Ranking the Best Boxers by Knockout Wins

Knockouts are a hallmark of boxing, demonstrating a fighter’s strength and capacity to win a fight conclusively. In the history of boxing, there have been many pugilists who have stood out with impressive knockout records. This article dives into the records of boxers who have become the stuff of legends due to their uncanny ability to put opponents on the canvas. ​

Best Boxing Knockout Record: Ranking the Most Impressive

1. Billy Bird – The Knockout Record Holder

British boxer Billy Bird boasts the record for most knockouts in the history of professional boxing, with an incredible 139 knockouts over a career that spanned from 1920 to 1948. Having fought in welterweight and middleweight classes, Bird’s persistence and never-say-die attitude in the ring made him a force to be reckoned with. ​

2. Archie Moore – The Old Mongoose

Archie Moore, known as “The Old Mongoose” accumulated 132 knockouts over his career, which saw him take on opponents from 1935 to 1963. Moore’s ring savvy and ability to adapt enabled him to fight successfully in varying weight categories, yet he is most famous as a light heavyweight. Moore’s knockout ability and staunch defence have cemented his place among the top boxers in history.

3. Young Stribling – The Georgia Deacon

Young Stribling, also known as “The Georgia Deacon” had 129 knockouts during his professional boxing career from 1921 to 1933. Stribling was an incredibly versatile boxer who competed at various weights, and his knockout record is one of the highest in the history of boxing.

4. Sam Langford – The Boston Bonecrusher

Sam Langford, “The Boston Bonecrusher” registered 128 knockouts between 1903 and 1926. Although racial segregation denied him an opportunity to bid for a world title, Langford’s ability and power rank him among the all-time greats.

5. Buck Smith – The Relentless Road Warrior

Buck “Tombstone” Smith was the ultimate career journeyman pugilist, amassing a record 121 knockouts in a career that lasted from 1987 until 2009. With a round-the-clock reputation, Smith frequently fought back-to-back bouts in brief spurts and consecutive days on occasion. His strategy was to learn and get paid at the same time, by fighting as frequently as possible, resulting in him taking part in more than 200 professional bouts.

Although his victories were mostly against unknown opponents, Smith’s capacity to punch out and dedication to the sport earned him the respect of fans. His uneven fight schedule regularly made him an unpredictable fighter to evaluate for bookmakers, with sportsbook boxing odds being highly variable depending on his opponent and the terms of the bout.

6. Kid Azteca – Mexican Knockout Artist

Kid Azteca, Mexico’s boxing legend, accumulated 114 knockouts in a career spanning over four decades from 1932 to 1961. Azteca was a powerhouse of punches, and his ring wisdom and flexibility kept him punching – and earned him accolades as a leading figure in boxing.

7. George Odwell – The British Powerhouse

British welterweight George Odwell amassed 111 knockouts in his career. An excellent and all-around fighter, Odwell ranks as one of the greatest welterweights.

8. Sugar Ray Robinson – The Pound-for-Pound King

Sugar Ray Robinson, arguably one of the greatest of all time, racked up 108 knockouts in his career spanning 1940 to 1965. His standards of speed, power, and technique were the benchmark for generations to follow, and his ability to fight in more than one weight class was proof of his greatness. In his prime, Robinson’s fights were big boxing news, with the public and experts all eager to see his next display of excellence. Whether he was delivering a devastating knockout or providing them with a lesson in footwork and counterpunching, his fights had fans enthralled. His impact extended well past the years that he fought, shaping the sport in ways still discussed to this day.

9. Alabama Kid – The Traveling Fighter

Clarence Reeves, “Alabama Kid;” accumulated 108 knockouts over a career of an amazing 208 bouts. His career saw him travel the globe, and his knockout tally is a testament to his durability and ferocity in the ring.

Best Boxing Knockout Record: The Legacy of Titans

The boxers listed above have carved their names into the history of boxing due to their record-breaking knockout achievements. Their ability to finish fights definitively not only earned them individual recognition but also intrigued people worldwide. Despite the evolution of the sport over

time, the legacy of these knockout specialists does not waver to motivate and inspire future generations of fighters.