LAS VEGAS – Deontay Wilder undoubtedly has established himself as one of the hardest-hitting knockout artists in boxing history. (photo by Ryan Hafey)

After watching Wilder knock out Luis Ortiz with one punch in the seventh round Saturday night, Ben Davison believes Wilder is the biggest puncher that has ever boxed. Tyson Fury’s trainer told a group of reporters following Wilder’s win at MGM Grand Garden Arena that Wilder doesn’t have an equal in terms of raw power.

Davison was asked if Wilder is “up there” among the sport’s hardest hitters historically.

“Up there?,” Davison replied. “He’s the biggest puncher in not just heavyweight history, [but] boxing history, bar none. And he’s proven it.”

Arguments clearly could be made for the likes of Jack Dempsey, George Foreman, Sam Langford, Lennox Lewis, Sonny Liston, Joe Louis, Earnie Shavers and Mike Tyson as the hardest-hitting heavyweights the sport has seen. Among the most powerful punchers who’ve competed below the heavyweight limit are Bob Fitzsimmons, Stanley Ketchell, Archie Moore, Ruben Olivares, Sandy Saddler and Jimmy Wilde.

Wilder, meanwhile, has won all but two of his 43 professional bouts by knockout. Only Bermane Stiverne and Fury have gone 12 rounds with Wilder since “The Bronze Bomber” turned pro in November 2008.

The long-reigning WBC heavyweight champion floored Fury twice in their fight, which resulted in a debatable 12-round draw last December 1 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Wilder previously dropped Stiverne three times on his way to knocking him out in the first round of their rematch two years ago at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The Tuscaloosa, Alabama, native will face Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs) in a rematch tentatively set for February 22 at a site to be determined.

The 34-year-old Wilder (42-0-1, 41 KOs) feels as though he has earned the distinction as the hardest puncher to have ever boxed.

“You know, at this point in time you’ve gotta give me my credit,” Wilder said during the post-fight press conference. “It’s sad that it took me over 40 fights to get the recognition that I truly deserve. Because when people see me, they’ve never seen my style. And I know it took a while to get used to what I display, my talent that I present to boxing. But it’s different than any other fighter. What I do is not textbook. You know, you can’t really teach it. And I think that’s what makes me unique. That’s what differentiates me from the rest of these fighters.

“Like I said, you know, none of these guys are willing to fight guys 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 pounds [heavier] and still knock guys out like that. And at this point in time, you know, I think I earned my due respect and my credit to say I am the hardest-hitting puncher in boxing history – period. And I earned that over and over again, continuously. Consistently, I do what I do time and time again, give people great fights and great knockouts, and try to fight the best. And still, when I fight the best, do it.” 

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.