Boxing specialists debate who has the harder punch between Joshua and Wilder

It happens across all sports.

Team sports like football, rugby, and cricket, we always have, who’s going to win this match.

In singular sports like tennis, we always have who is going to win this match up.

In boxing, it’s no different. The debate is the same – who is the better of these two fighters?

At the moment, both Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder are men very much in-form in the boxing world.

Both are powerful and strong fighters with perfect knockout records. But, when push comes to shove, who has the more powerful punch?

Anthony Joshua

Joshua, or AJ as he is also known, has been making headlines ever since his bout with Wladimir Klitschko back in April this year.

Many thought Klitschko would dismantle the relative newbie because of his previous bouts against less than suitable fighters, but Joshua made a name for himself by taking Klitschko to round 11 before landing a TKO after a series of strong blows.

This was his 19th straight KO, and currently Joshua holds the IBO, WBA, and IBF titles as a unified world heavyweight champion.

Deontay Wilder

At his weigh-in in New York yesterday, for his fight against Bermane Stiverne II, Deontay Wilder came in lighter, but don’t let that fool you.

‘The Bronze Bomber’ as he is known has won 37 of his 38 fights by knockout and only one by decision.

In his last fight in February this year against Gerald Washington, Wilder finished off Washington in the fifth round with a strong right hand to retain his WBC title.

Who's got the strong punch? The Panel decides

Some members of the Sky Sports boxing panelist team ‘The Panel’ have given their views.

The panel made up by Carl Froch, Jamie Moore, Spencer Oliver, Paul Smith, promoter Eddie Hearn, Jim Watt, Glenn McCrory, and Johnny Nelson often help out with these types of debate and this one about who has the stronger punch was just too good to miss.

Johnny Nelson said: “I would say Joshua, without a doubt. Joshua has speed, he has timing and he has incredible power. You look at the knockouts he's had compared to the knockouts that Wilder's had and it tells the story.

"You just have to side with Joshua every day of the week, there are just so many KOs on his record. I think his all-round technical game is better and he is more dangerous with his power."

But, Carl Froch claimed: “Wilder has got the power that when he hits someone with one shot, you think ‘woah.’ He puts everything into every punch, swings away, and it's dangerous to watch. You are always on the edge of your seat."

Froch, who retired in 2014 after his second fight and win over George Groves, had 33 wins and 24 KOs with only two defeats to his name.

Jamie Moore also backed up Froch, adding: “If it came down to single pound-for-pound punch power, then I would have to side with Wilder.”

And, Paul Smith was inclined to agree too, as he said: "I think AJ is the better fighter, but for all-round knockout power, I would side with Wilder.”