Barak Bess believes that Deontay Wilder is the hardest puncher in the history of boxing.
The 35-year-old American was back in the ring after a year’s absence, fighting Robert Helenius in a comeback fight after his trilogy with Tyson Fury concluded last October.
Wilder had admitted that he had considered walking away from the sport only to be tempted back, and at a lean 214lbs showed he still retained his astonishing power, delivering what seemed a relatively innocuous blow to his Scandinavian opponent in the first round and leaving him out cold.
While the Bronze Bomber has long been known for his strength, Bess said on the DAZN Boxing Show that he believes him to be the hardest puncher of any era, of any division.
He said: “Sometimes we say Deontay Wilder is one of the - or perhaps the - hardest puncher of all time in every division.
“I want to go on record and say Deontay Wilder is the hardest puncher in boxing of all time.
“Just talking about George Foreman. George Foreman was a really big guy who swung for the fences. He put everything into every shot, he made Joe Frazier jump. But those punches looked like they were meant to hurt.
“Deontay Wilder, I‘ve seen him graze fighters and drop them. This particular punch was a counter-punch against the ropes. He wasn't even positioned properly. Still, it should not have given us that result.
“Deontay Wilder’s power is God-given, it is amazing. That’s what you call freakish power. 214lbs knocking out a guy who is 30lbs more than him. That is incredible.”