.
8. The Fight: Robinson - Fullmer II
/granite-web-prod/a7/f9/a7f9d0d97bfb47e0ae13c874051c7eed.jpeg)
The fighters: Sugar Ray Robinson and Gene Fullmer
Date: May 1, 1957
Location: Chicago Stadium – Chicago, Illinois
What was at stake: World Middleweight Championship
How it ended: Robinson wins by KO at 1:27 in Round 5 of 15
Quote: “The most perfect punch of my career.” — Robinson
The knockout blow: Left hook
Bottom Line: Robinson vs. Fullmer II
/granite-web-prod/be/fd/befd52a5c456431b8972d57dc1662ea2.jpeg)
Sugar Ray Robinson and Gene Fullmer fought three times, each winning one bout with the other fight scoring a draw. The second is viewed as a classic, made famous for what’s universally acknowledged as the greatest left hook ever thrown. Fullmer abandoned the barroom brawler style that he’d used to win the first fight, trying to go flurry for flurry with the speedier Robinson.
Round 5 opened with Fullmer pressing, but Robinson slowed him with a pair of stiff rights to the body. The second punch dropped Fullmer’s guard, inviting Robinson to go upstairs. He whistled a left hook to the jaw as flashbulbs popped and a stadium roared. Fullmer crumpled to the floor. Moments later, he had no recollection of his demise. He asked him what had happened. “They counted to 10,” was the terse reply. The win was the veteran Robinson’s 140th victory and his 91st knockout.
7. The Fight: Foreman - Moorer
/granite-web-prod/e2/f5/e2f515fec3724480898a3cd14091de1b.jpeg)
The fighters: George Foreman and Michael Moorer
Date: Nov. 5, 1994
Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena – Las Vegas, Nevada
What was at stake: World Heavyweight Championship
How it ended: Foreman wins by KO at 2:03 in Round 10 of 12
Quote: “I'm almost 50, but this is what I do, all I do. This is my business.” — Foreman
The knockout blow: Chopping right
Bottom Line: Foreman vs. Moorer
/granite-web-prod/be/03/be03cc001d204c37bb052f152aabbf58.jpeg)
George Foreman was a different person than the man who’d worn the heavyweight crown in the 1970s. Now 45, and a thick 250 pounds, he was an ordained minister and a celebrity pitchman. As a fighter, he’d become a novelty act. But he still possessed the atomic right hand that had devastated the division decades earlier. Michael Moorer entered the ring a 3-to-1 favorite, and he was being paid more than twice Foreman’s purse.
Fittingly, he dominated much of the first nine rounds, peppering Foreman with his right jab. What most believed before the fight — that Foreman’s only chance to win would be via knockout — was becoming manifest. But with a thunderbolt right hand, driven purposefully between Moorer’s gloves in the 10th, Foreman became the oldest heavyweight champion in history, reclaiming the prize he’d lost 20 years earlier. He kneeled in a neutral corner saying a prayer as Moorer’s cornermen rushed to their fallen fighter.
6. The Fight: Ali - Foreman
/granite-web-prod/02/d5/02d5647023724dfca3ede2d444902d6a.jpeg)
The fighters: Muhammad Ali and George Foreman
Date: Oct. 30, 1974
Location: Stade du 20 Mai – Kinshasa, Zaire
What was at stake: World Heavyweight Championship
How it ended: Ali wins by KO at 2:58 in Round 8 of 15
Quote: “I wrestled with an alligator. I tussled with a whale. I handcuffed lighting. I thrown thunder in jail.” — Ali
The knockout blow: Chopping right
Bottom Line: Ali vs. Foreman
/granite-web-prod/c3/26/c32619e36e7f44678b75d91daabe03e4.jpeg)
The “Rumble in the Jungle” is remembered as a coronation for Muhammad Ali. He regained the crown he’d been stripped of after refusing induction into the military and opened a new chapter in his glorious career. Few thought he could win. Some feared for the 32-year-old’s life. George Foreman, 25, came in with 24 consecutive knockouts, including a terrifying six-knockdown KO of Joe Frazier. Ali had a plan though, one designed to weaken the power puncher.
In what became known as the “Rope-a-Dope” strategy, he leaned back on the ring ropes, inviting Foreman to whack away. Foreman took the bait, and by the middle of the fight he began to tire. Lying in wait, Ali attacked in Round 8. A series of peppering rights had Foreman in unsteady pursuit. Ali pivoted away as Foreman lumbered forward and snapped a vicious left uppercut that lifted the champion’s chin. A chopping right that connected like a falling brick followed, its driving impact spinning Foreman as he fell awkwardly. Ali cocked his right hand, prepared to deliver one more blow in the African night. It wasn’t needed.
5. The Fight: Louis - Schmeling II
/granite-web-prod/08/d2/08d2c1718a5b4a8fb1e6c05349c6c522.jpeg)
The fighters: Joe Louis and Max Schmeling
Date: June 22, 1938
Location: Yankee Stadium – New York, New York
What was at stake: World Heavyweight Championship
How it ended: Louis wins by KO at 2:04 in Round 1 of 15
Quote: “Now I feel like a champ.” — Louis
The knockout blow: Straight right
Bottom Line: Louis vs. Schmeling II
/granite-web-prod/54/e4/54e4a6618fdd48e1bb6d25d39a8fc750.jpeg)
The fighters’ second meeting carried heavy political significance, with the world on the brink of World War II. Max Schmeling didn’t support the Third Reich, but it couldn’t prevent him from being viewed as a symbol of Nazi Germany. Joe Louis was a hugely popular figure among both black and white fight fans across America. Before a crowd of 72,000 at Yankee Stadium, including movie stars Clark Gable and Gary Cooper, with millions listening on the radio in their living rooms, the “Brown Bomber” avenged his first professional defeat.
Louis made quick work of the German, flooring him three times. On the final knockdown, Schmeling’s trainer tossed a towel in the ring when the count had barely reached 3. Louis had connected on 31 punches. Schmeling had landed just two. He was hospitalized for 10 days with fractures to his spine (officially, the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae). He returned to Germany and largely disappeared from public life. Louis held the title for years and spent decades as a celebrity in the U.S.
4. The Fight: Hagler - Hearns
/granite-web-prod/7b/6b/7b6bd493a3d94f68b784a031cc953260.jpeg)
The fighters: Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns
Date: April 15, 1985
Location: Caesars Palace Outdoor Arena – Las Vegas, Nevada
What was at stake: World Middleweight Championship
How it ended: Hagler wins by KO at 1:52 in Round 3 of 12
Quote: “When I see blood, I become a bull.” — Hagler
The knockout blow: Right cross
Bottom Line: Hagler vs. Hearns
/granite-web-prod/2a/fc/2afce881a15e4862984969ab38f5ecad.jpeg)
Billed as “The War,” the clash of middleweight titans did not disappoint. The first round is universally regarded as the greatest 3 minutes in boxing history, a street fight with gloves. Whatever it was – the promotional buildup, personal animosity, ego — the fighters threw caution to the wind the minute the fight began. Eight minutes of pure fury ensued. The 6-foot-2 Thomas Hearns struck first, opening a gash on the forehead of the 5-9 Marvin Hagler. But the man who officially changed his first name to “Marvelous” came back with a brutal barrage of leather.
Determined to avoid a doctor halting the fight because of the cut, Hagler went for the kill in Round 3. He fired a short left and smashed a right to Hearns’ head. The “Hit Man” staggered clumsily in retreat, his legs betraying him with every step. Hagler rushed in and struck him with a right-hand cross and then a left hook for good measure as Hearns fell. Hearns was helped back to his corner and it took several minutes before he could stand on his own.
3. The Fight: Douglas - Tyson
/granite-web-prod/79/e7/79e77dfe4c724b579091cc9bdf041486.jpeg)
The fighters: James “Buster” Douglas and Mike Tyson
Date: Feb. 11, 1990
Location: Korakuen Stadium – Tokyo, Japan
What was at stake: World Heavyweight Championship
How it ended: Douglas wins by KO at 1:22 in Round 10
Quote: “Greater fighters than I have lost.” — Tyson
The knockout blow: Straight left
Bottom Line: Douglas vs. Tyson
/granite-web-prod/4e/3b/4e3bd68a0afa44ce8d91c360d9d4e30d.jpeg)
The match took place early on a Sunday morning in Japan to accommodate a Saturday night TV audience in the U.S., and Mike Tyson looked sluggish from the start. Armed with a 12-inch reach advantage, Buster Douglas, a 42-1 underdog, controlled the fight with his strong left jab. Tyson’s power appeared in Round 8 when he dropped Douglas with a right uppercut. But the challenger beat the count. A round later, Douglas touched up Tyson with a solid left that foretold of disaster.
Midway through the 10th, Douglas lasered six left straight jabs at an incoming Tyson, then straightened him up with a stunning right uppercut. A flashing 1-2 combo had Tyson on the verge of falling, and as he began to tilt, Douglas stepped forward with a punishing straight left. The image of Tyson fumbling for his mouthpiece, and clumsily shoving it in sideways before being counted out in a daze, defined the end of an era. The fight is still remembered as one of the most spectacular upsets in sports history.
2. The Fight: Marciano - Walcott I
/granite-web-prod/2e/80/2e80f74f91ba4d1cb7ab501ad95e8987.jpeg)
The fighters: Rocco “Rocky” Marciano and Joe Walcott
Date: Sept. 9, 1952
Location: Municipal Stadium – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
What was at stake: World Heavyweight Championship
How it ended: Marciano wins by KO at 0:43 in Round 13 of 15
Quote: “What could be better than walking down any street in any city and knowing you’re the heavyweight champion of the world?” — Marciano
The knockout blow: Short overhand right
Bottom Line: Marciano vs. Walcott I
/granite-web-prod/d8/c0/d8c0f241b5c742bca977197bca33889c.jpeg)
Eleven months after knocking out the great Joe Louis (in the locker room afterwards he wept when he visited the ex-champ), Rocky Marciano fought for “Jersey Joe” Walcott’s title. Though 38, Walcott was a formidable fighter, possessing all the tools. He floored Marciano with a left hook in the first, the first time the “Brockton Blockbuster” had been down.
Needing a knockout to win, Marciano introduced Walcott to “Suzie Q,” the punch he’d named in honor of his diminutive wife. Thirty seconds into the 13th round Marciano backed up Walcott and delivered one of the most devastating shots in boxing history, a short overhand right to the side of Walcott’s chin. The title changed hands in an instant. Walcott sank to a knee, his left arm hooked over the middle rope, before falling forward to the canvas. The KO was Immortalized by famed sports photographer Herb Scharfman in an image titled the “Hardest Punch of All Time.” Marciano is the only heavyweight champion to retire undefeated, a perfect, now mythical, 49-0.
1. The Fight: Ali - Liston II
/granite-web-prod/78/8c/788c1c85021646d2a4ea65ca310ffd71.jpeg)
The fighters: Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston
Date: May 25, 1965
Location: Central Maine Civic Center – Lewiston, Maine
What was at stake: Heavyweight championship
How it ended: Ali wins by TKO at 2:12 in Round 1 of 15
Quote: “Nobody will believe this!” — Ali
The knockout blow: Chopping right
Bottom Line: Ali vs. Liston II
/granite-web-prod/d6/e5/d6e5c56f4b07468299c85c67f55ef43a.jpeg)
The second bout was a rematch of the legendary night in Miami, Florida, that saw champion Sonny Liston dethroned by a precocious Cassius Clay (he’d hadn’t yet changed his name), transforming the 1960 Olympic champion into a boxing superstar and cultural icon. The image that defined the second fight — Muhammad Ali standing over a prone Liston, shouting “get up and fight, sucker!” — is one of sport’s most iconic moments.
Ali caught the 218-pound Liston with a flash right-hand that was so swift it was dubbed the “Phantom Punch.” It was almost invisible to the naked eye, and led to speculation that Liston (he had connections to organized crime) had taken a dive. Close examination in slow motion revealed it to be a chopping counterpunch to a pawing Liston left-handed jab, made more powerful because Liston strode into the blow. As the fateful, historic sequence began, Ali’s right hand was low, not in a position to strike. But he lifted it in tandem with Liston’s miss, momentarily planted his back foot, then drove his 210 pound, 6-foot-3 frame forward. His right hand drilled the left side of Liston’s cheek. The menacing brawler and ex-con went down, rolled over on his back and stayed flat — staring blankly, eyes twitching — as Ali taunted his fallen foe.