Expert: Lian Shoemake - 12/19/2008

Question
Hi Lian given his awesome punching power in the mid to late 1980's would you say that Mike Tyson was the biggest puncher maybe the biggest puncher in the heavyweight division in the 1980's? Thanks:Aaron Wake

Answer
Hi Aaron,
Thanks for the question.
The 80's was a pretty bleak decade for the heavyweight division overall. It started with Larry Holmes as the recognized champion through 1985, then Tyson picked up the baton in late 1986. I'm struggling to remember any truly huge punchers during that time frame...James "Bonecrusher" Smith comes to mind, but I really only remember two relevant knockout wins for him (over a weak-chinned Frank Bruno, and over a completely disinterested Tim Witherspoon). Donovan "Razor" Ruddock didn't really come onto the scene until 1990 or later, and Witherspoon himself was not really a devastating puncher. So given all that, I'd say that yes, Tyson might well have been the biggest puncher in the heavyweight division in the 80's (with the caveat that the still-active Earnie Shavers was no longer a major factor in the division, though he might have been the hardest hitting heavyweight ever).
Sorry for the long answer to an interesting and fun question :)

Happy Holidays to you and yours, Aaron!
Lian