Veteran trainer Naazim Richardson is going to receive from criticism, after stating that he believes WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder might be the hardest punching heavyweight in history.

Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) has knocked out every opponent that he ever faced in the ring.

Bermane Stiverne went the full twelve round distance back in January 2015, but in last year's rematch Wilder demolished him in the very first round.

In his long history in the sport, Richardson has never seen anything like the power that Wilder carries in his fists. 

And Richardson is anticipating some critics to question his statements.

“I said he might be the best heavyweight puncher in history and people are like, ‘How can you compare him to Joe Louis and Mike Tyson and George Foreman?’” Richardson tells Boxing News. “The reason I say that is this: they were all better fighters than him.

“Tyson was technically sound. His defence was beautiful. His hand and foot speed was the fastest since Muhammad Ali. He had a different style, of course, but his hands and his feet were fast. His head movement was beautiful. He was damn hard to hit.

“George Foreman’s jab was way more educated than Deontay Wilder’s. They all had better attributes than him. Deontay didn’t have any of that when he started winning and defending world titles. He just hit you. I mean, he f***ing hit you.”

Currently the biggest fight in boxing is a unification between Wilder and IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO world champion Anthony Joshua.

Richardson is obviously backing Wilder to win that contest, likely by knockout.

He gave Joshua a much better chance - until watching Wilder's knockout victory over Luis Ortiz in March - because Richardson viewed Ortiz as possessing the best boxing skills among the current crop of heavyweights.

“I believe he punches harder than (Wladimir) Klitschko. And I saw Klitschko rock him. I also believe he punches harder than David Price, who they say knocked Joshua out in sparring," Richardson said.

“I used to feel the most technically sound boxer in the heavyweight division was ‘King Kong’, Luis Ortiz. Joshua is nice and is younger, but ‘King Kong’ was the best boxer. He could change things up better than Joshua. But Deontay Wilder weathered that storm. Before ‘King Kong’, I thought Joshua had a better chance. But he now knows he can get to those guys who box better than him. He knows he can get them if he takes his time.

“He also showed a good chin to hang on. Every time I saw Tyson hurt, he lost. Every time I see Joshua hurt in a fight, he damn near goes down. When you see Wilder hurt, he still stands his ground. He’s never shown fear or apprehension.”