V. Lemeshev—perfect timing & punch placement personified🔥

[Kovalev's "Man Bag"]

Vyacheslav Lemeshev had the touch of death. His power combined with impeccable timing & accuracy made his knockouts look absolutely effortless. As a famous Soviet boxer back in the 70s, unfortunately, he never had the opportunity to turn pro. Sadly chronic hand injury and subsequent alcoholism derailed his promising career. He would later succumb to severe illness and die a beggar in his 40s.

Lemeshev was a KO machine that managed to knock out most of his opponents. What was most scary in particular is that he didn't even need to sit down on his straight right hand, or get full extension, to put his opponents' lights out. His signature shot, the short straight right hand counter (cross-counter), was spring-loaded with a hair-trigger release. Here's a mini documentary about him.


Cliffs

• 1972 Olympic champion (middleweight) & 2× European champion (1973, 1975)
• Reported amateur record 103–8
• Youngest Soviet Olympic champion ever at just 20 years old
• Physiologists studied him on multiple occasions and discovered that his reaction time & reflexes were off-the-charts
• Don King was so amazed after he won Olympic gold that he tried to sign him. Said that he'd never forget his knockouts.
• Holds several notable wins over world champs/Olympic medalists: Michael Spinks, Marvin Johnson, Alec Năstac and others.

 

[Jonny Ninja]

Those counters to put that Finnish fella down in the Olympic finals were ridiculous. So quick and it looked like there was nothing in them. Never heard of him before but I can definitely believe what they were saying about his reaction speed! Definitely a case of what could’ve been had he not been Russian and a pisshead

 

[Kovalev's "Man Bag"]

Those counters to put that Finnish fella down in the Olympic finals were ridiculous. So quick and it looked like there was nothing in them. Never heard of him before but I can definitely believe what they were saying about his reaction speed! Definitely a case of what could’ve been had he not been Russian and a pisshead

His timing & accuracy was unreal. Since you mentioned the Finnish guy in the final, here's a 60 second highlight. Lemeshev only throws a total of 6 straight right hand counters, lands 3, and the bout is over. Dropped him 3 times and that last one faceplanted him.