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Hearns, Hagler, Leonard, De La Hoya, Duran on KO Power
By James Blears
Are you born with knockout power? Is it a force of nature or a product of nurture?
At the World Boxing Council's 52nd Convention in the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, nine former champions who are forever stars and often made opponents see stars, harbored few doubts about dishing out some forthright answers.
Between them Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Nigel Benn, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Kostya Tszyu, John H Stracey, Evander Holyfield and Oscar de La Hoya...who were at hand, amassed a combined 351 knockouts in their galaxy of careers.
Here's what they had to say about their punctuated artistry:
Tommy Hearns. 48 KO's:
"I think we're born with power, but you have to master it. You have to bring it out, and after a few years I was able to put together some power. My KO of Roberto Duran was an incredible knockout, because he was known as a a great fighter. No one had yet knocked him out, so it was wonderful for me. I had power in both hands. But my right hand carried more power so I concentrated on that more. Once you develop a powerful punch, it's something that you never loose. It's a blessing from God, but it's something you can train your body to do. You've got tweak what God has given you, and turn it into what you want."
Roberto Duran. 70 KO's
"The first power is faith and to thank God that he has given you the strength. My Father was Mexican and my Mother was Panamanian. She was indigenous and and she prayed for my strength. The power in my hands is equal. It's also to do with speed."
Nigel Benn. 35 KO's.
"Um...yes! I've got "Hands of stone sitting right next to me! I have always had power. You can learn to punch harder, but I think you're actually born with it. We had some great fighters that had a lot of power, but didn't know how to use it, or didn't have a good chin. It's also knowing how to use it at the right time. Every time I threw a punch, it was with intention!"
Sugar Ray Leonard. 25 KO's.
"You have to set someone up for that punch, so it's the sweet sauce of boxing. It is timing. It's that intuitive feeling that some of us have and it's like a radar. It's a feel. I can look at you and want to hit you on the nose, but for the most part I'll hit you on the lip, so I always go where it's supposed to go. My left hook was without question my power punch, but my right hand could lead up to some serious disaster."
Marvin Hagler. 52 KO's.
I think I was born with it. I don't think it's easy to develop it. No one can really teach you how to knock somebody out. Sometimes you can knock a guy out without even the power, so it depends on how you use it. I hit a lot of guys and had them on Queer Street, and then you can hit that same guy and wake him right back up again, so you've got to know how to use it."
Kostya Tszyu. 25 KO's.
Power is transferring not only from your feet and your hands, it's from your mind. You can teach punching power. Some people have heavy punches. Some have tremendous speed punches. I have a combination of speed and power, and to knock out people with excitement. Actually with my first big knockout was when I was around forty kilograms. I knocked a person out cold and I thought....I've got something!"
John H Stracey. 37 KO's.
"I think you are born with a punch because what makes you go into boxing in the first place? I used to play football and cricket, but suddenly boxing appealed so much to me. And as you progress during the years, you develop, and I developed a good left hook, as I'm left handed. So I think the boxing is inside you and it will come out. The timing is the most important ingredient, because anyone can have a good punch, but sometimes they don't connect properly. But if you have got that ability, It's only a matter of time before it happens."
Evander Holyfield. 29 KO's
I don't think anyone is born with anything. You learn it by lifestyle, how you come up and what you're doing and how hard the struggle is when you're young. If you're brought up in a wealthy family, you never had to swing and never had to throw rocks and climb trees and all these different things. Lifestyle develops you for what life may be for you."
Oscar De La Hoya. 30 KO's.
I believe to a certain degree you can develop power, but you have to be born with that punching power and the majority of the fighters here were born with punching power. My left jab and my left hook were my bread and butter. It's positioning, timing, when to throw it, it's knowing how to throw it. This all starts from the balls of your feet. If you're born with punching power, it makes your life much easier. www.pacifictrainingcenter.com
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