While unsurprisingly naming Deontay Wilder as one of the hardest punchers in heavyweight history, Tyson Fury included another former opponent in his version of the all-time top 10.
‘The Gypsy King’ completed an epic trilogy with Wilder in 2021, suffering two fourth-round knockdowns before halting his American foe in the 11th frame.
Their rematch, on the other hand, was far less competitive, as Fury dished out a surprisingly one-sided seven-round beatdown against the formidable knockout artist the previous year.
As for their first encounter, in 2018, Fury was once again compelled to survive two knockdowns, only to come away from Los Angeles with a controversial draw.
But while Wilder certainly made a fierce impression on the Brit, it was perhaps less apparent that Wladimir Klitschko also managed to impose his power.
The Ukrainian defended his unified crown against Fury in 2015, entering their showdown as a sizable favourite and nailed-on Hall of Famer.
It therefore came as a major upset when Fury dethroned his rival, fiddling his way to a unanimous decision victory after barely getting caught with anything significant.
Based on the shots that did land, though, the 38-year-old has told ALF Global that Klitschko should be considered among the greatest heavyweight punchers of all time.
“Wilder [was the biggest puncher], for sure. Wilder was a very big puncher – probably the biggest puncher in heavyweight history – but Wladimir Klitschko is also in the top 10 of all-time punchers – Dr Steelhammer.”
While Wilder is surely in the consensus top 10, Klitschko was more of a jab-and-grab technician and is rarely mentioned in the same power-punching context as the likes of Mike Tyson, George Foreman and Earnie Shavers.
