best left hook in history?

[dreamroom]

I was on the "Liston-Holmes" thread talking about the "jab", which I believe Holmes was the best ever. It made me think of another punch. Who had the best hook ever.
So I'll start it off by choosing Frazier. The power he had in his lead hook was amazing.

[Marchegiano]

Joe Walcott's Sucka Punch.

Jersey Joe sometimes isn't in orthodox or southpaw. Sometimes Jersey has his feet in orthodox and his shoulders and guard at southpaw. He'll jab with his lead right and throw crosses with what is now his back left. When the opponent isn't paying attention, ala, the shuffling and shoulder rolling to distract, Joe lets rip a preloaded left.

It's more subtle than words describe but that is what he's doing. That's how he dropped Rocky and how he caught Charles. Generally speaking, I think Joe Walcott's bag of tricks are underrated, but, that left hook though; seriously underrated.

[markusmod]

I was always a sucker for the De La Hoya left hook.

[QueensburyRules]

I was on the "Liston-Holmes" thread talking about the "jab", which I believe Holmes was the best ever. It made me think of another punch. Who had the best hook ever.
So I'll start it off by choosing Frazier. The power he had in his lead hook was amazing.

- -Wlad obviously. He not only had a poleaxe jab ranging all the way down to a multiple Beachslaps as he demonstrated against the fraudulent Pinky Toe Haye, but he had several level hooks off that jab all the way up to maybe the most pulverizing left hook in history.

Admit that Joe knocking Ali on his keister is arguably the best left hook in history.

[DeeMoney]

I don't know if they are the best, but Trinidad and Wilfredo Gomez should be in the discussion. RJJs lead hook was always fun. Lots of Heavies could be in the mention, Tyson, Patterson, Morrison are up there (but probably not Smokin Joe level)

[The Old LefHook]

Gotta go with Art Hafey on this one.

[billeau2]

left hook Lacy...He was so good he was named after it!!

Ok seriously. Hard to say "best." Its used differently in different styles of boxing. Mexican fighters often don't employ a jab and use a hook as a lead shot... Some of them can throw a double, or even triple hook, varying the speeds and power. Jones could catch people with the punch with no set up to speak of... Body punchers like Mccallum and Cotto used it close to the body and could KO someone with a body shot (like Hopkins did to Oscar).

Tommy Morrison had a textbook Left Hook, with power to spare. Cooney was able to do something atavistic from the old days: set up footwork for a fade to the left to get the shot off. In other words think two steps ahead countering the opponent by fading in and throwing the shot... very impressive skill. I noticed lefty mentioned Walcott's feint & hook.

Frazier did not throw the hook textbook but used it exclusively in what might be the most competative division for heavyweight boxigng ever... One punch! and Joe could win against great fighters, just using the hook. Thats pretty damn impressive.

The preclassical guys also used the hook skillfully. With smaller gloves one had to plant the punch under the opponent's elbows, or risk a broken hand. So who had the best? I don't know...

[HOUDINI563]

In the heavyweight division Dempsey had the best left hook. Thrown very short to head or body with the full weight of his body behind the blow. And it was an ultra quick blow as well.

[latinbay]

Joe Frazier was best known for his dominating left hook.

[Willie Pep 229]

Deliberately misreading the OP - the three most devastating left hooks I have seen (one live; two on film) were Dempsey felling Willard (1st KD); Patterson and the quivering swede's left foot, and the two hooks SRL almost killed Davey Boy Green with.