Deontay Wilder is 'nowhere near' the hardest hitter in boxing history – Tony Bellew names Mike Tyson and George Foreman as bigger punchers

03/21/2024 09:13 AM

Tony Bellew insists Deontay Wilder is ‘nowhere near’ Mike Tyson or George Foreman in terms of punching power.

Wilder has long been considered one of the hardest hitters in boxing history.

The ‘Bronze Bomber’ has a remarkable 42 knockouts from 47 fights (43-3-1) and boasts a long highlight reel of brutal stoppages.

However, Bellew believes Wilder’s lack of wins inside the distance against world-class opposition nullifies his claim of being the most devastating puncher of all time.

“Who has Deontay Wilder actually knocked out? Who is the best name on Deontay Wilder's record – a 50-year-old Luis Ortiz?” he told Spin Bet.

“I mean what is the best KO he has and who has he actually knocked out? In the grand scheme of things, he hasn't beat anyone.

“You [the boxing fraternity] have built up a monster in Deontay Wilder and labelled him as the biggest puncher in history but don't be so ridiculous.

“George Foreman took Joe Frazier off his feet and lifted him off the floor, he hit him so hard. Then he knocked out Ken Norton and the names he has beaten is just phenomenal, it's frightening it really is.

“To have Deontay Wilder anywhere near the likes of Mike Tyson is insane.

“Mike Tyson knocked out Larry Holmes, who might have been past his best, but then he knocked out a prime Michael Spinks who defeated a prime Larry Holmes.

“You can't get away from the names and résumés of these fights that Deontay Wilder doesn't have against a big fighter with a W (win) next to his column.

“He has a few contenders at best, but how many former world champions does Wilder actually have on his record as wins?”

The Bible of Boxing, Ring Magazine, ranked Wilder as the 16th greatest puncher of the last 100 years, three places behind Tyson.

Foreman came in at No.5 while Joe Louis was given the coveted top spot on their list.

Wilder currently holds the distinction of having the highest knockout percentage (89.3%) of any heavyweight champion in the history of the sport.

However, he has only ever stopped two world champions; Siarhei Liakhovich (WBO) and Bermane Stiverne (WBC) – while the latter went the distance with him in their inaugural encounter before being knocked out in a rematch.

By comparison, Foreman stopped seven former world champions and Tyson knocked out nine.