They say that punchers are born rather than made, and that training and technique will merely unlock potential that is already there to begin with. If punchers are truly born, these 12 men— otherwise known as the Dirty Dozen— were given birthright to the most potent striking ever witnessed on the grand stage of combat sports.
Today we’ll be listing 6 of the 12 hardest hitters of all time.
12) Dan Henderson
Pound for pound, one of the hardest punchers in mixed martial arts history, Dan Henderson punches well above his weight (which ranges from 185 lbs to 205 lbs depending on his mood). His patented strike, otherwise known as the ‘H-Bomb’, has amassed a path of destruction of which the likes has rarely been seen in the sport— stopping 15 world-class opponents that include legends such as Shogun Rua and Fedor Emelianenko.
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11) Anthony Johnson
Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson began his mixed martial arts career at welterweight and has since moved all the way up to the light heavyweight division, where he now continues to claim causalities. What’s most impressive about Johnson is how well his power has translated as he has moved up in weight. At this point, it seems as though there is no weight division that can limit his ability to render his opponents unconscious.
10) Alistair Overeem
Former K1 champion and current UFC heavyweight monster, Alistair Overeem, has power in every extremity in his body. His hands, feet and knees are all equally deadly— making him one of the world’s most effective strikers across multiple forms of combat sports.
9) David Tua
Ringside Report once referred to David Tua as “one of the best heavyweights never to win a world title”. The now retired heavyweight boxer gained notoriety by rolling heads across the division for two decades with explosive power and a style that many likened to Mike Tyson. In the world of punching power, that’s about the highest commendation that can be paid.
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8) Shane Carwin
Shane Carwin’s stint in the UFC was brief but violent. The 265 lbs heavyweight had opponents crumpling over— as though they’d been on the wrong end of a hit and run.
7) Tommy Morrison
You may also know former heavyweight slugger Tommy Morrison as Tommy Gun. The late but great professional boxer starred opposite to Sylvester Stallone in Rocky V. Aside from flowing blond mullets and 80’s commercial appeal, Morrison and Gun shared one thing most in common— dynamite in their fists. Morrison recorded a staggering 42 knockouts throughout his entertaining career.
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Stay tuned for the The Dirty Dozen part 2, where this subject will be revisited as we name the top 6 hardest hitters that ever lived.
