“Twice Knocked Out With Her”: Laila Ali Names the Hardest Puncher in Women’s Boxing

One of the greatest female boxers of all time, Laila Ali had a lot of ups and downs in her life, and with sheer dedication, she climbed to the height of female boxing. She is considered one of the hardest hitters in female boxing. However, she thinks that there is someone who hits harder than herself.

Laila Ali recently appeared for an interview with a popular media broadcast, DAZN boxing, and in reply to the question from the interviewer about who the hardest hitter is, she cited Kendra Lenhart as a more powerful hitter than herself. She also gave the reason, why she thinks the same. She told that once she and Kendra Lenhart, both fought with another boxer, Valerie Mahfood, Lenhart was able to knock her out quite quickly but Ali took her time with her. It made her claim that Lenhart is more powerful than her.

Kendra Lenhart is a more powerful hitter than Laila Ali?

Is Kendra Lenhart really more powerful and hits harder than Laila Ali? Well, Ali thinks so. She pointed out that Kendra knocked Valerie out with one punch while it took Ali a series of punches to win by TKO. The referee had to intervene and stop the fight.

During the interview, the correspondents asked, “Has there ever been anyone, that you thought that probably hit harder than you? You was thinking like oh they punched hard? Because you were saying Serrano punching harder than Katie.”

In reply to the question, Ali, answered, “Um, I would say probably Kendra Lenhart, who I mentioned yeah exactly, and yeah and you have to have to look at past fights, we both fought a girl named Valerie, my food and wolf alpha, and Kendra Lenhart was only person that ever like stopped, Valerie, in the sense of knocked her out, whereas I stopped her, what I should call beat her down with a barrage of punches.”

She further added, “Because, I won’t throw as hard as I can. I never even got to that point to where I could do with my combinations but she actually stopped her like one shot and Ana went to distance with her. Twice knocked out with her, by her once and you know so I know Kendra was she was a beast.”

Read More: Laila Ali’s Mother Refused to Be Called ‘Mom’ by her Daughters After Divorcing Muhammad Ali

Laila Ali vs. Valerie Mahfood was among the best fights of Laila Ali’s career.

Laila Ali vs Valerie Mahfood

Ali and Mahfood appeared in the ring on 11th August 2002 at Stratosphere Hotel and Casino in Nevada. Mahfood was one of the best opponents for Laila Ali.

But with a left jab and straight right hand, Ali knocked out Mahfood and won the historic bout with a TKO in the eighth round. On the other hand, Kendra Lenhart knocked out Mahfood within three rounds. It simply depicts why Ali took her name.

Watch this story: How Laila Ali found her reins in male dominated sports

Do you agree with Laila Ali on Valerie Mahfood being the hardest hitter? Let us know in the comments.