Dave Allen has named the top ten hardest punchers that he’s shared the ring with in his boxing career.

The heavyweight veteran has felt the power of the best big men of this era, having sparred and fought numerous world class fighters.

Allen has a record of 23-6-2 having faced many top heavyweights and remains an active fighter at age 32Credit: Dave Thompson/Matchroom

From his early days sparring with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua through to his professional career fighting Dillian Whyte and Luis Ortiz, Allen has taken on all comers.

And now, in a video on his YouTube channel, he has ranked them all by their punch power.

10. Joe Joyce

“Joyce is heavy handed. He has a very good jab. He had no tell, so he’d be popping that jab and he’d be hitting me because there’s no tell so it’s just there, it’s in your face.

“The right hand and the left hook, they came keen. I only sparred him probably in 16oz or 18oz gloves so in a real fight it would be a different kettle of fish.

“He wasn’t the fastest, but he’s not as slow as you would think.”

9. David Price

“I boxed Price and he stopped me, he beat me from pillar to post.

“He was a fantastic boxer, but his actual punch power wasn’t what I expected. I was expecting more.

“The jab was heavy, but I remember eating a fair few of them and I was never hurt by him really.”

Allen suffered a punishing defeat to PriceCredit: Dave Thompson/Matchroom8. Oleksandr Usyk

“Usyk is the only man on this list to render me unconscious.

“Another solid puncher. The better these guys are the punches are more crisp.

“It was the accuracy of Usyk that I struggled with and the speed.

“I didn’t think he was a huge puncher, but if you get hit on the chin it only takes a certain amount of pressure to go.

“The video don’t tell lies, he put me unconscious.”

Allen temporarily retired following his time sparring Usyk in UkraineCredit: Dave Allen – Instagram7. Dillian Whyte

“When I boxed him I didn’t think he was the biggest puncher in the world. I don’t think he was putting everything into every shot.

“And I learned later in sparring, I found him to be a very big puncher, especially with the left hook. Very, very, very heavy.”

6. Luis Ortiz

“Similar to Usyk it was speed, timing, accuracy. I didn’t find him to be a big puncher, but he’s one of only two men to hurt me with a head shot in a fight.

“He hit me with an uppercut with his left which caught me right on the button. I had a little dip in the legs and panic stations set in.

“That was one of the worst I’d been hurt as a pro with a head shot.”

Allen was well beaten by Ortiz in 2016Credit: Getty Images – Getty5. Tony Yoka

“Yoka was again speed, accuracy and technique. Not a heavy handed puncher.

“Yoka was like a stone just over and over again in the face.

“He hurt me in the tenth round, caught me with a right hand on the top of the head which made my legs a little unsteady.”

4. Anthony Joshua

“I sparred Joshua a lot, but it was years and years ago now. He was more heavy handed than the ones I’ve mentioned.

“He never hurt me I wouldn’t say. A real good, crisp puncher, but I didn’t find him to be the biggest.

“But if I boxed him I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t see the final bell, a serious puncher.”

Allen sparred AJ in the Team GB gymCredit: Anthony Joshua – Instagram3. Daniel Dubois

“I only shared three rounds with him, but the jab was as hard as 99 per cent of other fighters’ right hands. It was incredible.

“I thought he’d snap my neck with the jab. I’d give the jab a 10/10.”

2. Tyson Fury

“Serious, serious puncher when he sat on his shots.

“He’d normally be on the back foot tipping and tapping and doing his thing, but on the odd occasion he was more offensively minded for a few spars.

“I really, really, really felt his power and his strength as well also. I didn’t think he would be that powerful, but his shots, especially to the body, I found him to be really powerful.”

Allen and Fury have sparred several times over the yearsCredit: Dave Allen – Instagram1. Derek Chisora

“Chisora’s right hook was one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever felt in my life.

“His jab was non-existent, I can’t remember the left hook, but the right hook was just woah.

“After two rounds he was spent, I don’t think he was fit [at the time], but the first two rounds, incredible.

“He didn’t hurt me, my legs were never gone, it was just a real ouch moment and it worried me. I couldn’t wait for the rounds to end.

“Those first two rounds with Chisora may have been the two hardest rounds I’ve ever done.”

Chisora is the shock number one on Allen’s listCredit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom

Allen is currently on the comeback trail in his career following his defeat to Frazer Clarke in 2023.

He’s had two wins since and will be returning again in October.

Time will tell if he can work his way back into contention for big fights once again.