Who was the harder puncher - Gerald McClellan or Stanley Ketchel?

[brooklyn1550]

Ketchel had 49 knockouts in 54 wins, including KO wins over Billy Papke, Mike Sullivan, Philadelphia Jack O'Brien, and Porky Dan Flynn.

The G Man had 28 knockouts in 31 wins, including first round knockouts over Julian Jackson and John Mugabi.


Two massive punchers at middleweight, but which one was the harder puncher?

[robert ungurean]

Based on what Ive seen & read. McClellen

[achillesthegreat]

I'm sure G Man could knock down a heavyweight if he caught him right BUT I've seen Stanley knock down a great heavyweight and HARD!

[Duodenum]

I can't imagine McClellan dropping 209 pound Larry Holmes the way Earnie Shavers did, but 159 pound Stan Ketchel did exactly that to 209 pound Jack Johnson, and the footage of Ketchel's bomb is readily available on-line, so we don't need to imagine it. (Could McClellan have done to Lennox Lewis what Oliver McCall and Hasim Rachman did?)

[janitor]

I would say Ketchel simply because he proved it against the big boys but would not be in the least surprized if it was McClellan.

[cross_trainer]

Ketchel fought in a era when boxing was in its infancy.Fighters wore smaller gloves which means more knockouts and a fighter could avoid fighting black fighters.McClellan on the other hand fought in a era where the gloves were bigger and he did fight black fighters so logic would say Gerald was a harder puncher.

Ketchel also fought black fighters. Your other point, though, is excellent.