When examining a boxer’s record one of the key indicators of their prowess is not just how many wins they have to their name, or their unbeaten record, but the number of victories they have by knockout.
A knockout occurs when the referee is able to administer a ten count to a fallen or woozy fighter who cannot get back to his or her feet within the time limit.
However, that’s not the only kind of knockout that a fighter can inflict on his or her opponent - there is something called a technical knockout which has its own qualities.
What is a knockout?
A knockout is when a boxer falls to the canvas and the referee then counts to ten in order to give the fighter the chance to get back to his feet and restart the bout.
That usually happens when a fighter is struck so heavily, typically with a blow to the head, that he falls to the ground or may lose consciousness - briefly or for an extended period of time - and so is not able to rise again to fight.
Fighters can also elect to take a knee in the midst of a fight if they feel they are unable or unwilling to compete any further, at which point the referee would perform a ten count.
What is a technical knockout?
A technical knockout, sometimes abbreviated to TKO, is when a referee believes that a fighter can't remain in the fight safely and the fight is brought to a close.
That may occur if a fighter is unsteady on his feet after a traditional knockdown to the canvas, or if the fighter is unable to properly defend himself or herself against their opponent. Rather than allowing a fighter to proceed to what may be an inevitable physical knockout, the referee would stop the fight in order to prevent any further physical trauma.
A technical knockout could also come if a fighter decides that he or she is no longer able to take part in the fight, or one of his or her ringside team decide to withdraw their fighter from any further action.
In some boxing matches, three knockdowns in a single round can bring a mandatory declaration of a TKO, and the same can happen if a ringside physician believes that the fight should no longer continue.
Is there a significant difference between a KO and TKO?
Not in the grand scheme of things. When a fighter's record is listed (for instance "20 fights, 20 wins with 16 KOs"), both knockouts and technical knockouts are included as victories achieved within the distance. There isn't really any attempt by anyone to claim traditional knockouts are superior victories to TKOs/stoppages. To fighters, fans and promotional teams, it is merely a superficial difference where it counts.
Which boxers have the most wins by knockout?
Knockouts and technical knockouts tend to feature more prominently higher up the weight divisions, such is the punishment that each fighter can deliver with a single blow. Lower down the weight classes, fighters tend to focus on outpointing their rivals by producing a greater quantity of punches. Heavyweights, for example, are more able to send their rivals to the canvas given they can focus more power into one punch. Below are the boxers with the most knockouts to their name.
- Billy Bird (138 knockouts)
- Archie Moore (132)
- Young Stribling (129)
- Sam Langford (128)
- Buck Smith (120)
- Kid Azteca (114)
- George Odwell (111)
- Sugar Ray Robinson, Alabama Kid (108)
- Peter Maher (107)
- Sandy Saddler (103)