RANKING ‘boxing’s most destructive punchers’ is never an easy task, especially when considering that a selection of worthy candidates will always remain unmentioned.
But despite the inevitability of a divided response, here at Boxing News, we bring you a list that is perhaps both plausible and ludicrously inaccurate, depending on whoever chooses to give it the time of day.
Jai Opetaia (28-0, 22 KOs)
A menacing demeanour only scratches the surface when it comes to dissecting Jai Opetaia’s power, as it is his calculated approach, more than anything else, that tends to orchestrate an emphatic finish.
Of the last nine men he has faced, just Mairis Briedis, an elite former world champion who knows how to expertly navigate the 12-round distance, has heard the final bell.
Besides him, the majority of the IBF cruiserweight champion’s opponents have folded under a barrage of explosive attacks, most of them failing to combat his impeccable timing.
David Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs)
Perhaps not the prolific knockout artist he was at 168lbs, but still a relentless force, David Benavidez remains one of this sport’s most vicious punchers.
Despite the stoppage alluding him against both David Morrell and Oleksandr Gvozdyk, the WBC light-heavyweight champion nonetheless put his attritional style into motion and, sure enough, earned a tremendous degree of respect from each opponent.
With Benavidez, the power seems to come from his remarkable work rate, making it so that, as a fight progresses, he only becomes more dangerous.
Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (22-0, 15 KOs)
The hallmark of a seriously elite-level puncher is when their power has a devastating effect on someone who, traditionally speaking, does not often get hurt.
And that, of course, can be said for Jesse Rodriguez, who, particularly against Juan Francisco Estrada and Pedro Guevara – two typically sturdy customers – was able to take care of business in ruthless fashion.
In equal measure, the WBC super-flyweight champion comes off a 10th-round finish over Phumelela Cafu who, prior to their one-sided encounter, appeared to be a largely durable belt-holder.
Masamichi Yabuki (18-4, 17 KOs)
Much like Rodriguez, Masamichi Yabuki has a tendency to conduct highlight-reel finishes against fighters that are not only robust, but proven at the top level.
Perhaps the best example of this arrived against Kenshiro Teraji, one of the all-time greatest Japanese boxers, in 2021, when Yabuki emerged with a stunning 10th-round stoppage victory.
Since then, the IBF champion has only extended his destructive surge at flyweight, while firmly cementing himself as one of the most dangerous operators in the lower divisions.
Daniel Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs)
Just like his moniker suggests, Daniel ‘Dynamite’ Dubois is a truly ferocious puncher, and while it did not quite make a difference against the great Oleksandr Usyk, his power, alone, is often enough to get him out of sticky situations.
Against Filip Hrgovic, for instance, the sheer volume of bombs detonated by Dubois made it so that, while he never hit the canvas, the Croatian’s seemingly indestructible chin was all that prevented an earlier finish.
But of course, it was his five-round demolition job against Anthony Joshua which, for the majority of fans, cemented Dubois’ formidable reputation.
Artur Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs)
If not for his age, Artur Beterbiev would almost certainly be further up this list but, as it happens, the 40-year-old now finally seems to be creeping closer towards an exit from the sport.
Against any light-heavyweight not named Dmitry Bivol, or perhaps Benavidez, the former undisputed king would still likely be favoured to halt proceedings inside the distance.
Beterbiev has, after all, stopped every other man that has been brave enough to step into the ring with him, and especially now, his power is largely what has kept him punching away at world level.
Moses Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs)
Unlike every other fighter on this list, Moses Itauma is yet to prove his power against a genuine world-class operator.
That said, there is more than enough evidence to suggest that, when he eventually competes at such a level, the dynamic 20-year-old should possess both the physical and technical attributes to enhance his identity as a precocious puncher.
What makes him particularly unique in the heavyweight division, though, is the fact that his speed and boxing IQ, rather than just his size and athleticism, are the components that typically allow him to engineer a blistering finish.
Bakhram Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs)
The cat was let out of the bag when, in a previously competitive contest, Bakhram Murtazaliev suddenly secured an 11th-round stoppage victory over Jack Culcay.
In doing so, the Russian proved that, at any given moment, he has the tools to not only snatch back the momentum of a fight, but also pummel his opponent into submission.
Sure enough, that point only became more convincing when, against Tim Tszyu, the IBF super-welterweight champion delivered a truly frightening three-round beatdown.
Gervonta Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs)
When ignoring the disappointing state of affairs that his career has largely become, it must be said that Gervonta Davis remains a worthy entry on this list.
At one stage, it almost seemed as if ‘Tank’ carried the touch of death, his incredible power causing a string of top contenders and former champions to crumble.
To caveat that, it must also be said that several of his victories, particularly against Leo Santa Cruz – as awe-inspiring as it was – arrived at a time when his opponents were either past their best, weight-drained or simply too small.
Naoya Inoue (31-0, 27 KOs)
It is entirely possible that, on any list of boxing’s ‘most destructive punchers’, Naoya Inoue has remained at the very top for quite some time.
Indeed, ‘The Monster’ has established himself as a spiteful finisher – that much cannot be disputed – but equally, his technical prowess, and more specially an ability to identify openings, is what has seen him become a practically unstoppable force at the highest level.
For him, it might be that a sizable jump in weight, or possibly a deterioration of his physical gifts, sees his total dominance eventually come to an end.
