Top 25 Knockouts of the Last 25 Years | iVisit Boxing IVB

Written By Sugandan Balaji

Introduction

Some knockouts are more than just fight-ending blows — they become moments that define eras, shape legacies, and echo across generations. From heavyweight slugfests to lightning-fast featherweight finishes, the last 25 years have delivered unforgettable stoppages.

At iVisit Boxing (IVB), we believe that celebrating these moments is essential to honoring the sport’s intensity and artistry. This isn’t just a list — it’s a tour through modern boxing history, a tribute to the power, timing, and drama that make the KO the most electrifying moment in sports.

Let’s count them down — the most brutal, beautiful, and legendary knockouts of the last quarter-century.

The Knockouts (In No Particular Order)

1. Manny Pacquiao KO2 Ricky Hatton (2009)

  • A thunderous left hand ended the fight — and Hatton’s elite career — in one iconic moment.

2. Juan Manuel Marquez KO6 Manny Pacquiao (2012)

  • One of the most shocking counters in history. Pacquiao lunged in, and Marquez detonated a perfectly timed right hand.

3. Deontay Wilder KO1 Dominic Breazeale (2019)

  • Wilder’s raw power on full display. One right hand, one step, lights out.

4. Sergio Martinez KO2 Paul Williams (2010)

  • Southpaw stunner. Martinez’s left hook was so fast, Williams never saw it coming.

5. Nonito Donaire KO2 Fernando Montiel (2011)

  • A brutal left hook sent Montiel into a near seizure. Donaire at his sharpest.

6. Mike Tyson KO5 Francois Botha (1999)

  • In a comeback effort, Tyson found vintage form and folded Botha with a short right.

7. Lennox Lewis KO4 Hasim Rahman II (2001)

  • Redemption with violence. Lewis erased the memory of their first fight with a crushing KO.

8. Carl Froch KO8 George Groves II (2014)

  • Wembley Stadium erupted. Froch’s right hand landed clean and ended the rivalry.

9. Antonio Tarver KO2 Roy Jones Jr. (2004)

  • A left hook that shocked the world and sent Jones to the canvas in dramatic fashion.

10. Canelo Alvarez KO11 Sergey Kovalev (2019)

  • Patience turned into punishment. Canelo waited, then delivered a fight-ending combination.

11. Andy Ruiz Jr. TKO7 Anthony Joshua (2019)

  • Not a one-punch KO, but a sequence that stunned the world — Ruiz dropped Joshua four times.

12. Gervonta Davis KO6 Leo Santa Cruz (2020)

  • Uppercut from hell. In close quarters, Davis launched Santa Cruz’s chin into orbit.

13. Tyson Fury TKO11 Deontay Wilder III (2021)

  • Fury sealed their trilogy with a brutal late stoppage in an epic war.

14. Jermell Charlo KO8 Brian Castaño (2022)

  • Unified the division with precision power. A clean finish from Charlo.

15. Oscar Valdez KO10 Miguel Berchelt (2021)

  • Counter left hook sent Berchelt down — one of the scariest knockouts in recent memory.

16. Amir Khan KO1 Zab Judah (2011)

  • Speed, accuracy, and body shots. Khan at his fastest and most fluid.

17. Wladimir Klitschko KO12 Kubrat Pulev (2014)

  • Classic Klitschko: jab, jab, BOOM. Straight right shut Pulev down.

18. David Haye KO2 Enzo Maccarinelli (2008)

  • British boxing’s power showcase. Haye’s right hand couldn’t miss.

19. Errol Spence Jr. TKO11 Kell Brook (2017)

  • Accumulated punishment forced Brook’s corner to throw in the towel.

20. Bernard Hopkins KO9 Oscar De La Hoya (2004)

  • A rare body shot KO. Hopkins with the textbook liver punch.

21. Vasiliy Lomachenko TKO9 Roman Martinez (2016)

  • Speed and angles too much to handle. Loma dismantled a former champ.

22. Naoya Inoue KO2 Juan Carlos Payano (2018)

  • "The Monster" strikes. A perfect overhand right in under 90 seconds.

23. Artur Beterbiev TKO10 Oleksandr Gvozdyk (2019)

  • Power wore Gvozdyk down before the late-fight finish.

24. Katie Taylor MD Amanda Serrano (2022) — Honorable Mention

  • No KO, but one of the greatest women’s fights ever. Power, heart, and legacy.

25. Savannah Marshall KO2 Hannah Rankin (2020)

  • Technical, poised, powerful. Marshall sent a message with this early KO.

What Makes a Knockout Memorable?

  • Shock value: Was it unexpected?

  • Technique: Was it clean, efficient, and picture-perfect?

  • Stakes: Title fights and rivalries raise the impact.

  • Legacy impact: Did it define a fighter’s career?

IVB believes knockouts should be respected and studied, not just replayed.


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Sources:

  • The Ring Magazine KO of the Year Archives

  • CompuBox Fight Data

  • BoxRec & Fight Night Reports (1999–2024)

  • ESPN Ringside KO Rankings

Sugandan Balaji
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