Lower body strength is a more important predictor of punching power in boxers than upper body strength.

noli's read

Greg Nuckols bases this on a literature review analyzing the biomechanical determinants of power in boxing. It is established that punching power does not come solely from the arm, but from a kinetic chain starting from the ground, passing through the legs and the torso (energy transfer). Research confirms that lower limb power is indeed correlated with punching power, as it allows for better ground reaction force and acceleration of the center of gravity (meta-analysis by Cheraghi et al., 2014; observational studies on elite fighters). However, stating that the upper body is "less important" can be slightly misleading: while power is generated by the lower body, it must be transmitted and delivered by the upper body. A structural weakness in the shoulders or core would dissipate the energy produced. Therefore, it is not a matter of pitting the two against each other, but of understanding their different roles in the movement chain.

the sources

No named source held this one up — that absence is part of the verdict.