The 10 Fastest Knockouts in Boxing History

Boxing fans absolutely love a knockout! The most exciting boxers in history are the knockout artists, they will always attract the biggest audiences.

Mike Tyson, Roman Gonzalez, Edwin Valero, George Foreman, Sonny Liston were all hugely popular during their eras for guaranteeing knockouts; and in recent times, Anthony Joshua, Naoya Inoue, Gervonta Davies, Jaron Ennis and Artur Beterbiev all have fans on the edge of their seats trying not to blink.

Below is a list of the top 10 fastest knockouts registered in boxing history:

10 Fastest Knockouts 

Mike Collins vs Pat Brownson – 4s

The famed fastest knockout in boxing history took place during a Minneapolis Golden Gloves tournament in 1947, between Mike Collins and Pat Brownson.

Collins landed just one punch in the opening seconds of the championship amateur bout that was damaging enough for the referee to instantly stop the fight at the official time of 4 seconds!

Seniesa Estrada vs Miranda Adkins – 7s

‘Super Bad’ Seniesa Estrada was making the third defence of her WBC Silver light-flyweight title to unbeaten challenger Miranda Adkins from Kansas, who had the perfect record with five wins – five KOs.

The championship contest took place during lockdown on a Golden Boy Promotions show, live on DAZN.

Spectators were treated to the what was the fastest knockout in female boxing history, as the Californian raced across the ring to meet the slack Adkins in her own corner instantly landing a three-punch combo to stun the unsuspecting, overmatched opponent, another four-punch volley knocking her out completely.

Estrada is now a two-weight world champion and reigning unified WBC, IBF, WBO minimumweight champion.

Phil Williams vs Brandon Burke – 10s

Despite possessing a checkered record, ending his career with 16 wins, 10 losses, and 3 draws, Phil Williams was muscular and powerful, scoring 14 KOs from 16 victories. 

‘The Drill’ won his first four fights by first-round knockout, one of which came in just 10 seconds.

Burke mistakenly raced out of the gates to swing a leaping right hand at Williams, who deftly side-stepped to his left, landing a right hook flush as he avoided the crude attack. Burke retired without any wins to his name.

Jeremy Williams vs Arthur Weathers – 10s

Calling himself ‘Half-Man, Half-Amazing’ sounds a bit egotistical, but the American backed up his claim with 43 wins and 35 KOs.

In 1996, at 9-0, he was able to stop Arthur ‘Stormy’ Weathers in just 10 seconds in Long Beach. A right hook to the body made Weathers attempt to hold, but a left hook grazing over the top of his head and a huge uppercut later and he was dropped heavily and out of the fight. At the time, it became the fastest knockout in professional boxing history.

Zolani Tete vs Sibonisa Gonya – 11s

Two-weight world champ Zolani Tete was well-known for his quick KOs, boasting 14 first-round knockouts. On a Frank Warren event in Belfast, it took just one whipping right hook from the South African ‘Last Born’ to stop Gonya in just 11 seconds, and it became the fastest finish ever in a world title fight.

Jimmy Thunder vs Crawford Grimsley – 13s

Samoan-born New Zealander Jimmy Thunder defeated the likes of Tony Tubbs, Trevor Berbick and Tim Witherspoon during his career, but will forever be remembered for his 13-second knockout over Crawford Grimsley in Flint, Michigan.

Grimsley had recently taken one of heavyweight’s biggest ever punchers, George Foreman, the distance, but Thunder knocked him with his very first shot – an overhand right.

Nigel Benn vs Ian Chantler – 16s

In his 11th pro bout, Benn scored his eighth first-round knockout. ‘The Dark Destroyer’ edged forwards, crouching low then landed a huge overhand right and the contest was stopped before it even started.

Daniel Jiminez vs Harald Geier – 17s

Puerto Rican Daniel Jiminez had a very checkered record but he was a proud world champion who took Marco Antonio Barrera the distance in a world title fight. 

However, his most notable win was when he needed just 17 seconds to upset Heral Geier in his Austrian hometown with just a single shot.

Allan Green vs Jaidon Codrington – 18 seconds

The ‘Ghost Dog’ Allan Green, from Tulsa, fought Glen Johnson, Mikkel Kessler and Andrew Ward during his career, but was unable to win a world title. However, he will forever be remembered for his stunning 18 seconds KO over ‘The Codrington Don’ in Miami in 2005 on a Lou DiBella show.

A left hook stunned Codrington as they traded early, then he trapped him in the corner and landed a further 11 left hooks to the body and head, but it was a straight right that landed flush that KO’d him on his feet, the last left hook sending him crashing to the canvas.

David Tua vs John Ruiz – 19s 

The Samoan-born New Zealander was 22-0 with 18 KOs when he challenged for his first title – the WBC International heavyweight championship.

Huge heavyweight puncher brutally took John Ruiz’s head off with a huge left hook to end the fight in 19 seconds. Conscious of his reach deficit, Tua quickly got on the inside of Ruiz to land a huge left hook to send him backpedalling to the corner where he pounced to land another chin-rocking left hook to finish him off.

He never went on to win a world title, but he took Lennox Lewis the full 12 rounds and will be remembered as one of his country’s greatest ever fighters.