He was out cold, rendered unconscious with a classic one-punch KO. Williams then tried a left hook, but the 35-year-old Argentine, firmly anchored and ready, simultaneously unleashed his own left hand. Martinez slipped it easily and stepped to the right, squaring up his shoulders and preparing his fearsome counter. Williams’ undoing began with a meaningless left jab, thrown without conviction. 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. It was enough to be qualified as a classic, and one punch deserves most of the credit for that status. Sergio Martinez and Paul Williams put in barely 4 minutes of work in their second clash. The knockout blow: Left hook Bottom Line: Martinez vs. Quote: “I got caught with a punch.” - Williams How it ended: Martinez wins by KO at 1:10 in Round 2 of 12 What was at stake: World Middleweight Championship Location: Boardwalk Hall – Atlantic City, New Jersey The fighters: Sergio Martinez and Paul Williams It ended with Kovalev on his knees, arms draped over the middle ring rope. The right hand that followed could have leveled a building, much less a fighter. He moved in and drove home a left hook that sent the Russian staggering sideways. Alvarez set up the finish with a chopping right to the top of Kovalev’s head that gave the champion pause. He found the range in the 11th round with a clinical 1-2 combo. Despite holding his own for much of the contest, Sergey Kovalev was stopped for just the third time in his career.Īlvarez had been stalking him, hooking to the body to take the starch out of the bigger man’s jab. The Mexican’s crushing power did not desert him at 175 pounds. KovalevĬanelo Alvarez moved up a challenging two weight classes to battle the Russian for his World Light Heavyweight belt. The knockout blow: Left hook-right cross combo Bottom line: Alvarez vs. Quote: “We knew it was going to take some time for me to get him.” - Alvarez How it ended: Alvarez wins by KO at 2:15 in Round 11 of 12 What was at stake: World Light Heavyweight Championship Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena – Las Vegas, Nevada The fighters: Canelo Alvarez and Sergey Kovalev According to members of Wilder’s camp, the “Bronze Bomber” didn’t fully regain his equilibrium until 48 hours after his punishing defeat. The blow left Wilder face down, eyes glassy. Pinned in the corner as it landed, all Wilder could do is reach futilely for the top ring rope as he fell. The lights-out moment arrived a round later, courtesy of a sharp right hook from short range that connected with GPS-like precision. He leveled the American in Round 10 (he’d also put him down in Round 3) but couldn’t finish the job. 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. Three fights filled with pugilistic drama will ultimately be remembered for one final punch by the 6-foot-9, 278-pound British behemoth. The knockout blow: Short right hook Bottom Line: Fury vs. Quote: “Shots like that, they end careers.” - Fury How it ended: Fury wins by KO at 1:10 in Round 11 of 12 What was at stake: World Heavyweight Championship Location: T-Mobile Arena – Las Vegas, Nevada The fighters: Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder Tape up your hands, lace on the gloves, and in the words of famed referee Mills Lane, “Let’s get it on!” 30. This collection of the 30 best knockout punches in history represents boxing at its best. Many reflect the career arcs - some heroic, others tragic - of the combatants. Others, such as the “Rumble in the Jungle,” come from the fight’s promoter. Some, like the “Suzie Q,” are denoted by the punch’s name. We acknowledge the inherent cruelty of “the fight game.” Yet we can still recognize the beauty in what was poetically christened “the sweet science.”Īll great KOs possess a signature quality. Today, with medical documentation on the damage that comes with repeated blows to the head, knockouts (KOs) are viewed through a different lens. The knockout is strength, skill, athleticism, bravery and timing - conspiring as concussive biomechanics. It’s not just a flailing fist striking an unfortunate chin. But nothing is as sudden, or as certain, as a haymaker. The walk-off home run in baseball, the halfcourt heave in basketball, football’s “Hail Mary” touchdown, all good. 30 Best Knockout Punches in Boxing HistoryĪ knockout is unique in all of sport. Nothing compares to the moment when one fighter falls and the other stands triumphant. The knockout punch is boxing’s pinnacle, and it stands alone in the pantheon of athletic feats.
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