Across the history of boxing, some of the biggest names in the sport have landed huge knockout wins — as well as finding themselves on the receiving end of them.
Notably, heavyweights are revered for their stopping power inside the squared circle, with iconic names in the sport’s always-exciting division turning in memorable stoppages.
But it’s not just the heavier fighters who have turned in notable finishes, with former world champion Manny Pacquiao turning in a devastating knockout win against one of his bigger rivals, for example.
- READ MORE — Top 10 biggest upsets in boxing history, including Mike Tyson being knocked out and Muhammad Ali’s shock win
Below, let’s rank the top five biggest knockout wins in the history of professional boxing.
5. Thomas Hearns flattens Roberto Duran – 1984
Back in 1984, light middleweight kingpin Thomas Hearns met with his fellow Four Kings stablemate, Roberto Duran, in a much-anticipated battle between two of the division’s all-time biggest stars.
Pitted together for the WBC and The Ring divisional crowns, Hearns and Duran met in a historic pairing known to this day as The Malice at the Palace.
Within just two rounds of their 12 round limit title showdown, Hearns had Duran in a world of hurt at the ropes with his blistering jabs and lengthy strikes.
And unleashing one of the bigger overhand shots of his career, Hearns sent Duran hurtling toward the canvas face-first for a brutal knockout win.
4. Juan Manuel Marquez breaks through against Manny Pacquiao – 2012
Suffering a trilogy of winless outings against the above-mentioned, Pacquiao over the course of their four-fight rivalry, back in 2012, Mexican icon, Juan Manuel Marquez, would finally break his long-standing curse against the Filipino megastar.
Matching up in a fourth pairing, billed as the Fight of the Decade — Marquez, who had previously dropped decision losses and fourth to a draw with Pacquiao, would shock the boxing world globally.
With rumors of a generational showdown between Pacquiao and the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather rife, Marquez upset the apple cart.
Finally breaking through, Marquez stepped back with mere seconds remaining in the sixth round, flattening Pacquiao with a pull, right hand straight counter — faceplanting ‘Pacman’.
3. Mike Tyson brutalizes Trevor Berbick in history-making win – 1986
Making the walk in his first championship fight, at just 20 years of age, veteran icon, Mike Tyson won the WBC title at the first time of asking — in a wholly dominant win over defending gold holder, Trevor Berbick.
A surefire guarantee for this list, Tyson, revered as one of the most devastating knockout artists of all-time, sent Berbick to the canvas early in the second round of their pairing.
And before that frame could conclude, Berbick was beaten flush with a huge uppercut from Tyson, and then a glancing left hook, with a delayed knockdown ultimately crowning Tyson as the youngest world heavyweight champion in the history of the sport.
2. Manny Pacquiao scores scary stoppage over Ricky Hatton – 2009
A monstrous showdown between the above-mentioned Pacquiao and Stockport favorite Ricky Hatton was booked for a massive light-welterweight title pairing back in 2009.
Still considered one of the biggest threats to the elite of the division despite his knockout loss to the previously noted Mayweather, British star Hatton worked his way back to an IBO and The Ring title clash.
But within just two rounds, Hatton would fall foul to a massive left hook from Pacquiao with just seconds remaining in the round.
Sent crumpled to the canvas on his back, a distraught Hatton spent some considerable time panned out, with Pacquiao landing one of the most devastating stoppage wins in recent boxing antiquity.
1. George Foreman stops Michael Moorer in throwback win – 1994
In boxing, it has been said that the last thing to go in a fighter’s arsenal is their power. Never has that claim been more evident than in George Foreman’s historic title win over Michael Moorer in 1994.
More than deep into his heralded heavyweight career, Foreman, who is often regarded as one of the most dangerous strikers in the history of combat sport, challenged Moorer for WBA and IBF heavyweight crowns toward his swan song.
And despite well-beyond his proverbial prime, Foreman in the tenth round, having taken some sizeable strikes from Moorer, too, uncorked a seemingly harmless short right hand straight, sending the former to his back with an almost frightening KO.
At 45 years of age, Foreman had returned to the pinnacle of the sport he had reached 18 years prior. Quite the feat from the late legend.