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.