David Haye thinks one man stands above the rest of the heavyweight division when it comes to punching power.
Having an equaliser punch is often enough to get a fighter all the way to the top, not least in the banner division. Haye had that luxury himself, with 26 of his 28 victories coming by knockout.
Right now, though, it is ruled by slick technician Oleksandr Usyk, but rising stars Fabio Wardley and Moses Itauma have both put together impressive knockouts.
However, speaking to iFL TV, former world champion Haye admitted that one man hit him harder than anyone, and that is American Deontay Wilder.
“I truly think he’s the hardest punching heavyweight ever. Sounds like an exaggeration but I’ve been hit by Wilder in sparring, and I’ve been hit by Klitschko on the chin with 10 oz gloves.
“There was more effect from Wilder hitting me on the top of the head with 18-oz gloves on, me wearing a head guard, and it wasn’t even clean, it was just glancing, but I felt that more. I thought afterwards, this guy is going to do something.”
Wilder is a famously wild and unorthodox boxer who would often be behind on the cards in many of his fights, only to find a finisher and knock people out with one hellish blow.
He came unstuck against Tyson Fury in two of their three fights, though he claims they were not his hardest nights, and since then has only fought a handful of times, losing to Joseph Parker and Deontay Wilder and beating Tyrell Herndon last time out back in June.
He has vowed to continue fighting, and it recently emerged that he has signed a contract to fight in January 2026, though no opponent has been named.
