Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua, Mike Tyson? Which heavyweight champion has the best KO percentage in history

Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua, Mike Tyson? Which heavyweight champion has the best KO percentage in history
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After knocking out Luis Ortiz on Saturday night in Las Vegas, Deontay Wilder declared himself to be the ‘hardest hitting puncher in boxing history’.

While this is of course entirely subjective and will never be factually proven, KO percentage statistics do appear to support the WBC title-holder’s bold claim.

Deontay Wilder stopped Luis Ortiz again

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Deontay Wilder stopped Luis Ortiz again

Wilder has the highest knockout ratio of any heavyweight champion past or present, as he’s scored 41 early finishes from his 43 fights to date.

Also near the top is Anthony Joshua. Despite losing his unified heavyweight world titles to Andy Ruiz Jr last time out, AJ still has 21 KOs from 23 fights in total.

Check out our full list of the top ten heavyweight champion KO percentages below.

Disclaimer: Some early champions from the pre-1940s era were unable to be considered for this list as their records are disputed and/or incomplete.

NO GOOD


Tyson Fury gives damning assessment of Deontay Wilder’s ‘terrible’ win over Ortiz

ROUND TWO


Fury backs ‘little fat pig’ Ruiz to beat Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia rematch

It’s on


Wilder and Fury rematch set to be announced… just before Joshua faces Ruiz

IN SHAPE


Eubank Jr looks chiselled as he prepares for bout on same day as Ruiz vs Joshua II

KING KONG CONJECTURE


Luis Ortiz reveals why Deontay Wilder will KO Tyson Fury in rematch

TROPHY


Wilder vs Fury rematch to have special prestigious belt on the line, as well as WBC

SHOWDOWN


Celebrity singer reveals Eddie Hearn is up for staging boxing bout vs rival singer

HEAVY HITTER


What Wilder said about his place in history after brutal win over Ortiz

NO BOTHER


Tyson Fury reacts to Wilder’s KO of Ortiz with funny message on social media

FIRST LOOK


Inside Anthony Joshua’s Saudi Arabia gym and stadium for Andy Ruiz Jr rematch

G.O.A.T


Wilder branded ‘the greatest of all time’ by Muhammad Ali’s ex-wife after Ortiz KO

turnaround


Wilder was behind on all three scorecards at time of brutal knockout vs Ortiz

10. Shannon Briggs – 77.9% KO Ratio (68 Fights, 53 KOs)

Briggs held the WBO belt in 2006/07

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Briggs held the WBO belt in 2006/07

9. Mike Tyson – 78.6% KO Ratio (56 Fights, 44 KOs)

Tyson unified the WBA, WBC & IBF titles between 1986-90, held the WBC title again in 1996 and also held the WBA title again later in 1996

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Tyson unified the WBA, WBC & IBF titles between 1986-90, held the WBC title again in 1996 and also held the WBA title again later in 1996

8. Charles Martin – 80.0% KO Ratio (30 Fights, 24 KOs)

Martin held the IBF title in 2016 and is still active today

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Martin held the IBF title in 2016 and is still active today

7. David Haye – 81.3% KO Ratio (32 Fights, 26 KOs)

Haye held the WBA title between 2009-11. He was previously also WBA, WBC & WBO cruiserweight champion

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Haye held the WBA title between 2009-11. He was previously also WBA, WBC & WBO cruiserweight champion

6. George Forman – 84.0% KO Ratio (81 Fights, 68 KOs)

Foreman held the WBC & WBC titles in 1973/74 and held the WBA & IBF belts in 1994/95

getty

Foreman held the WBC & WBC titles in 1973/74 and held the WBA & IBF belts in 1994/95

5. Frank Bruno – 84.4% KO Ratio (45 Fights, 38 KOs)

Bruno held the WBC title in 1995/95

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Bruno held the WBC title in 1995/95

4. Vitali Klitschko – 87.2% KO Ratio (47 Fights, 41 KOs)

Klitschko held the WBC title between 2004-2005 and 2008-12

Klitschko held the WBC title between 2004-2005 and 2008-12

3. Rocky Marciano – 87.8% KO Ratio (49 Fights, 43 KOs)

Marciano held the NBA (later became the WBA) title between 1952-55

Getty Images – Getty

Marciano held the NBA (later became the WBA) title between 1952-55

2. Anthony Joshua – 91.3% KO Ratio (23 Fights, 21 KOs)

Joshua unified the WBA, IBF & WBO titles between 2016-2019 and is still active today

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Joshua unified the WBA, IBF & WBO titles between 2016-2019 and is still active today

1. Deontay Wilder – 95.3% KO Ratio (43 Fights, 41 KOs)

Wilder has held the WBC title since 2015 and is still active today

Getty

Wilder has held the WBC title since 2015 and is still active today

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