Sad to report that former heavyweight contender Earnie Shavers has passed away at the age of 78. Considered one of the hardest punching heavyweights who ever lived, Shavers compiled a record of 74-14-1 with 68 knockouts and twice fought for the heavyweight title.
On September 29, 1977, Shavers challenged heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and gave “The Greatest” all he could handle before losing a close fifteen round unanimous decision.
On September 28, 1979, Shavers nearly knocked out heavyweight champion Larry Holmes. Shavers connected with a crushing right hand that put Holmes down and in real trouble. Holmes somehow survived the round, eventually recovered and ultimately stopped Shavers four rounds later (KO11).
Earnie Shavers has a substantial claim of being the single hardest punching human being who has ever existed. Rest easy champ.
I believe one of the boxing magazines back in the 80s or 90s had him rated as just that. Always entertaining, and nice guy from what I’ve heard. RIP Earnie Shavers.
His title fight against Holmes is one of my earliest boxing memories. RIP Earnie
Mine too. It was like a Thursday night on regular network TV. Probably NBC. He won me over that night. He dropped Holmes and was on the verge of knocking him out. I remember blood was streaming down the side of his bald head. I thought it was such a robbery when the fight was stopped a couple rounds later. Years later my mom worked with his aunt in a hospital in California. This would have been early 90’s and she told my mom he was not adjusting well to life after boxing, as many fighters don’t. One of the greatest uncrowned heavyweights. Imagine-Trevor Bryan will go down in history as a former world champion while Earnie Shavers will not. RIP Champ!
I don’t agree with that since he couldn’t knock out the guys at the next level. Deontay Wilder is far more deadly with a single shot
Shavers KO’D Bugner, Norton, Jimmy Young, dropped Lyle and Holmes and had Ali out on his feet but did not follow up. So please tell me, who the heck did Wilder fight that was ‘next level’?
Just to add to your point about his power Lucie, there a video on YouTube with Jeff Mayweather interviewing Leroy Caldwell, who fought Foreman, Shavers, Lyle and many others. Mayweather asked who hit the hardest between Shavers, Lyle, and Foreman, and he said Shavers “by far”. Says a lot considering who Shavers was being compared to there….
I thought Shavers deserved the nod over Ali, and it seemed Frazier and Foreman wanted no part of him (and for good reason). Shavers was a deadly and skilled puncher as he seemed to detonate bombs in either hand. His demolition of Norton was highlight reel stuff and he likely would’ve been a champion had he fought his peak years when Ali and Holmes didn’t reign. From all accounts he was a good family man who gave back to many. Rest In Power, Champ.
Not really. Earnie could hit hard but he generally only beat stiffs and guys past their best. Not skilled enough to win the championship. If Quarry could KO him in the 1st round Foreman and Frazier would have buried him. Best comperable is when Earnie fought Ron Lyle and got knocked out
Darin – All the top level guys he fought said no one hit them harder than Earnie. Doe that tell you something?
Good thing that Darin Kasaboski isn’t giving Shavers eulogy…..
I agree with your comment about the Ali Fight. I watched it again recently and couldn’t believe it when Ali got the nod.
RIP, Earnie, you were one of the boxers back in the 70’s that brought me to the greatest sport in the world!
Would absolutely dominate these buns today. RIP
DAMN ! . I was just reading Ting Magazine yesterday. Whole issue around hardest hitters etc and Shaver’s was right there in the mix.
RIP Earnie Shavers
Remember seeing him at Yankee Stadium on the undercard of Ali Norton. Think he had an early knockout of Henry Clark
Man, What a Blow.
That generation is moving on. The days are going by fast..As a true boxing fan, it is a sad day. Earnie Frickin Shavers.
RIP
Ali Frazer Jimmy Ellis Jimmy Young Norton Quarry Lyle Leon Spinks Patterson now Shavers all gone
I was thinking the same thing. Starting to feel old all of a sudden.
Shavers VS Tyson
Shavers VS Tua
Shavers VS Ruddock
Shavers VS Holyfield,
Shavers VS Weaver
Shavers VS Wilder
Shavers VS Foreman, Frazier or Liston.
Shavers VS Mercer
Shavers VS Sam Peter and Corrie Sanders in the same night!
Good times.
Shavers vs Tua-excellent!
God Bless Mr Shavers, RIP
Al “Blue” Lewis and Earnie were always mentioned by boxers and publications as being the hardest punchers of their era. I saw several of Earnie’s televised matches but none of “Blue” Lewis’s. Earnie was the kind of fighter you always rooted for. RIP
RIP Earnie Shavers a great fighter!
Earnie Shavers, flawed but feared. A name that sounded like it belonged to a famous boxer, he had a mystique about him. Through all the decades of following boxing I remember his name always drawing interest as a fearsome heavyweight. 89 fights he had, nobody does this anymore. RIP Earnie Shavers.
Earnie was a man’s man. He was great. And great to watch. May he R.I.P.
Remembered when he knocked down holmes!!! Still don’t know how Holmes got up!!
Ernie became a motivational speaker , I had him to speak to our salesmen in Arizona. What a good man, rough start to life, he overcame it with hardwork and faith in Jesus Christ. See u later Ernie.
Joe Louis is a notch above Shavers in one punch power. Marciano is in the mix also. Met one of Marciano’s sparing partners and he stated when Marciano hit him on the biceps and forearms blood blisters formed that lasted for days. Read Eddie Futch’s comments on Joe Louis’s power. No doubt though Shaver was a great puncher.
I used to talk to an old time fighter named Ben Skelton before he passed away. He sparred many times with The Rock, Joe Louis, Ali, and Liston. He said that Louis could knock you dead with either hand, Liston’s jab was like getting hit with a bat, Ali was super fast but not a big puncher, but the hardest punch he ever took was Marciano’s right hand. He was a little before Shavers’ time I guess but watching highlights you can see that Ernie could really bang. RIP Mr. Shavers.
Shavers definitely belongs to one of the great boxers from the past that many of us carry with us in our memories. Thanks for everything.
Probably could have been champion in a different era.
Rest in peace and may God comfort his family and loved ones.
This is devastatingly sad news. I always admired Ernie Shavers. His power in the ring was a tremendous problem for every fighter he stepped into the ring against. I remember watching him annihilate Ken Norton, and nearly defeating both Ali and Holmes. The explosiveness of his punches will never be forgotten. Shavers was full of character, humility, respect. He grew up in the Klan-ravaged South, but endured to become a man of dignity, depth, and substance. I will aways hold him in high regard, both as a fighter and as a man. May he Rest In Peace.
“Charge like a Rhino, hit ya till you couldn’t see…that’s why they call him”…..’Errrnie’ true legend of the ring….
This is sad news. Ernie might have been there hardest hitter in history. One of the greatest who unfortunately came up in an extremely stacked division. Today, he would have won a belt without a doubt, especially with the advancements in training and nutrition.
Rest in peace brother. Your accomplishments will never be forgotten.
I had worked the opposite corner of Shavers during one of his later fights. Although well past his prime, the thudding power was still there. I got to speak with Earnie before & after the fight & found him to be a real humble guy. RIP!
I was friends with Ernie for over 50 years. A great man in and out of the ring. God’s Speed!