Legendary promoter Bob Arum believes one active fighter in particular could well be the biggest puncher in boxing history.
Arum began his working in boxing back in 1973 when he established Top Rank, a promotional powerhouse that has worked with many legendary fighters including Muhammad Ali, Terence Crawford, Marvin Hagler and Manny Pacquiao.
In more recent years, Arum has played a key role in the professional career of Japanese sensation Naoya Inoue, who currently reigns as the undisputed super-bantamweight champion and remains unbeaten in 31 bouts.
Arum also played a role in the resurgence of Tyson Fury, who made a sensational comeback in the sport in 2018 before he eventually dethroned former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in February of 2020.
Speaking prior to Wilder’s rematch with Fury, Arum claimed in an interview with Boxing Scene that there is ‘a great argument’ for ‘The Bronze Bomber’ being recognised as the hardest punching fighter to have ever laced up a pair of gloves.
“Again (Wilder is) a different type of puncher. I mean, Foreman had that thud punch. Wilder’s punches are a lot like (Mike) Tyson’s. They are really powerful. Whether he is the hardest puncher in boxing history – I would say their is a great argument for that.”
Wilder reigned as the WBC heavyweight champion for five years between 2015 and 2020, making ten successful defences of his crown before he suffered the first defeat of his career to ‘The Gypsy King’.
The 39-year-old from Alabama made his long-awaited return to the ring back in June after suffering back-to-back defeats to Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, stopping countryman Tyrrell Herndon in the seventh round of their non-title clash in Wichita, Kansas.
