Did Fitzsimmons hit as hard as...

[cross_trainer]

1. Marciano?

2. Louis?

3. Shavers?




Fitz was considered the most ferocious puncher of his era, and he proved it against heavyweights rather than fighters of his own weightclass. Killed at least two men with punches, for that matter. But was his power in the same league as some of history's hardest heavyweight punchers? Would such a thing be possible?


Discuss.

[UpWithEvil]

In terms of raw power, I would guess not. But of course, knockout power is a combination of raw PSI and accurate targeting of tender parts of the anatomy. Fitzsimmons had the benefit of learning the bareknuckler's emphasis on soft targets early in his development in the sport. With small gloves just barely padded enough to protect his fists and excellent raw power in his own right, an accurate blow from Fitz to your jaw, your neck, your ear, your short ribs, and of course your solar plexus would crumple a man just as fast as a Foreman overhand right to the top of the skull even if Fitzsimmons couldn't match a big heavyweight for raw power.

[CASH_718]

1. Marciano?

2. Louis?

3. Shavers?




Fitz was considered the most ferocious puncher of his era, and he proved it against heavyweights rather than fighters of his own weightclass. Killed at least two men with punches, for that matter. But was his power in the same league as some of history's hardest heavyweight punchers? Would such a thing be possible?


Discuss.HELLLLLLLLL NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[brooklyn1550]

Nope

[C. M. Clay II]

I don't think so.:-(

[janitor]

In terms of raw powere it is hard to judge.

In terms of the efectivness and finishing capability of a single blow I think that he could be compared to those three.

Nobody ever knew the soft bits of the body better than Ruby Rob.

[McGrain]

My guess would be that it doesn't matter in practical terms.

He's powerful enough that his most powerful shots would do for anyone, and in that respect he's probably in th class of the guys mentioned.

If you want my best guess i'd say he's probably fourth if we made a list, but from what I understand pretty much anyone is going if he does his buisness.

[JohnThomas1]

Not a chance in hell.

[Sizzle]

Realistically in this day and age Bob Fitzsimmons is a super welterweight.

So I think the better question is, did he hit as hard as Felix Trinidad or Thomas Hearns?

[McGrain]

So I think the better question is, did he hit as hard as Felix Trinidad or Thomas Hearns?

What's your answer?

[janitor]

Realistically in this day and age Bob Fitzsimmons is a super welterweight.

So I think the better question is, did he hit as hard as Felix Trinidad or Thomas Hearns?

Fitzsimmons caried his knockout punch up to heavyweight. Of that here is no doubt.

[achillesthegreat]

No.

[cross_trainer]

It's possible that Fitz hit as hard as Marciano, but in my opinion not Shavers or Louis (though some do allege otherwise). Fitz isn't that different in size from the Rock, fought similarly sized opponents, and left a comparable trail of battered heavyweight bodies in his wake.

Allowances must be made for Fitz's smaller gloves, but unlike some modern fighters, Marciano's weren't much larger anyway.

[janitor]

The thing that particularly impreses Fitzsimmon's heavyweight power upon me is the way he efortlesly blasted guys who Jeffries et al couldn't knock a dent in.

I beleive that he was an exceptional finisher even by heavyweight standards.

[apollack]

Bob Fitzsimmons is one of the greatest pound for pound punchers of all time.

[dalek]

The thing that particularly impreses Fitzsimmon's heavyweight power upon me is the way he efortlesly blasted guys who Jeffries et al couldn't knock a dent in.

I beleive that he was an exceptional finisher even by heavyweight standards.
i agree with this and while i don't think he necessarily hit shot for shot harder than earnie i think he'd stop people shavers couldn't.

[Sizzle]

What's your answer?

It's too difficult to offer a truly informed opinion here, as the footage I've seen isn't too good, and there are too many variables to consider (gloves with less padding, absence of mouthpieces etc)

If I had to guess though, I would say he may punch harder than Trinidad (who was not AS DEVASTATING above the 147lbs mark, although this had a lot to do with being outboxed by three of his opponents) and probably not as powerful as Hearns, whose power was nothing short of incredible.

But I'm not confident in that choice!

[Mendoza]

1. Marciano?

2. Louis?

3. Shavers?


Fitz was considered the most ferocious puncher of his era, and he proved it against heavyweights rather than fighters of his own weightclass. Killed at least two men with punches, for that matter. But was his power in the same league as some of history's hardest heavyweight punchers? Would such a thing be possible?


Discuss.

I believe Shavers had the most power of the three listed. Nat Fleisher said Fitzsimmons was the best all time knockout puncher circa 1965. He saw Dempsey, Louis, Jeffries, Marciano, and Liston!

While it is only one man’s opinion, even if he was not correct you have to think it would be darn close.

I do believe Fitzsimmons hit harder than Marciano did, and might have had better one punch power than Louis. The difference of course if Marciano had a better chin than Fitzsimons, and Louis had better finishing ability.

In the 2004 Olympics, team USA was invited to test their power on a spring loaded PSI machine. Neither the heavyweight or the super heavy had the hardest punch tested. The honors went to Jeff Lacy, who happened to be 168 pounds.

[guilalah]

Well, we know Fitzsimmons had enough to stop a good 200 Ilb heavy (Ruhlin), a very tough approx. 180 Ilb heavy (Tom Sharkey).

He didn't have enough to stop the larger Jeffries, but we should remember Jeff' was exceptionally rugged even for his pounds.

Regarding Fitzsimmons and Jeffries respective performances against Sharkey: I guess that's in Fitzsimmons favor a little. I don't know that Jeffries couldn't stop Sharkey. Remember that Jeffries had a bum left the second time he met Sharkey.