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Other exceptions are fighters that are physically strong, but are not knockout punchers, such as Mohamed Ali, Larry Holmes, and Evander Holyfield. When Ali, who was not thought of as being physically strong since he was not a powerful puncher, fought Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, and George Foreman, he was able to beat them by constantly holding, tying them up, and then out punching them. Holmes was physically stronger in his fights with Ernie Shavers, Ken Norton, and Gerry Cooney, but was not as strong a puncher as they were. Both Ali and Holmes had more stamina than opponents who were powerful punchers and physically stronger, which helped them outlast the opponents. Holyfield did not appear as strong as some of his opponents, such as Tyson, but he was able to control them and move them around the ring.

Punching power, physical strength, and huge, ripped muscles are not related. Some fighters have all three, some have two, and some only have one, but there is no correlation between the three. Take Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns for instance; Hagler was much physically stronger but Hearns was the more powerful puncher. Fighters such as George Chuvalo and Tex Cobb were both powerful men and yet neither had real knockout power.

Physical strength does not necessarily mean a fighter will be a powerful puncher, and a fighter who is not known as a powerful puncher may be very physically strong. Powerful punching requires strength in the muscles related to punching, using proper punching technique, and being able to put the two things together at the right moment to hit the right target.

Power Is Lost In the Joints

In punching, power is lost during its transfer through joints, primarily the shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints. Bones function as perfect transmitters of force since they have more strength longitudinally than in cross-section. Force moves readily down a bone until the bone ends, then it must transfer across a joint before traveling down the next bone. Misaligned, over-tensed, or under-tensed joints cause some of the force to be dissipated into the body. For example, people who wing their punches, tend to lose power at the shoulder and elbow.

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