This is a subject which will, and often does, divide opinion. So to remain as objective as possible, we’re going to forget all about ‘arguments’ and just concentrate on the numbers.
Below are the Top 10 Hardest Punching Weight Divisions, reached by totalling the combined wins, defeats, draws and knockouts in each of Boxing Base’s Top 10 Rankings (by division), and calculating their KO ratios. Those with the highest made the Top 10 below.
So, for example, the combined record of our Top 10 Pound for Pound Boxers is 357-9-3, 270 KO, which creates a 73.1% KO ratio.
Top 10 Hardest Hitting Weight Divisions in Boxing
(Last Updated: December 2015)
1. Middleweight, 70.3% KO – 308-17-2, 230 KO
It’s hardly surprising the Middleweight division hit the top spot. 160 pounds is the home of Gennady Golovkin, one of boxing’s most ferocious face-breakers. ‘GGG’ recently scored his 21st consecutive KO against David Lemieux, a monstrous puncher himself.
Bangers such as Daniel Jacobs, Miguel Cotto, Peter Quillin and Andy Lee also make the Middleweight division especially dangerous.
2. Heavyweight, 69.9% KO – 310-13-3, 228 KO
When in history hasn’t the Heavyweight division been packed full of knockout power? The ‘glamour division’ may not be as spicy as it once was, but its champions and top contenders have plenty of TNT to explode into skulls.
Wladimir Klitschko, Luis Ortiz, Tyson Fury, and of course Deontay Wilder, are some of the division’s lights-out kings.
3. Junior Featherweight: 66.1% KO – 248-8-4, 172 KO
Devastating punchers await for those chasing the big names of the 122 pound division. Rivals Scott Quigg and Carl Frampton are renowned for their dynamite power, as is veteran future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire and recent arrival Julio Ceja.
If negotiations continue to go smoothly between Quigg and Frampton, the eagerly anticipated showdown is almost guaranteed to contain fireworks, not to mention a brutal knockout.
4. Cruiserweight: 65.1% KO – 260-18-3, 183 KO
The Crusierweight division is brimming with talent, and of course, thunderous power. Fighters such as Denis Lebedev, Krzysztof Glowacki, and recent arrivals like Dmitry Kudryashov and Oleksandr Usyk, make the division truly hostile.
Glowacki recently burst on to the scene by blasting out seasoned champ Marco Huck, producing not just a strong Fight of the Year candidate, but an unlikely upset in the process.
5. Super Middleweight: 63.5% KO – 268-17-3, 183 KO
Not only is the Super Middleweight division hugely popular and hotly contested, it also contains some of the sport’s most explosive and powerful punchers.
And fighters like Arthur Abraham, George Groves, James DeGale and Fedor Chudinov continue to make it a daunting division to campaign in.
Hardest Punchers: 6-10
6. Welterweight, 61.6% KO – 300-13-5, 196 KO
7: Flyweight, 61.6% KO – 311-23-0, 206 KO
8. Light Heavyweight, 60.9% KO – 282-19-6, 187 KO
9. Junior Welterweight, 60.8% KO – 257-16-0, 166 KO
10. Lightweight, 60.1% KO – 292-18-1, 187 KO
And the Rest…
11. Featherweight, 56.6% KO – 234-9-4, 140 KO
12. Junior Lightweight, 56.6% KO – 263-19-11, 166 KO
13. Junior Bantamweight, 55.7% KO – 307-24-6, 188 KO
14. Junior Middleweight, 54.1% KO – 267-13-8, 156 KO
15. Bantamweight, 53.7% KO – 267-20-5, 157 KO
16: Junior Flyweight, 48.4% KO – 271-37-10, 154 KO
17: Strawweight, 44.9% KO – 261-28-9, 134 KO
Now it’s time for your say. What’s your take on Boxing Base’s Top 10 Hardest Punchers Weight Divisions? Let us know in the comments, fight fans!
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