Ranking the 10 Best Knockouts in Boxing from the 1st Half of 2016

There's a lot more to the "Sweet Science" than simply knocking people out. Serious boxing fans can derive tremendous enjoyment from expertly deployed defensive head movement or skillful use of the jab combined with slick footwork.

But the KO still rates as the single-most exciting play in sports. And the sudden and violent resolution that it represents is at the heart of boxing's enduring appeal. 

The list presented here confirms boxing is in great shape in 2016. Heavyweights dominate this ranking, showing the sport's traditional glamor division is back on the climb. 

Major stars are represented here, too, as well as some exciting newcomers to the spotlight.

10. Jorge Lara KO 1 Fernando Montiel

Jorge Lara's performance kicked off an entire evening of knockouts. The April 30 PBC broadcast from the StubHub Center in Carson, California, featured three other knockouts on my short list for inclusion here: Andre Berto over Victor Ortiz, Thomas Williams' finish of Edwin Rodriguez and David Benavidez's quick work of Phillip Jackson Benson. 

But Lara's handling of the aging legend was the best of the night. Lara jumped all over Montiel from the opening bell, dropping him four times in the first frame. The overhand right that ended things sent Montiel crashing to the canvas and through the ropes. 

Montiel is 37 and was at his best fighting at 115 pounds. So this KO doesn't exactly establish Lara as a top talent at featherweight. 

But at 25, he's an exciting slugger worth keeping an eye on.

9. Jermell Charlo KO 8 John Jackson

Jermell Charlo is considered the "slicker" of the Charlo twins, while Jermall is regarded as the big puncher. But in this May 21 clash with John Jackson, Jermell demonstrated that he has enough pop to save himself from a tight spot. 

This was a fight that had played out in exactly the opposite manner of what might have been expected. Jackson is the son of Julian Jackson, one of the sport's legendary punchers, and has a bit of his old man's bang.

So a likely scenario for this fight would have been Charlo putting on a boxing clinic, while Jackson looked to land the big equalizer. 

Instead, Jackson showed a great jab and ring generalship, winning the fight from the outside, while Charlo struggled to cut off the ring. All three judges had Jackson up by five points going into Round 8. 

But Charlo erased that in a hurry when he froze Jackson in the corner and turned his legs wobbly with a big punch. A follow-up shot sent Jackson pitching between the first and second ring ropes, where he sagged unconsciously, forcing the referee to wave off the count.

8. Eric Molina KO 10 Tomasz Adamek

Tomasz Adamek was a world champion at light heavyweight and cruiserweight and spent a good chunk of this century's first decade as a top contender at heavyweight. He made a game stand against the far larger Vitali Klitschko in 2011, ultimately getting stopped in Round 10.

But he came into this April clash with Eric Molina at age 39, having lost two of his previous three fights to younger contenders. Molina is a rugged fringe contender whom Chris Arreola and Deontay Wilder previously knocked out. 

Adamek fought well during most of this fight, building a five-point lead on all three judges' cards heading into Round 10. But Molina has always been a decent puncher, and his power saved him in this one, as he knocked the tough veteran out cold at the very end of the round.

7. David Haye KO 1 Mark de Mori

Former cruiserweight champion and heavyweight belt-holder David Haye had been out of action for three-and-a-half years prior to this January clash with the much-bigger, once-beaten, Mark de Mori. When a fighter has been through a layoff like that, there will always be questions about potential ring rust.

But Haye's timing and punching accuracy were on point for this comeback fight. And it was also clear the "Hayemaker" still had his same, explosive power.

Haye had De Mori in serious trouble within the fight's first 45 seconds. The larger man was on his back foot for the entire fight, with Haye taking target practice, before crumpling him against the ropes with a final barrage 2:11 into the first frame. 

Haye has since stopped previously unbeaten Arnold Gjergjaj in two rounds. It's time for the Brit to sign on for a major, high-profile fight in the red-hot heavyweight division.

6. Saul Alvarez KO 6 Amir Khan

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Saul Alvarez was the WBC and lineal middleweight champion for this fight. So there's a limit to how much credit I want to give him for stopping a welterweight who was previously knocked out at both 135 and 140 pounds. 

But this was a very aesthetic knockout, and Alvarez did set it up with an intelligent game plan. He remained patient while losing early rounds and continued to target Khan with heavy shots to the body. 

The knockout itself was set up perfectly. Canelo feinted to Khan's tenderized body, drawing down his hands, and then came straight over the top with a right hand that put the Englishman to sleep before he even hit the canvas.

5. Errol Spence Jr. TKO 5 Chris Algieri

Errol Spence Jr.'s punching power and boxing intelligence were both on display in this dismantling of former world champion Chris Algieri. Spence systematically pounded Algieri's torso and dropped him in Round 4. 

Spence sent Algieri to the canvas again in Round 5. Algieri showed his usual pluck by beating the count, but Spence sent him nearly through the ropes with a third knockdown, and the referee didn't even bother to start a count, instantly waving off the action. 

To put this performance into context, Algieri is a fighter who beat Ruslan Provodnikov in a tight split decision, after climbing off the canvas twice in Round 1. He fought Amir Khan on very even terms and lasted the distance against Manny Pacquiao.

4. Johann Duhaupas KO 6 Robert Helenius

Johann Duhaupas is unlikely to ever become the heavyweight champion. He's a fringe contender, at best. In September 2015, Deontay Wilder outboxed him for 10 rounds, eventually stopping him in Round 11. 

But his work against Robert Helenius last April showed he's definitely a dangerous and formidable fighter. The Frenchman has good height and length and tips in at a solid 240 pounds. 

Duhaupas looked like a lumberjack knocking down a tree against the 6'7" Helenius. He had already dropped the big Swede once and bloodied his mouth and nose when he sent him crashing with a right hand in Round 6. 

Helenius beat the count but was out on his feet. He stumbled across the ring and crashed again into the ropes, forcing the referee to wave off the action.

3. Anthony Joshua KO 2 Charles Martin

According to the International Boxing Federation (IBF), this London clash in April between Anthony Joshua and Charles Martin was for the "world title." That's a joke, of course. Martin was the least qualified "world champion" in the history of the heavyweight division. 

The two straight rights Joshua used to end this one in Round 2 were no joke, though. The first punch sent Martin to the canvas, hurting him badly. Martin beat the count and courageously attempted to continue. 

But Joshua's second bomb finished off the night. Both punches were true works of art. 

It's foolish to view this performance as making Joshua a true world champion. But it did demonstrate that he's one of the division's most exciting fighters.

2. Deontay Wilder KO 9 Artur Szpilka

Deontay Wilder had some tough moments when he faced Polish contender Artur Szpilka last January. Credit should go to Szpilka for this. He's a smart and rugged fighter who came in with a solid game plan and stuck to it. 

Wilder was up on the cards by the time Round 9 started, but he'd been in a battle. And Szpilka was staying game. I had him winning the round's first two minutes. 

But then Wilder flashed the one-punch power that has made him famous. He connected on Szpilka with a sweeping right to the jaw that spun him around and sent him crashing to the canvas, flat on his back and out cold.

1. Oleksandr Gvozdyk KO 2 Nadjib Mohammedi

The light heavyweight division has been red-hot over the past two years. With stars like Sergey Kovalev, Andre Ward, Adonis Stevenson and Artur Beterbiev, we are currently in a light heavyweight era that could go down as historically significant.

Oleksandr Gvozdyk has the potential to become another major player on the scene at 175 pounds. The 2012 Olympic bronze medalist from Ukraine has won his first 10 professional fights, with eight coming by way of stoppage.

Gvozdyk's outstanding potential was on display in April when he faced former world-title challenger Nadjib Mohammedi in Las Vegas. He dropped the Egyptian for the count with a picture-perfect right hand 2:06 into the second round.

When novice boxers close their eyes at night and try to visualize themselves throwing the ideal punch, they should be picturing something very much like what Gvozdyk landed on Mohammedi.