As two of the oldest spectator sports, Boxing and MMA are steeped in tradition that dates back to the ancient gladiators of lore. There will always be something intoxicating about watching two individuals fighting each other, trading blow for blow. Maybe it's our carnal instincts, maybe it's how we get a thrill and an adrenaline rush when we watch, not knowing what’s coming next. Whatever the reason may be, when we watch Boxing and MMA fights, we want a slug fest. We want to witness the big knockout. And because both boxers and MMA fighters have inflicted devastating punches, it begs to ask the question, who punches harder?
To try to establish a winner, we will look at three (3) different comparisons:
Top boxers and MMA fighters based on knockout percentage
Power output and punching power
Top fighters today
For each comparison, we will identify a "winner" before deciding the ultimate outcome.
Top Knockout Fighters
First, let's take a look at some of the most notable knockout artists of all-time in MMA and Boxing, respectively, based on their knockout percentage.
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Honorary Heavy Hitters
MMA
Tyrone Sprong (K-1), Francis Ngannou (UFC), Badr Hari (K-1), Chuck Liddell (UFC), Wanderlei Silva (UFC), Alistair Overeem (K-1 & UFC)
Boxing
George Foreman, Shannon Briggs, Mike Tyson, Joe Frazier, Joe Lewis
Outcome (Based on Knockout Percentage): Boxing
Looking at knockout percentage alone, of the fighters listed above, boxers are able to knock out their opponents more frequently than MMA fighters. Does this translate to throwing the harder punches? Not necessarily. Boxers win via KO/TKO or a referee decision. In MMA fights, there is a third component to qualify a win: decisions via submissions. For this reason, MMA fighters have to spend a majority of their time learning and developing a ground game, which can take away time for strike training.
Power Output & Punching Power
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Image Credit: ScrapDigest
Another way to analyze the hardest punching fighters, would be to look at the fighters in the top echelon of each sport today. For Boxing, that would be Deontay Wilder and for MMA, Francis Ngannou of the UFC.
While there may be plenty of debate amongst the fight community about who throws the hardest punch, currently the nod would go to Francis Ngannou.
Back in 2018, while still on the climb to the top of the UFC heavyweight division, Ngannou visited the UFC Performance Institute where he put his legendary punching power to the test to see how much force his overhand right and off-balance uppercut punches produced. The results were staggering. His overhand right registered an astonishing 129,161 Franklin (f) units while his off-balance uppercut registered 122,000 Franklin units (The Franklin is a measurement of human force taking into account both the power and energy within an impact). His speed power was measured to be 51.064 ft. lbs/sec which is equivalent to 92.84 HP, or the same as a compact-sized car. Both are still current World Records.
Note: He shattered the previous record of 114,000 units held by Tyron Sprong (K-1).
So how does Deontay Wilder’s punch fare in comparison? It's hard to say. While he has been recorded punching a bar room punching machine (left-handed), this is usually an inaccurate measure of true punching power. There are a lot of people who would love to know exactly how much power he brings in his devastating right hand, but we may never know as there is no recorded event of him striking a PowerKube.
Other fighters who, in their prime, could have been contenders for the hardest puncher of all-time are “Iron” Mike Tyson and Earnie Shavers.
Outcome (Based on Power Output and Punching Power): MMA
Looking at just pure punching power, the top two overall, highest-ever recorded punches were both thrown by mixed martial artists. Does this mean that MMA fighters are the harder punchers overall? We still can't make that claim.
Top Boxers Today: Mayweather, Jr. vs. McGregor
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Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas | USA Today Sports
Some people like to debate who is the harder puncher between the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and one of the best KO artists from the UFC, Conor McGregor.
If we look at the overall outcome of the match-up, Boxing and Mayweather win. Mayweather was able to get a TKO over McGregor in the 10th round of the bout. The only question is, does this settle the debate? Not quite.
Most people would argue that the only way McGregor would have won the bout would have been if he tagged Mayweather with one of his devastating lefts and dropped Mayweather early on in the fight. However, there is a reason Mayweather has a perfect 50-0 record during his career: his ability to avoid the big hit from his opponents, demonstrating the true goal of Boxing: hit and not get hit.
Outcome (Based on Top Performers): Inconclusive
In this scenario, Mayweather is the better boxer. Had both of these men tested their punches on a PowerKube, the results would more than likely sway in favor of McGregor for the most powerful punch. McGregor has an impressive 81% of his fights coming via KO, while Mayweather, who has never really been known for his striking power, holds a 54% KO rate (including TKOs). Once again, looking solely at the top performers in each specialty, no clear winner can be established.
Ultimate Winner
As far as who punches harder between boxers or MMA fighters, this is still left open to interpretation. Ultimately, it comes down to the fighters as individuals. More than likely the overall nod would have to go with boxers for overall pound-for-pound power. Punching is what they train, and punching is what they do. Many of the best MMA fighters of all-time were grapplers. In order to be the best all-around, too much of their fight has to focus on the ground game to be able to take on challengers from all martial arts disciplines. Boxers box and boxers punch, ultimately taking the crown of hardest punching fighters. But still, MMA fighters pack a powerful punch!
What Do You Think?
What are your thoughts as to which combat fighters have the hardest throwing punches? Do you wish you had a devastating overhand like “Iron Mike”?
Even if you don’t have much boxing or kickboxing training experience or you are simply interested in the fitness benefits these sports offer, you can still train like a fighter? Get access to hundreds of boxing, kickboxing, strength, conditioning, recovery, and stretching workouts that will push you mentally and physically. Download the FREE FightCamp App and train with real fighters from the comfort of your own home.
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As a seasoned enthusiast with a deep understanding of combat sports, particularly Boxing and MMA, it's evident that the article delves into the intriguing comparison of punching power between boxers and mixed martial artists. Let's break down the concepts discussed in the article:
1. Top Knockout Fighters:
- MMA Heavy Hitters: Tyrone Sprong (K-1), Francis Ngannou (UFC), Badr Hari (K-1), Chuck Liddell (UFC), Wanderlei Silva (UFC), Alistair Overeem (K-1 & UFC).
- Boxing Heavy Hitters: George Foreman, Shannon Briggs, Mike Tyson, Joe Frazier, Joe Lewis.
- Outcome: Based on knockout percentage, boxers have a higher frequency of knocking out opponents compared to MMA fighters.
2. Power Output & Punching Power:
- Top Boxer: Deontay Wilder.
- Top MMA Fighter: Francis Ngannou.
- Francis Ngannou's Power Output: Recorded an astonishing 129,161 Franklin units with his overhand right and 122,000 Franklin units with an off-balance uppercut, both current world records.
- Deontay Wilder's Power: No specific recorded data on his punching power, but it's acknowledged that he possesses a devastating right hand.
- Outcome: Based on pure punching power, the top recorded punches come from MMA fighters, specifically Francis Ngannou.
3. Top Boxers Today: Mayweather, Jr. vs. McGregor:
- Match-up: Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (Boxing) vs. Conor McGregor (MMA).
- Outcome: Mayweather won via TKO in the 10th round, demonstrating the effectiveness of his defensive skills and the essence of boxing: hit and not get hit.
- Debate: Discussion on whether Conor McGregor could have won with his powerful lefts.
- Top Performers: McGregor has an 81% KO rate, while Mayweather holds a 54% KO rate.
- Inconclusive Outcome: No clear winner in terms of the hardest puncher between the two.
4. Ultimate Winner:
- Conclusion: The article leaves the question of who punches harder open to interpretation, acknowledging that it depends on individual fighters. While boxers may have an overall pound-for-pound advantage, MMA fighters, particularly those like Francis Ngannou, can deliver powerful punches.
5. Closing Thoughts:
- Reader Engagement: Encourages readers to share their thoughts on which combat fighters they believe have the hardest punches.
- Training: Mentions the option for individuals, even those without extensive combat training, to train like a fighter with access to various workouts through the FightCamp App.
In summary, the article provides a comprehensive analysis of the punching power in Boxing and MMA, considering knockout percentages, power output, and top performers in current combat sports scenarios. It skillfully navigates the nuances of these sports, acknowledging the strengths of both disciplines while leaving the determination of the ultimate winner to individual perspectives.
