VA
  • TGT on YouTube
  • About TGT
  • The TGT Team
  • How TGT rates
  • Responsible Gambling Advice
  • Contact Our Team
  • Writers Wanted
  • Content Disclaimer
  • Affiliate Disclosure
Contains commercial content
Billboard Left
Billboard Left
The Grueling Truth - Where Legends Speak / Top 14 Body Punchers in Boxing History

Top 14 Body Punchers in Boxing History

Publish Date: 07/08/2023
Fact checked by: Mark Lewis

Greatest Body punchers

Everybody loves a knockout, but to be able to knock a man out with a body shot is awe-inspiring when you see it. Of course then you have to see all the fat losers on facebook posting the fight was rigged or the guys a bum, when we all know good and well why those dudes are sitting on the couch. As always chime in if you think we missed somebody.

14) Mickey Ward

“Irish” Mickey Ward became legendary for his devastating left hook to the liver – an effective punch that helped earn him multiple knockouts and gave him his signature style of fighting. Few boxers have relied so heavily on such one devastating punch to win their fights.

Video: Micky Ward: Routes to the Body

Micky Ward: Routes to the Body

13) Ricky Hatton

Hatton used his upstairs attacks to dispatch with former world level operator Freddie Pendleton in 2001 and Joe Hutchinson the following year, effectively ending decent opposition with one blow.

Hatton made headlines with one of his signature body shots against Jose Luis Castillo, HBO announcer Jim Lampley noted it as, “the perfect liver shot”.

Video: Ricky Hatton Body Punching Techniques

Ricky Hatton Body Punching Techniques

12) Jake La Motta

LaMotta made his mark by inflicting punishment upon opponents like Marcel Cerdan, Tommy Bell, Fritzie Zivic, Tommy Yarosz, Holman Williams and Sugar Ray Robinson – regularly engaging them close and taking hits as punishment in his trademark manner, while he tore relentlessly into his opponent’s body.

Video: Rare Footage: Newsreel of Jake LaMotta training at Gleason's Gym

Rare Footage: Newsreel of Jake LaMotta training at Gleason’s Gym

11) Eusebio Pedroza

Pedroza was a long time World Champion in the Featherweight division because of his body punching, sure sometimes they went a little low but he was a relentless body puncher.

Video: Eusebio Pedroza - Amazing Reflexes (Defense Highlight)

Eusebio Pedroza – Amazing Reflexes (Defense Highlight)

10) Gennady Golovkin

Most of us were first exposed to Golovkin’s body shots in his fight with Gregorsz Proksa; each knockdown was initiated by one or more body shots delivered by Golovkin.

His body attack is noteworthy for being so dynamic. He often changes angles, speeds, and targets mid-punch.

Video: Heavy Body shots by Golovkin knockout Macklin | Highlight

Heavy Body shots by Golovkin knockout Macklin | Highlight

9) Henry Armstrong

“Homicide Hank’s” strategy consisted in closing in, sticking to an opponent like super glue and unleashing heavy artillery into their breadbasket. Armstrong held the title in three weight classes simultaneously and is one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters that ever lived.

Video: The Greatest Infighter of All Time

The Greatest Infighter of All Time

8) Eder Jofre

Jofre was a great fighter that on several occasions turned fights in his favor because of his ability to body punch.

Video: Eder Jofre - Golden Bantam

Eder Jofre – Golden Bantam

7) Marco Antonio Barerra

Barerra was a highly skilled ring technician, but his greatest trait was his willingness to go to his opponent’s body. Barerra was an all time great fighter and a lot of that was because of his willingness to go to the body effectively.

Video: Marco Antonio Barrera: Routes to the Body

Marco Antonio Barrera: Routes to the Body

6) Julio Cesar Chavez

Chavez body punches became legendary throughout the 1980s and 1990s as his fists found their way beneath 87 stoppage victims’ ribcages en route to some devastating victories. “The Lion of Culiacan” always comes up when discussing great body punchers. The Meldrick Taylor fight was a perfect example of the damage Chavez could do to the body.

Video: Julio Cesar Chavez: Routes to the Body

Julio Cesar Chavez: Routes to the Body

5) Tony Zale

Zale was famed for his unyielding determination to whack away at his opponent’s ribs with two-fisted body attacks.

Video: Knockout of the Year; 1948 : Tony Zale KO3 Rocky Graziano III

Knockout of the Year; 1948 : Tony Zale KO3 Rocky Graziano III

4) Roberto Duran

Many people categorize Duran as a brawler, but he was a masterful counterpuncher and could attack the body with the best of them.

Video: Roberto Duran: Routes to the Body

Roberto Duran: Routes to the Body

3) Alexis Arguello

Arguello was an expert at patiently targeting hard blows to the midsection to wear down an opponent. A master body puncher, Arguello frequently combined head and body blows simultaneously in his arsenal of attacks.

Video: Alexis Arguello: Routes to the Body

Alexis Arguello: Routes to the Body

2) Mike McCallum

Anybody named the Body Snatcher should be high on this list. He was a great fighter, and no Duran and Hagler ever ducked him! This triple crown king, conqueror of Herol Graham, Donald Curry, Milton McCrory and Jeff Harding, was an all-time great.

Video: How McCallum Angled Body Blows Through The Guard

How McCallum Angled Body Blows Through The Guard

1) Joe Frazier

Smokin’ Joe began his attack with full focus on his opponent’s midsection, employing left hooks to the body as a precursor for an assault directed upward. Frazier to me is an underrated fighter, and his swarming, relentless attack made him a devastating force in his prime. His right to the liver was even more pulverizing than his left hook was, and that’s saying a lot.

Video: Joe Frazier: Routes to the Body

Joe Frazier: Routes to the Body

Billboard Left
Billboard Left
Read Also
Esteban de Jesus, Roberto Duran y AIDS (1972-89)
Many of us dream of celebrity sports fame, but only cruel individuals ...
Michael Nunn and Iran Barkley Discuss Their Bout, Bob Arum, and the Four Kings
Mountains to Climb, Pebbles in Your Shoe β€œI always say that was ...
BetMGM Promo
Elmer Ray: The Humble Man of Hastings
"Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for ...
Peter Maher: An Irish Tribute
INTRO: I was seriously ill in 2018 with 7 nights in the ...
Ranking the top 200 players in the NFL ahead of the 2021 season
This list isn’t based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. ...
Lady Tyger’s Tale: How Marian Trimiar Mauled the Boxing Establishment of the 1970s and 80s
To Feed the Ambition in Your Heart is Like Carrying a Tiger ...
The Forgotten Canadian Champion (And Maybe It’s Deserved): Billy Hawkins
As Mike Goodpaster and I prepare our popular Old-Time Boxing Show podcast, ...
The Army Boxer Who Knocked-Down Muhammad Ali (1960)
I had wanted to write a boxing story about Junebug Hudson for ...
The 1888 Colored Heavyweight Champion: George Godfrey
By January 1888, George Godfrey had been the Colored heavyweight Champion nearly ...
Sportsbook of the month
PointsBet - Get your Bonus Bet now! Get your Bonus Bet now!
Top Brands
Top Bonuses
Stake.us
Stake.us
Stake.us Review
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Review
4.6/5
High5Casino
High5Casino
High5Casino Review
4.5/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Review
4.5/5
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Review
4.5/5
Stake.us
Stake.us Bonus
$25 No Deposit + 250,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Bonus
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
High5Casino
High5Casino Bonus
$5 No Deposit + 250 GameCoins + 600 Diamonds
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Bonus
1,000 ($10) No Deposit Free Coins + 360,000 Gold Coins
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Bonus
$2 No Deposit Sweeps Coins + 27,777 Lucky Coins
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Latest News
Repeat or revenge – Zhiilei Zhang and Joe Joyce fight for second time
Rematches can be fun. Or unnecessary. And even ...
College Football Week 4: Top 5 Games to bet on: FSU/Clem, Colo/Oregon, ND/OSU...
Jordan Travis rallied Florida State late in last ...
1990 Colorado Buffaloes: The Controversial National Champions
1989 Colorado made history when they thwarted the ...
Betting Tips
09/17/2023 - 8:20 pm
Gillett Stadium
Tip:
Miami to Cover
-2.50
FanDuel
09/17/2023 - 7:10 pm
Coors Field, Denver, Colorado
Tip:
San Francisco Giants to Win
-225.00
FanDuel
09/17/2023 - 1:00 pm
Paycor Stadium
Tip:
Cincinnati to Cover
-3.00
FanDuel
Our Latest YouTube Videos
Video: AFC West X-Factor #4 - Russell Wilson #nfl #broncos #nflnews
AFC West X-Factor #4 - Russell Wilson #nfl #broncos #nflnews
Video: American Sign Language for Sports Tutorial - Part 2 #asl #sports
American Sign Language for Sports Tutorial - Part 2 #asl #sports
Video: American Sign Language for Sports Tutorial - Part 1 #asl #sports
American Sign Language for Sports Tutorial - Part 1 #asl #sports
Sportsbook of the month
PointsBet - Get your Bonus Bet now! Get your Bonus Bet now!
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....
Top Online Casinos
Top Casinos Bonuses
Stake.us
Stake.us
Stake.us Review
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Review
4.6/5
High5Casino
High5Casino
High5Casino Review
4.5/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Review
4.5/5
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Review
4.5/5
Stake.us
Stake.us Bonus
$25 No Deposit + 250,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Bonus
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
High5Casino
High5Casino Bonus
$5 No Deposit + 250 GameCoins + 600 Diamonds
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Bonus
1,000 ($10) No Deposit Free Coins + 360,000 Gold Coins
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Bonus
$2 No Deposit Sweeps Coins + 27,777 Lucky Coins
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
Bet365
Bet365
Bet365 Review
4.6/5
Caesars
Caesars
Caesars Review
4.6/5
PointsBet
PointsBet
PointsBet Review
4.5/5
BetMGM
BetMGM
BetMGM Review
4.5/5
Unibet
Unibet
Unibet Review
4.5/5
Bet365
Bet365 Bonus
Bet $1 & Get $365 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Bet $1 and Get $365in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Caesars
Caesars Bonus
Bet $50 Get $250 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
PointsBet
PointsBet Bonus
5 x $50Bet Credits
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
BetMGM
BetMGM Bonus
up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Unibet
Unibet Bonus
$100 Second Chance Bet
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
21+ and physically present in VA only. Terms & Conditions apply. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call, text or chat, VA Council on Problem Gambling on their confidential and toll free helpline at: 1-888-532-3500.
Our Team
Mike GoodpasterAuthor IconJosh SchwartzSamuel TeetsSimon Briffa
+8
Mike Goodpaster
Mike Goodpaster
Chief Editor
Author Icon
Christopher Carlson
Content Writer
Josh Schwartz
Josh Schwartz
Editor
Samuel Teets
Samuel Teets
US Sports Veteran
Simon Briffa
Simon Briffa
Sports Editor
Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis
Editor
Chris Benedict
Chris Benedict
Editor
Author Icon
Malik Zorrok
Author
Author Icon
Daniel Kornhauser
Author
John Raspanti
John Raspanti
Author
Author Icon
Buddy Gibbs
Author
Brian Coburn
Brian Coburn
Author
Peter Bonahoom
Peter Bonahoom
Author
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....

If you enjoy hearing from the legends of pro sports, then be sure to tune into β€œThe Grueling Truth” sports shows, β€œWhere the legends speak”

Contact us: contact@thegruelingtruth.com

Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.

21+NCPG
Move to Top
Close
Players accepted in the US US Flag
Stake.us Exclusive Bonus
$25 No Deposit + 250,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Promo Code
Copy
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 18+
Payment Methods
Bitcoin
Litecoin
Ethereum
Dogecoin
Highlights
  • Exclusive promo code: TGTSOCIAL
  • Play Plinko, Hilo, Crash and more!
  • Get Stake Cash bonuses every day!
Stake Originals
Dice
Crash
Plinko
Mines
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Visit Site