Boxing is one of the martial arts that involves the most dramatic scenes, including knockouts, in the sports industry. In the sport of boxing, a knockout can be gripping, exhilarating, brutal, and heroic. The amount of knockouts a boxer produces is an excellent reflection of their prowess and dominance in the Ring.
A knockout is the pinnacle of a boxer emotionally, physically, and physiologically overpowering their opponent in the Ring. The sight of a boxer knocking out one of the world’s most brutal men to the ground with a single blow never goes out of style.
However, in modern-day, there are fewer fights; thus, given that, there are currently fewer fights, the statistic for the most knockouts in boxing history may be difficult to top. This list goes through the most knockouts in boxing history.
#7. George Odwell – 111
George Odwell is a British professional boxer born in Camden town in London.
From 1930 through 1945, he competed in the welterweight bracket. In his 15-year career, he battled 210 times and presently ranks seventh among boxers in terms of knockouts.
George has a total of 210 fights with 159 wins, 39 losses and 12 draws.
George Odwell has an impressive 111-knockout record. In the third round of his battle against Tom Daniels in 1930, Odwell triumphed by knockout to launch his professional career.
On November 1, 1937, Odwell beat Jack Kid Berg via TKO in the seventh round of a 12-round fight. George Odwell happens to be one of the top 500 fighters in Britain. George met his demise on July 11, 1995.
#6. Kid Azteca – 114
One of Mexico’s most illustrious fighters is Kid Azteca. Azteca never took home a world championship, although he spent the majority of the 30s and 40s as a strong contender for the welterweight belt.
Azteca helped pave the stage for numerous outstanding Mexican world champions who would dominate a majority of the sport’s lower weight categories starting in the 1950s by being one of Mexico’s first boxing icons.
Azteca was born Luis Villanueva Paramo on June 21, 1913, in Tepito, Distrito Federal, Mexico. However, several sources claim his birthdate is June 21, 1917. Thus implying that he was only 12 years of age when he began his pro-boxing career in 1929. Azteca garnered an astounding 114-knockout record in his career.
Azteca, who began his career as ‘Kid Chino’ and had over 100 knockouts in his boxing career, was a powerful and courageous boxer with a devastating punch.
Fighters like Sammy Angott, Charley Salas, California Jackie Wilson, Fritzie Zivic, Chief Parris, Cocoa Kid, Baby Joe Gans, Young Peter Jackson, Richie Mack, Manuel Villa, and Battling Shaw are some top names Azteca faced off against.
#5. Buck Smith – 183
The ‘Tombstone’ participated in 229 fights during his 22-year professional career. Smith started as a 145-pound fighter and gradually increased his weight to be able to compete in several weight classes until he was a cruiserweight.
He had a final record of 183 victories, 20 defeats, and two ties.
Buck fought 229 times, winning 183 of them, including 120 by knockout. Thanks to this figure, he now ranks fifth in all-time knockout totals among active fighters.
Despite this fantastic achievement, Buck only managed to defeat Verdell Smith for the USA Oklahoma State Welterweight Title in December 1994, winning unanimously.
Smith once engaged in two fights on the same day, which is noteworthy. He defeated Marco Davis by knockout in two rounds on May 19, 1992, in Kansas City. He returned to Oklahoma City less than three hours later and defeated Rodney Johnson via decision after six rounds.
Smith engaged in a similar ‘iron man stint’ in March of 1993, competing in a sum 12 professional boxing contests. 9 of the 12 victories he had were via knockout.
Following the Boxing Reform Act of 1996, the law prohibits such practices and requires States to abide by suspensions, which provide for a minimum of seven days between matches.
On June 30, 2007, Smith last participated in a fight.
#4. Sam Langford – 128
Sam Langford has 128 knockouts, which puts him fourth all-time in boxing history. From 1903 through 1926, Langford competed in 314 professional matches. The Canadian had 38 ties and 30 losses, together with 178 victories.
Langford entered the lightweight division and then transitioned into the heavyweight division. Langford, regrettably, never took home a significant boxing title.
The National Sporting Club British Middleweight Title, the Middleweight Title of the Commonwealth Boxing Council, the Australian Heavyweight Title, and the Heavyweight Title of Mexico were among the numerous minor boxing titles that Langford earned.
The Boston Bonecrusher’s greatest boxing accomplishment was his 1904 draw with legendary welterweight Joe Walcott.
People referred to Langford as “The Boston Bonecrusher,” “The Boston Terror,” and his most well known moniker, “The Boston Tar Baby.” He was originally from the little Nova Scotian town of Weymouth Falls.
In his prime, Langford weighed 185 lb (84 kg) and stood at 5 ft 6+12 in (1.69 m). Langford competed from lightweight to heavyweight, defeating several legends and world champions of the era in every division.
The Ring ranked Langford No. 2 on their list of the ‘100 best punchers of all time,’ and the boxing world regarded him as a powerful puncher, even at heavyweight.
#3. Young Stribling – 129
Georgia-born professional boxer Young Stribling was originally from that state. Stribling boxed professionally for 12 years, from 1921 to 1933, participating in 291 contests. Stribling concluded his career with 224 victories, 13 defeats, 14 draws, and 129 knockouts.
This occurrence placed him third in boxing history for the most knockouts. Stribling never took home a significant title, just like Langford and Smith. He began his career as a featherweight and moved up to cruiserweight before his retirement.
The so-called ‘King of the Canebrakes’ competed in various weight classes, winning minor national and regional championships. The Southern Middleweight Title, Georgia Lightweight Title, Southern Featherweight Title, and the USA Georgia State Featherweight Title were among his titles.
He had a chance to capture the World Light Heavyweight Title, but in June 1926, Paul Berlenbach defeated him unanimously.
Stribling only suffered a technical knockout once, against Max Schmeling of Germany in the last round of a match in 1931. He holds several heavyweight-specific records, including the boxer who received fewer knockouts, the most knockouts by a heavyweight , the most fights by a heavyweight in a calendar year, and the most fights by a heavyweight.
“The best heavyweight fighter for his pounds that ever lived,” said boxing champion Jim Corbett about Stribling.In contrast to the 1920s boxing promoters, ‘Strib’ condemned the brutality and cruelty involved in professional boxing.
Stribling viewed himself as a scientific fighter who desired to outpoint his adversary rather than knock him out. From his debut fight, he attracted media attention as a superb boxer.
#2. Archie Moore – 132
With an impressive record of 132 knockouts, the great Archie Moore is the boxing legend with the second-most knockouts ever. Archie was able to fight in 220 fights overall, winning 186, losing 23, and tying in 10. In 1936, Moore made his middleweight debut, and in 1963, he made his heavyweight debut.
When Archie defeated Jack Chase to capture the California State Athletic Commission Middleweight Championship in 1943, he won his first boxing title. Moore’s 27-year professional boxing career was quite successful. Ten years following the victory, the Old Mongoose defeated Joey Maxim to win the World Light Heavyweight Championship.
He then successfully defended against Harold Johnson by TKO in the 14th round. Moore then went up against Rocky Marciano for the National Boxing Association Heavyweight Championship.
However, he lost by knockout in the ninth round. The board inducted Moore into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, International Boxing Hall of Fame, and the California Boxing Hall of Fame for his distinguished career in 1980, 1990, and 2006, respectively.
The board denied Archie a chance at the world championship for fifteen years; this forced him to compete on the road with almost nothing to show for it. Moore was a prominent member of the American Black community who got active in African-American causes after his fighting career began.
#1. Billy Bird – 138
Billy Bird of the United Kingdom holds the record for the most knockouts in boxing history, with 138 knockouts out of 356 professional contests. Bird amassed 260 victories, 73 defeats, and 20 ties.
Due to the British soldier fighting from 1920 until 1948, he only required 18 years to complete this extraordinary feat. Thus, making Bird’s record all the more remarkable. Only twice did Bird compete outside of England.
Records show that in September 1928, Bird went up against Joe Ralph in Belgium, and in January 1929, he faced Mario Bosisio in Italy. Billy Bird fought the majority of his battles there.
The Londoner from Chelsea participated in the welterweight division; however, he never took home a notable or minor championship. The closest Billy Bird ever came to winning a championship bout was in December 1934, in a title qualification bout against Johnny Quill, which he lost due to the difference in points.
Which boxer has the most knockouts?
Billy Bird, who has 138 knockouts to his credit, is the knockout champion. The boxer from Chelsea competed in 359 professional fights while boxing at the welterweight, lightweight, and middleweight weight classes.
The London cab driver prevailed in 260 fights, dropped 73, tied 20, and had three rows declared no matches. It is doubtful that any current or future boxer will surpass Bird’s record, since they do not fight enough to meet those figures.
People regard Deontay Wilder as boxing’s most potent striker, and his nearly 100% knockout rate is remarkable. The Bronze Bomber has 42 victories in his career, with 41 coming by way of KO, but at 35, he will not be challenging Bird’s total.
What is a knockout?
A knockout occurs when a fighter knocks out his opponent, and the opponent cannot continue fighting after 10 seconds elapses. It often involves an abrupt catastrophic loss of awareness brought on by a physical impact.
A knockout is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, including boxing.
If a fighter feels incapable or unwilling to continue competing, they can take a knee in the middle of the bout, at which point the referee will count to 10.
A rapid, dramatic KO can result from a single powerful punch to the head, especially to the jawline and temples, which can trigger a brain concussion or a carotid sinus reflex with syncope. Body punches, especially the liver punch, can result in crippling, escalating pain that can also produce a knockout.
In addition, a fighter’s decision to withdraw from the fight or the conclusion of one of their ringside supporters to stop their fighter from further action could result in a technical knockout.
How to knockout someone
There is science to knockouts! They do not occur by chance or because of a cosmic alignment. Angles, timing, technique, and, yes, a small amount of genetics and luck all play a role. Developing power is the first step in the punching technique.
The right cross and the left hook are the two most frequently employed power punches for knockouts. Straight rights can be effective, but lack the force and ability to turn the head. Uppercuts can also be effective, although they are harder to throw, land, and leave the puncher open to counter hooks.
A boxer should stand in a proper stance to throw an effective knockout punch. The front foot is flat on the ground and inclined at around 15 degrees. The boxer should tilt the back foot at a 45-degree angle and raise the back heel.
The boxer should lift both hands to cover their chin, but not high enough to hide the eyes, shoulders should be relaxed, and elbows lowered. A fighter should rotate their hips, torso, and feet according to the direction of the hand. They are throwing the knockout punch. The front foot should be flat, and the boxer should pivot the back at 45 degrees.
A boxer should then extend and swing the elbow as they swing the fist forward according to the direction they are throwing the punch.
A boxer should create a tight exhalation when they throw the punch. Some fighters will even go so far as exhaling correctly, and then immediately after the punch lands, their entire body contracts to harden the shot.
Final words
Some of the most iconic figures in boxing history became household names due to the strength of their fists rather than the world records, titles, or technical ability they possess.
The boxers with the most knockouts in boxing history are Archie Moore, Young Stribling, Sam Langford, Buck Smith, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Julio Chavez. Billy Bird is the boxer with the most knockouts in boxing history.
A Knockout is a blow that knocks the target unconscious making them not able to fight again. To perform a knockout punch, a boxer must ensure they have a proper stance, technique, and timing.
Each boxer should master their technique well enough through routine training to deliver phenomenal knockout punches.