Here's the countdown of Top 10 KOs in Boxing History
10. Mike Tyson KO1 Michael Spinks, June 27, 1988
This fight was Tyson at his peak, as he terrorized a petrified Spinks. It was a matchup of two unbeaten men holding heavyweight belts, but Spinks was battered around until Tyson stopped him. Tyson decked Spinks with a right to the body about 70 seconds into the fight. Spinks got up, but Tyson went right after him and quickly knocked him out with a short right hand.
9. Buster Douglas KO10 Mike Tyson, Feb. 10, 1990
Buster Douglas KO10 Mike Tyson, Feb. 10, 1990 – Tyson was a 42-1 favorite to defend his IBF/WBA/WBC heavyweight titles, but he was in trouble right from the start. He had a powerful jab that he kept popping in Tyson&'s face. Tyson dropped Douglas in the eighth, nearly saving his title, but Douglas came back strong. He hit Tyson with an uppercut and then a series of shots, that dropped Tyson. Tyson was unable to get up and suffered his first, and most stunning, defeat.
8. Thomas Hearns KO2 Roberto Duran, June 15, 1984
Hearns showed his power in this fight, dropping Duran twice in the first and ending the fight with a blistering straight right in the second that sent Duran face first to the canvas.
7. Juan Manuel Marquez KO6 Manny Pacquiao, Dec. 8, 2012
The fourth fight in the epic rivalry was the best of them all. Marquez knocked Pacquiao down in the third, but Pacquiao turned the tables in the fifth. Pacquiao seemed to be taking over in the sixth. Late in the round, Pacquiao threw a combination, backing Marquez to the corner. Pacquiao missed a lead right and walked into a perfect right from Marquez that sent him face first to the canvas and ended the match.
6. Rocky Marciano TKO13 Jersey Joe Walcott, Sept. 23, 1952
This fight marked the start of Marciano's reign as heavyweight champion. He was far behind on points, but caught Walcott on the chin with a right cross that led to one of the great boxing photos of all-time. The photo showed the punch at the moment of impact, with Walcott's face grotesquely contorted.
5. Marvelous Marvin Hagler KO3 Thomas Hearns, April 15, 1985
Regarded by many as the best short fight in boxing history, Hagler was too powerful for Hearns and proved it in this all-out slugfest. Hagler was cut in the third and knew he'd have to do something dramatic. Hagler landed a right hook to the head that staggered Hearns. Hagler literally ran across the ring after Hearns and cracked Hearns with a right. Hearns fell face first as Hagler celebrated a hard-fought win.
4. Joe Louis TKO1 Max Schmeling, June 22, 1938
With tensions rising between the U.S. and Germany because of the Hitler regime's aggressive foreign policy, the fight had societal, as well as sporting implications. Schmeling had beaten Louis in 1936 and Americans badly wanted to see Louis get revenge. He did so in a big way, knocking Schmeling down three times in the first, forcing referee Arthur Donovan to stop it.
3. George Foreman KO10 Michael Moorer, Nov. 5, 1994
Foreman was 45 years old and trying to regain the heavyweight title. He was being badly outboxed by Moorer throughout the first nine rounds, when his legendary punching power came to the rescue. Foreman threw a jab and a straight right behind it, crumpling Moorer, as HBO broadcaster Jim Lampley shouted, "It happened! It happened!" Foreman became, at 45, the sport's oldest heavyweight champion
2. George Foreman TKO2 Joe Frazier, Jan. 22, 1973
Frazier entered the bout as the champion, with a record of 29-0 with 25 knockouts. Foreman was 37-0 with 34 knockouts. It promised to be an action-packed fight, but it was all one-sided. Foreman knocked Frazier down six times, once lifting Frazier off his feet with a punch, en route to claiming the title.
1. Muhammad Ali KO8 George Foreman, Oct. 30, 1974
The bout was known as "The Rumble in the Jungle," and was held in Kinshasa, Zaire, now known as The Congo. Ali was seen as on the downside of his career and many were worried he'd be seriously injured. It was in this fight that Ali pulled out the "Rope-a-Dope" strategy.
Credit: Y! Sports
