Tony Bellew has little doubt who should be considered the heaviest hitter in history.
The Liverpool native hung up the gloves back in 2018 on a world title winning campaign. He had 20 knockouts from 30 wins on his record and statement wins over Ilunga Makabu and David Haye, though was stopped in his final bout by Oleksandr Usyk.
Now comfortably in the pundit’s chair, Bellew regularly shares his views both on the current state of the sport as well as its storied past.
Speaking to Instant Casino about a fantasy fight between Anthony Joshua and George Foreman, Bellew backed ‘Big’ George before naming him the ‘greatest puncher in boxing history.’
“George Foreman. The greatest puncher boxing’s ever seen, ever, pound for pound. Judge a puncher by who he’s knocked out. So don’t ever tell me that Deontay Wilder is the biggest puncher the world’s ever seen. Who’s he knocked out?”
In the first part of his heavyweight campaign, thudding puncher Foreman stopped the likes of Ron Lyle, Joe Frazier and Ken Norton. After a knockout loss to Muhammad Ali put him out of the title picture, he hung up the gloves a few years later.
The man from Marshall, Texas would return a decade on and, although he relied more on experience and technique at that stage of his career, still put plenty of heavyweights away. He finished Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Gerry Cooney and Michael Moorer, the fight that crowned him the division’s oldest ever champion.
Foreman’s power is discussed often – a huge frame punching through the target from a set position. Fans will be well familiar with the resurfaced video clips of huge dents in heavy bags from his training sessions.
One man who more recently made as best a case as he could for the crown was Deontay Wilder. Although Bellew dismissed him, there’s no doubt that the Olympic Medalist and former long-reigning WBC Champion packs a hell of a punch.
Wilder went 43 fights unbeaten from debut, knocking out every man he faced other than Bermaine Stiverne, who he did stop in their rematch, and Tyson Fury, who he drew with but would later lose to twice.
With his uniquely slim build and unorthodox style, Wilder’s devastating right hand has produced the perfect highlight reel, though, as Bellew argues, many say his resume was a contributing factor. Most recently, the American has lost to both Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, facing calls to retire but confirming through trainer Malik Scott that he will fight on.
