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- Tua and Eubank made history with quick KOs, and McClellan retained the title with a 20-second KO.
- They set the tone with quick, decisive blows in these powerful matches, cementing their legendary status in the ring.
- Collins holds the Guinness World Record for most four-second knockouts and displays unparalleled raw power and skill in the ring.
In the world of boxing, a quick, resounding knockout is the pinnacle of excitement and raw power. The bell may have just rang, with boxers either wanting to go home as soon as possible or moving on to the next match, but a knockout punch will definitely keep people talking for years. These 10 of his knockouts are record-breaking moments in boxing history and showcase some of the most awe-inspiring skills that have made these boxers legends of the sport.
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Ten David Tua KOs John Ruiz in 22 seconds
Tua's only major achievement to date was a bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics
- While Tua never won a world title, Lewis became a two-time WBA heavyweight champion.
Tua, a 23-year-old Samoan-New Zealand powerhouse reminiscent of Mike Tyson and Rocky Marciano, wasted no time in taking control. With the bell still ringing in the arena, Tua delivered a devastating left hook that quickly dropped Lewis to the canvas at the 19-second mark, completely defeating the “Quiet Man.”
9 Chris Eubank knocks out Reginald dos Santos in 20 seconds
One of the best first round, first punch fights of all time
- He knocked out dos Santos in September 1990, just before his middleweight title fight with Nigel Benn.
In preparation for his legendary fight with Nigel Benn in November 1990, Chris Eubank faced a relative unknown dos Santos in September of the same year. Despite dos Santos' 11-4 record and the referee's slow response, the bout was Eubank's fastest victory ever, landing a devastating right hand within the first 10 seconds.
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8 Gerald McClellan knocks out Jay Bell in 20 seconds
G-Man turned Jay Bell over on his stomach.
- McClellan defended his title three times before a near-fatal fight with Nigel Benn in 1996.
June 8, 1993 was a quick day for Gerald McClellan. McClellan (29-2) landed his powerful left hook to the kidney and immediately sent Bell (17-2) to the canvas. Bell never got up and was examined by ringside doctors for several minutes. In his fight with Jay Bell, McClellan won the WBC world middleweight title.
7 Daniel Jimenez KOs Harald Geyer in 17 seconds
Geyer had a 20-0 record before facing Jimenez in 1994.
- Geyer challenged Daniel Jimenez for the WBO super bantamweight title in 1994 in his native Austria.
Daniel Jimenez defeated Duke McKenzie to win the WBO super bantamweight title before knocking out Geyer in 17 seconds. He is a two-division world champion, WBO junior featherweight title (1993-1995) and WBO bantamweight title (1995-1996). Bell took a shot to the solar plexus and fell to the floor, and referee Tony Perez called the match over.
6 Nigel Benn KOs Ian Chantler in 16 seconds
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- Benn, also known as “The Dark Destroyer,” won world championships in two weight classes, including the 1990 WBO middleweight title and the WBC super middleweight title from 1992 to 1996.
Early in his professional career, Ben faced a relatively unknown and inexperienced Englishman called Ian Chantler. Benn was 10-0 (seven of those wins came in the first round) before fighting Chantler, and it took him just 16 seconds to defeat Chantler in Wisbech, England.
Five Jimmy Thunder knocks out Crawford Grimsley in 13 seconds
One Punch Man Grimsley defeated the man who defeated Foreman.
- Referee Monte Oswald initially did not give a countdown when Grimsley went down.
In a scene straight out of Rocky IV, Grimsley, the fighter who once kept distance from George Foreman, started the fight by throwing a jab. Sander punched back with a right hand, knocking Grimsley out. The fight lasted a total of 13 seconds including counting.
Four Zolani Tete knocks out Siboniso Gonya in 11 seconds
Tete's 21st KO win and 26th career win
- Tete and Gonya fought for the WBO bantamweight title in 2017.
A bout that may have faded from boxing fans' memories was in 2017 when the South African duo challenged for the WBO world bantamweight title, with Tete successfully defending it. It took Tete just 11 seconds from the start of the first round to defeat Gonya, handing him the second loss of his career and his first by knockout.
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3 Jeremy Williams knocks Arthur out in 10.5 seconds
Williams had suffered nine consecutive knockout losses before this fight.
- That 1996 fight put Williams in boxing's knockout history.
William's trainer, Joe Goosen, was in his corner wishing William luck in the fight. The moment Goosen turned around, the battle was over. Williams and Weathers fought in front of just 3,100 spectators. Weathers threw a powerful jab, but local favorite Williams deftly dodged it. Seizing this opportunity, the Long Beach native retaliated with a thunderous body shot that seamlessly transitioned into his devastating right uppercut. The impact was immediate. Weathers collapsed to the canvas, his eyes reflecting the brutal toll of the onslaught.
2 Phil Williams knocks out Brandon Burke in 10 seconds
Fastest knockout record in professional boxing history
- Williams only fought in four matches before facing Burke in 2007.
Phil “The Drill” Williams entered the game with a 3-0 record against Burke, who is 0-2-1. In what could only be celebrated as a highlight-reel victory for Williams, Burke learned a lesson: never run into your opponent first. Williams caught Burke with a clean right hand and knocked Burke to the floor within just 10 seconds.
1 November 1947, Mike Collins knocks out Pat Brownson in 4 seconds
Guinness World Records that have yet to be broken
- Knockout recorded at the Minneapolis Golden Gloves, a regional amateur boxing tournament held in Minnesota in 1947.
The fastest knockout victory in boxing history came not from Mike Tyson or Muhammad Ali, but from a Minnesota regional champion named Mike Collins. Officially entered in the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest knockout in boxing history, Collins vs. Pat Brownson lasted just four seconds. Collins landed the first and only punch of the fight before the referee stopped the fight just four seconds later.
