When a former two-time heavyweight world champion speaks, the boxing world listens. Anthony Joshua, a fighter who has faced some of the most dangerous names in modern boxing, recently gave his candid opinion about who among his past opponents delivered the hardest punch. Surprisingly to some, Joshua named Wladimir Klitschko, not Oleksandr Usyk or Andy Ruiz Jr., as the man whose power he felt most devastatingly in the ring.

This revelation has sparked heated debates across the boxing community. Fans are intrigued by Joshua’s breakdown, especially since both Usyk and Ruiz scored career-defining victories over him. How could Klitschko—who Joshua stopped in 2017—be considered a more powerful puncher than the two men who actually beat him? To understand Joshua’s point of view, we need to analyze not just the punches, but also the styles, strategies, and psychological aspects of these heavyweights.

In this comprehensive article, we’ll dive deep into Joshua’s career-defining fights, examine the raw power of Klitschko, Usyk, and Ruiz, and explore why Joshua’s perspective makes sense when you consider boxing not just as a sport of fists but as a complex battle of physics, psychology, and tactics.

The Context Behind Joshua’s Statement

Joshua’s Journey Through Heavyweight History

Anthony Joshua’s career has been nothing short of dramatic. From his Olympic gold medal in 2012 to becoming a unified world champion, Joshua’s rise has been meteoric. Along the way, he has shared the ring with legends and dangerous challengers.

• 2017 vs. Wladimir Klitschko – A passing of the torch fight at Wembley Stadium. Joshua survived a knockdown to score a spectacular 11th-round TKO in what is considered one of the greatest heavyweight fights of the modern era.

• 2019 vs. Andy Ruiz Jr. – A shocking upset at Madison Square Garden, where Ruiz dropped Joshua four times before stopping him in the 7th round, ending AJ’s undefeated streak.

• 2021 & 2022 vs. Oleksandr Usyk – Back-to-back defeats against the Ukrainian maestro, who outclassed Joshua with technical brilliance and stamina, taking away his unified belts.

Each of these fights tested Joshua in different ways. But when asked about raw punching power, Joshua’s answer singled out Klitschko.

Wladimir Klitschko: The Hammer of the Heavyweight Division

The Legacy of Klitschko’s Power

Wladimir Klitschko, known for his disciplined jab, clinical approach, and thudding right hand, dominated the heavyweight division for nearly a decade. His power was not just in the force of a single punch but in the way he systematically broke down opponents.

Joshua’s fight with Klitschko in 2017 is a perfect example. Despite being past his prime, Klitschko floored Joshua with a devastating right hand in round six. Joshua later admitted that the punch left him seriously dazed, forcing him to dig deep into his reserves to survive.

Why Joshua Respects Klitschko’s Power

• Technique + Power: Klitschko’s punches carried not only brute strength but also perfect mechanics, maximizing impact.

• Knockout Resume: With 53 knockouts in 64 wins, Klitschko’s KO ratio (83%) is one of the highest among heavyweight champions.

• Experience Factor: Decades of championship-level competition honed his ability to deliver knockout blows under pressure.

For Joshua, Klitschko’s power represented something primal and raw—a reminder of what heavyweight boxing is fundamentally about.

Andy Ruiz Jr.: The Master of Speed and Combinations

Ruiz’s Shocking Victory

Andy Ruiz Jr. might not look like a traditional heavyweight, but his fast hands and unexpected explosiveness made him one of Joshua’s toughest opponents. In their 2019 clash, Ruiz combined speed, timing, and persistence to drop Joshua multiple times and secure one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.

Ruiz’s Punching Style

• Volume Over Single Power: Ruiz isn’t known for one-punch knockout power. Instead, his strength lies in throwing fast, accurate combinations that overwhelm his opponents.

• Element of Surprise: Few expected Ruiz to have such speed and timing, especially against the athletic and muscular Joshua.

• Durability Factor: Ruiz’s ability to absorb punishment and keep firing back amplified the psychological effect of his punches.

While Ruiz beat Joshua, his power was more about accumulation than devastation. Joshua himself clarified that although Ruiz’s punches were effective, they didn’t carry the same bone-shattering impact as Klitschko’s right hand.

Oleksandr Usyk: The Technician Over the Power Puncher

Usyk’s Dominance

Oleksandr Usyk, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion turned heavyweight ruler, defeated Joshua twice with his tactical genius. Usyk’s performances highlighted skill, movement, and precision rather than sheer force.

Usyk’s Strengths

• Footwork and Angles: Usyk consistently outmaneuvered Joshua, landing punches from unexpected positions.

• Endless Stamina: His ability to maintain a relentless pace made Joshua tire and lose rhythm.

• Volume and Accuracy: Usyk’s punches piled up points and damage over time, rather than delivering fight-ending knockouts.

For Joshua, Usyk’s victory was about brains over brawn. He admitted that Usyk’s punches weren’t the hardest he’d felt but were suffocating due to consistency and accuracy.

Why Joshua Named Klitschko the Hardest Puncher

Joshua’s reasoning rests on the difference between power and effectiveness.

• Klitschko: Raw knockout power, capable of ending fights with a single punch.

• Ruiz: Speed and surprise, effective in combinations rather than one-shot finishes.

• Usyk: Skill and stamina, defeating Joshua through accumulation and strategy.

When Joshua says Klitschko hit harder, he’s pointing to the raw, physical impact—the kind of punch that rattles bones and lingers in memory. Ruiz and Usyk, while successful against him, relied on other tools to claim victory.

The Science of Punching Power

Physics Behind the Punch

Punching power isn’t just about muscle—it’s about technique, speed, and timing. A well-delivered punch maximizes kinetic energy:

Force = Mass x Acceleration

• Klitschko, standing at 6’6” with a long reach, generated tremendous leverage.

• Ruiz, despite his body shape, used hand speed to deliver forceful, quick combinations.

• Usyk relied on precision, ensuring every punch landed clean.

Psychological Impact

Sometimes, the memory of a single punch can overshadow entire fights. Joshua’s knockdown at the hands of Klitschko was a moment etched in his career. By contrast, the defeats to Usyk and Ruiz were tactical and accumulative, not defined by one single devastating blow.

Public and Fan Reactions

Fans Divided

Boxing fans took to social media with mixed reactions:

• Supporters of Joshua’s view: They agreed that Klitschko’s KO record proves his raw power.

• Skeptics: Some argued that if Klitschko was truly the hardest hitter, Joshua should have lost to him instead of Ruiz or Usyk.

• Usyk Loyalists: Many insisted that Joshua downplayed Usyk’s impact, since two losses to the Ukrainian are still fresh in memory.

Analysts Weigh In

Boxing analysts generally agreed with Joshua’s distinction between punching power and winning strategy. Many noted that Klitschko’s legendary right hand remains one of the most feared weapons in heavyweight history, regardless of whether he ultimately lost to Joshua.

The Significance for Joshua’s Legacy

Joshua’s comments reveal a lot about his mindset. By acknowledging Klitschko’s power, he aligns himself with a fighter often regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. It also reframes his losses: Ruiz and Usyk may have defeated him, but Joshua emphasizes that it wasn’t because they hit harder—it was because of their strategy, timing, and consistency.

This narrative helps Joshua preserve the perception of his own durability and toughness, reminding fans that even when knocked down by Klitschko’s hammer, he rose to win in spectacular fashion.

The Bigger Picture: Boxing’s Eternal Debate

Joshua’s statement adds to the eternal boxing debate: What matters more, raw power or technical skill?

• Power punchers like Klitschko can end fights with one clean shot.

• Technical masters like Usyk can dismantle even the most powerful fighters.

• Hybrid threats like Ruiz combine speed and accuracy to upset expectations.

Joshua’s career provides a unique lens through which to view this debate, as he has fought all three archetypes.

Future Implications

For Joshua

Even as Joshua rebuilds his career, his reflections on past opponents will influence his future strategy. Acknowledging Klitschko’s power reminds him of the importance of resilience, while his losses to Ruiz and Usyk highlight the need to adapt against technical fighters.

For Boxing Fans

Fans now have more fuel for debates, comparing not just records and titles but also the nuances of style and power. Joshua’s words keep the legacies of Klitschko, Ruiz, and Usyk alive in boxing conversations.

For Heavyweight Boxing History

This discussion cements Klitschko’s reputation as one of the hardest punchers in history, even in the eyes of a modern champion. It also shows how power alone does not define greatness—tactics and adaptability remain equally crucial.

Conclusion

Anthony Joshua’s candid admission that Wladimir Klitschko hit harder than Oleksandr Usyk or Andy Ruiz is more than a casual remark—it’s a reflection on the very essence of heavyweight boxing.

• Klitschko embodied raw, destructive power.

• Ruiz shocked the world with speed and combinations.

• Usyk showcased technical mastery and endurance.

Together, they represent three different paths to success in the heavyweight division. Joshua, having shared the ring with all of them, provides a rare insider’s perspective on what it means to endure their best shots.

For fans and historians alike, Joshua’s words offer clarity: power may dazzle, but boxing greatness comes in many forms. And sometimes, the hardest punch isn’t the one that wins the fight—it’s the one you remember forever.