P4P more power: Hearns' right hand or Foster's left hook?

You could make an argument that P4P, these are the two deadliest punches in the history of the sport. But which was more devestating, Tommy's right hand at 147-154 or Foster's left hook at 175?

 

Fosters left hook. Never mind 175, he went to 200 and wobbled Frazier with it. It's arguable that Duran had SRR hurt worse at 147.

 

I would agree. Just wanted to see if anybody would say Tommy.

 

I'd probably pick Tommy's right hand as the more effective punch. Foster probably scored more one-punch KOs but they are more common in his weight class whereas Hearns was truly unique KO artist for a welterweight. Also, Hearns proved his power against even better opposition. This is splitting hairs of course, since as Xplosive correctly pointed out, these are probably the two biggest punches in history

 

That is debatable, but I am not sure if it is a suitable argument. To borrow a book from Slystaff's book, "Frazier hurt Ali worse than Foreman could", meaning that it is more about styles than plain punching power

 

Hearns had PERFECT delivery behind his right hand, which made it so effective and devastating. In terms of pure force and power, I think Foster's hook was a bigger shot when it landed.

Foster-Quarry has my vote as the best one shot KO in history. There's not a lightheavy that's ever lived that could have survived that punch.

 

SRL.

I don't see Duran having Leonard hurt worse than Leonard was against Hearns. Hearns' KO of Duran was also pretty epic because NOBODY did that to Duran. Still, "The Sheriff" had his share of picturesque KOs.

 

Tiger was arguably more durable than Duran.

Two very similar fights actually. Both Tiger, and Duran were overwhelmed in similar fashion by men who made them look like dwarfs.

 

You can't lose with either, but gimme Foster's hook

Dick Tiger had a tungsten chin and all it took was one perfect hook from Foster

Furthermore, I never saw anyone take it away from him, render it ineffective... Foster had a great right hand and a fantastic jab, but that left hook was the ultimate safety valve... when faced with a tall, skinny, long-armed guy like Foster, the general best offense is to get inside and force him to shorten his punches... That didn't work against Foster because he had that hook and he could get it off so easily and quickly with such incredible power on it

 

Another tall, skinny guy with an incredible hook was Alexis Arguello, though he lacked Foster's speed... He liked to lead with it against Southpaws

 

Foster had wickedly fast hands too, which is something he doesn't really get credit for.

I'd go as far as to say that Jones aside, Foster might have had the second fastest hands in the history of 175.

 

Just for what it is worth, I think Marciano at 185lbs might be the hardest pfp hitter of all time. A mere 10lbs heavier than Foster.

 

yeah, he had tremendously fast hands... he could double and triple that jab effortlessly and the opponent would be trying to get around it only to eat a right hand... if they managed to get by that, they ate the hook... no fun

 

Everytime we talk about boxing a white man gotta pull Rocky Marciano out they ass!

 

he had remarkable strength and power for a man his size

I think Marciano gives anybody that weighed between 180-200 lbs in history a severe argument... He tends to get dismissed because people are rating him as a heavyweight and he's really one of the last sub-200 heavyweights of any renown... I don't look at him that way... He may not be a real test for the bigger heavyweights of the 60's-70s-80s or the behemoths of today, but as a sort of cruiserweight fighter, he'd be hell for anyone

 

::

 

But seriously Irish, your point is well taken. Put Rocky in 2014, and people might actually care about the Cruiserweight division.

 

Yeah, but probably only a matter of time before finances forced him up to Heavyweight, simply to become the next Tomasz Adamek or Vasily Jirov. Competing but not really making a difference in the division.

 

killjoy

 

Moorer could also lay claim to that. From what I recall (and it has been awhile), Michael Moorer had extremely fast hands at lightheavy. Strangely enough, a case could also be made for Virgil Hill, but Moorer would hit you fast AND leave your nose halfway across your face.

 

Virgil Hill punched like a woman, for the most part

Moorer had fast hands but never fought a single decent fighter at the weight

 

Hill's handspeed was above average, but nothing special. An old Hearns beat him to the punch for Christ sake.

And Moorer wasn't as fast as Foster.

 

word

 

In any discussion about punching power, his name must be mentioned.

 

I think Hearns was pretty happy at 175. He was older, but that was offset by the fact that he was not dried out and was facing guys naturally slower than him.

 

He was well past it though when he fought (and completely dominated) Hill, the Miguel Angel Gonzalez of the light heavies

I have a pathological hatred for Virgil Hill... such a cheese champ... racked up defenses against unbelievably bad opposition and lost one-sidedly to every good fighter he faced... but somehow he gets mentioned when people talk about "the light heavyweights" ... he wouldn't make my top 30

 

He was from North Dakota...what else are you going to say about North Dakota.....what CAN you say about North Dakota....fucking...FARGO??

 

Hill was a good fighter with some decent wins. Would I pick him over any great light/borderline great light heavys? No. He might beat some good ones though.

In a way, I guess Hill was a less talented version of John Conteh. A lot more longevity than Conteh, but with less overall ability.

 

Conteh had Muhammad beaten until they put that clay in the cut over MSM's eye and kept him in the fight.

 

Yeah, and Saad would have beaten the crap outta Hill. Well, all 3 Muhammed's beat the crap outta Hill.