BOXING coach and trainer Freddie Roach was recently quoted as having assessed MMA superstar Mauricio ?Shogun? Rua with the punching power of a girl when he first worked with him, but later praised him for his massive improvement after only a few weeks of training.
The mechanics of generating torque behind your punch is a popular subject that usually invites several varied opinions.
How is punching power generated? Is it something fighters are born with or can the technique be developed and improved in the gym?
My belief is that it is a combination of both but debate will forever rage on its true derivation.
But let?s have some fun, so here?s my own subjective take on some of the hardest punchers ever to lace on a pair of boxing gloves. Some of them are probably born with it, while others are gifted with the natural ability complemented by perfect technique.
In no particular order, they are:
1. Naseem Hamed (36-1, 31KOs). ?The Prince? was a featherweight who was perceived to have the punching power of a welterweight. He seemed to generate the torque from his legs as he would sometimes leap at his opponents while registering devastating knockouts.
2. Ernie Shavers (74-14, 68KOs). Here?s what his opponents had to say: ?He hit me so hard he brought back tomorrow. I thought I was in the corner smokin? a cigarette and eating spam sandwhich.? (James ?Quick? Tillis) ?Nobody hits harder than Shavers. If somebody hits harder, I?d shoot him? (Tex Cobb)
3. Roy Jones Jr (56-8, 40KOs). Jones was known for his speed and athleticism in his prime. But his alacrity was aided by concussive power in his fists. In 1998 he knocked out Virgil Hill with a single body shot, breaking a rib in the process.
4. Joe Louis (66-3, 52KOS). ?The Brown Bomber? possessed a deadly hybrid of numbing power and accuracy which made him one of the most devastating heavyweight punchers of all time;
5. Rocky Marciano (49-0, 43KOs). A small-statured heavyweight even by the standards of his era, Marciano was not exactly a skilled practitioner of the sport either. The fact that he retired undefeated after 49 fights speaks volumes about his dreaded attribute- raw power.
6. Mike Tyson (50-6, 44KOs). ?Iron Mike? certainly needs no introduction in this department. Even when he wasn?t bruited about as the baddest man in the planet, Tyson was already knocking out opponents in the ring like bowling balls.
7. Lennox Lewis (41-2, 32KOS). Check out his knockout out of Francois Botha in the 2nd round where a right hand actually lifts Botha?s feet off the canvass.
8. Thomas Hearns (61-5, 48KOS). The ?Hitman? complemented his power with laser-like precision. His knockouts of Roberto Duran and Pipino Cuevas are the stuff of legend.
9. Manny Pacquiao (54-5, 38KOs). The ?Pacman? is one of the few punchers able to carry punching power through several weight classes. Go ask Ricky Hatton and while you?re at it, pester Shane Mosely on why he got on his bike after tasting Pacquiao?s power in the third round.
10. Stanley Ketchel (51-4, 48KOs). The ?Michigan Assassin? was a middleweight champion back in the early 1900s who fought and knocked down heavyweight champ Jack Johnson.
VERBATIM ?The thing about striking is having weight on the right foot at the right time and driving off that foot. He was more or less just using his upper body, which is okay. But if you get your whole body behind your shot, it?s just much, much better.?–Freddie Roach on training Rua (MMA Hour)
LAST ROUNDS. Are on Maricel Martinez-Maniquis and Nikki Tero who both celebrate their birthdays this Saturday. Cheers!
