Power-Earnie Shavers

[Maxmomer]

So I was thinking of making this a regular thing, every once and a while start a thread in which we discuss some of the most reputable power punchers in the sport. I'd be looking for people to share opinions, stats and information (KO ratio, opponents KO'd ect., ect.) anecdotes and quotes on the fighter and their punching ability from trainers and opponents and such. Just general discussion. I think it'd be a good way to share info and gain an appreciation for certain fighters. So here's the test run - Earnie Shavers.

What did people say about Shavers power? What were some of his most impressive feats and performances? Anyone interested in chiming in?

[SuzieQ49]

His fight with heavyweight prospect roy tiger williams was supposedly a foreman-lyle type affair, williams was 6'5 235lb with a lot of power.......he floored shavers in the 10th final round standing 8 count shavers said in his book he didnt know where he was, then shavers suddenly caught williams with a right coming in and williams fell back to the ropes out on his feet and shavers moved in and finished him off late in the round to win the fight by the tip of his nail. only time roy tiger williams was ever stopped.

[Maxmomer]

His fight with heavyweight prospect roy tiger williams was supposedly a foreman-lyle type affair, williams was 6'5 235lb with a lot of power.......he floored shavers standing 8 count shavers said in his book he didnt know where he was, then shavers suddenly caught williams with a right coming in and williams fell back to the ropes out on his feet and shavers moved in and finished him off. only time roy tiger williams was ever stopped.
Nice. See, that's what this is about, I didn't know that, now I do! Thanks, man.

[Bummy Davis]

Williams was overated as a puncher, he could not stop weak chinned Richard Dunn who was Ko'd 10 times 4 in the 1st rd, in fact he lost a decision to Dunn. Shavers had power but when he moved up in class, his power was not as potent or I should say his one punch power failed to finish a number of guys, i think his lack of stamina played a large part in this.

[Maxmomer]

Williams was overated as a puncher, he could not stop weak chinned Richard Dunn who was Ko'd 10 times 4 in the 1st rd, in fact he lost a decision to Dunn. Shavers had power but when he moved up in class, his power was not as potent or I should say his one punch power failed to finish a number of guys, i think his lack of stamina played a large part in this.

His fight with Cobb is a good example of his stamina failing him. Cobb wasn't actually hurting him, but they had to stop it just because Shavers got too tired to defend himself anymore. That was actually a pretty good fight.

[The Kurgan]

Shavers-Cobb is one of those rare occasions when a boxer makes his opponent punch himself by wailing away... On the boxer's chin. Of course, I use "boxer" in the non-literal sense when talking about Tex. Shavers basically got tired of landing flush shots on Cobb and puffed out like a rhino having a heart-attack.

Come to think of it, Shavers was on his way to losing a UD against Holmes in their rematch, but Holmes never really staggered him. It was just that Holmes was capable of putting up an intense pace into the championship rounds and Shavers just couldn't hang with that. The ref stopped it because Shavers didn't have enough energy left to stand properly.

As for Williams-Dunn, how many shots did Tiger actually land on Dunn? Richie was no defensive master, but at a lower class he was pretty hard to hit.

[Russell]

I've heard that Shaver's made a boxing glove explode from hitting someone so hard.

No joke.

[Maxmomer]

Shavers-Cobb is one of those rare occasions when a boxer makes his opponent punch himself by wailing away... On the boxer's chin. Of course, I use "boxer" in the non-literal sense when talking about Tex. Shavers basically got tired of landing flush shots on Cobb and puffed out like a rhino having a heart-attack.

Come to think of it, Shavers was on his way to losing a UD against Holmes in their rematch, but Holmes never really staggered him. It was just that Holmes was capable of putting up an intense pace into the championship rounds and Shavers just couldn't hang with that. The ref stopped it because Shavers didn't have enough energy left to stand properly.

As for Williams-Dunn, how many shots did Tiger actually land on Dunn? Richie was no defensive master, but at a lower class he was pretty hard to hit.
Yeah, that shit was nuts. Even if Shavers doesn't hit as hard as he's reputed, Cobb's ability to take that many flush shots with out even being woblled (as far as I can recall) was incredible. I wonder if that was the fight plan going in: "Alright Tex, remember what we practiced, let him beat the shit out of you until until he can't take it anymore!" I guess we know where Homer got his fight strategy.

[Russell]

Watching Cobb basically karate chop a leaning over defenseless Shavers dozens of times was priceless.

Shavers was hitting him so hard Cobb's entire body was spinning around like a top.

[SuzieQ49]

Shavers was also what 37 years old and pretty far removed from his best days when he fought cobb. shavers was at his best in the early-mid 1970s, he seemed to be faster and have better stamina. his stamina got horrible as he got older.

[Maxmomer]

Watching Cobb basically karate chop a leaning over defenseless Shavers dozens of times was priceless.

Shavers was hitting him so hard Cobb's entire body was spinning around like a top.

That fight was just downright weird. One of the craziest match-ups I've seen. One guy with a titanium chin but hardly any punching power, one with nothing but power and hardly any chin, both of them were so damn tired they were about falling over. Classic shit.

[Russell]

Love that fight. :lol:

[Longhhorn71]

Love that fight. :lol:

An important date for fellow Texan Randall "Tex" Cobb:

"Graduated with a BS degree from the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Friday January 25, 2008."

[mr. magoo]

An important date for fellow Texan Randall "Tex" Cobb:

"Graduated with a BS degree from the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Friday January 25, 2008."

Wasn't he kicked out of college in the early 70's for his radical behavior? I guess at one point he was on the football team. One night the coach walked past the dorms and saw Tex stark naked on the roof of a frat house with a flaming bow and arrow pointed at a rival dorm, screaming " you boys ready to die?"

[Bummy Davis]

Shavers-Cobb is one of those rare occasions when a boxer makes his opponent punch himself by wailing away... On the boxer's chin. Of course, I use "boxer" in the non-literal sense when talking about Tex. Shavers basically got tired of landing flush shots on Cobb and puffed out like a rhino having a heart-attack.

Come to think of it, Shavers was on his way to losing a UD against Holmes in their rematch, but Holmes never really staggered him. It was just that Holmes was capable of putting up an intense pace into the championship rounds and Shavers just couldn't hang with that. The ref stopped it because Shavers didn't have enough energy left to stand properly.

As for Williams-Dunn, how many shots did Tiger actually land on Dunn? Richie was no defensive master, but at a lower class he was pretty hard to hit.


Dunn was ko'd by

Danny MacAlinden KO 1
Billy Aird KO 6
George Dulaire KO1
Rocky Campell KO 1
Bunny Johnson KO10
Jimmy Young KO8
Ngozik Ekwelum(his record was 2-1-2) KO7
Jose Urtain KO4
ALI**(how did Ali fight this guy) KO5
Joe Bugner KO1
Kallie Knoetzee KO5

these are all the guys who KO"D Dunn(who was not to hard to hit) BIG Chin Dunn won a UD over Tiger Williams and I think if the "Tiger"had any serious power it would not have taken much to KO Dunn

[ianb]

Don't know if he still does but not long ago saw a documentary about Shavers on TV ... He was living in Liverpool in the UK and was a doorman at a pub/nightclub. I bet no one messed with him!

[JohnThomas1]

Don't know if he still does but not long ago saw a documentary about Shavers on TV ... He was living in Liverpool in the UK and was a doorman at a pub/nightclub. I bet no one messed with him!

Actually i think someone in here used to go there when Earnie was on the door. Imagine what his right hand would do with no glove

:yikes

[mr. magoo]

Don't know if he still does but not long ago saw a documentary about Shavers on TV ... He was living in Liverpool in the UK and was a doorman at a pub/nightclub. I bet no one messed with him!

Apparently, he's an ordained minister or reverend of some sort.

[jowcol]

I believe he attended Jerry Quarry's funeral.

[ChrisPontius]

Dunn was ko'd by

Danny MacAlinden KO 1
Billy Aird KO 6
George Dulaire KO1
Rocky Campell KO 1
Bunny Johnson KO10
Jimmy Young KO8
Ngozik Ekwelum(his record was 2-1-2) KO7
Jose Urtain KO4
ALI**(how did Ali fight this guy) KO5
Joe Bugner KO1
Kallie Knoetzee KO5

these are all the guys who KO"D Dunn(who was not to hard to hit) BIG Chin Dunn won a UD over Tiger Williams and I think if the "Tiger"had any serious power it would not have taken much to KO Dunn

Exactly right. Not to mention former middleweight/lightheavyweight Vincente Rondon going the distance with Shavers.

Shavers had big right hand punching power but a lot of trouble landing it on world class boxers, he never really beat a live contender. His uppercut on Ellis was impressive though, as was his stoppage of Norton (after he just gave Holmes hell)... although to be fair, Norton was at the end of his career. Cooney finished him quicker in brutal fashion.


There is no doubt that Shavers hit hard as hell. However, some people say "well, there's big punchers, and then there's Shavers" which is ridiculous in my opinion. For instance, compare the right hands that Tyson and Shavers landed on Holmes. Both looping rights that send Holmes down. In both cases Holmes gets up on rubbery legs, but in Tyson's case, Holmes falls down with not even a punch landing after he got up. Holmes was somewhat older against Tyson, but it does show you how they are at least on similar levels.

[JohnThomas1]

Here's my short take

We can't definitely say Shavers is beyond doubt the hardest hitter ever, but we can definitely speculate and throw his name in at the extreme upper end of the mix.

Earnie's ability held him back in utilizing his enormous power vs the much better fighters.

No-one can say anyone ever definitely hit harder than Shavers.

His incredible power is evident also vs Ali, he hurt him badly with single right hands and this IMO puts him right into the top echelon of names.

Personally i think Shavers had a smidgeon more one shot power than Tyson, but of course wasn't anywhere near as complete offensively.

[The Kurgan]

Dunn was ko'd by

Danny MacAlinden KO 1
Billy Aird KO 6
George Dulaire KO1
Rocky Campell KO 1
Bunny Johnson KO10
Jimmy Young KO8
Ngozik Ekwelum(his record was 2-1-2) KO7
Jose Urtain KO4
ALI**(how did Ali fight this guy) KO5
Joe Bugner KO1
Kallie Knoetzee KO5

these are all the guys who KO"D Dunn(who was not to hard to hit) BIG Chin Dunn won a UD over Tiger Williams and I think if the "Tiger"had any serious power it would not have taken much to KO Dunn

And your point is? Everyone knows Dunn had a terrible chin. What I was saying is that a likely explanation would be that Williams, who was hardly the most skilled fighter on the planet, couldn't land properly on the awkward and defensively minded Richard Dunn.

[Bummy Davis]

And your point is? Everyone knows Dunn had a terrible chin. What I was saying is that a likely explanation would be that Williams, who was hardly the most skilled fighter on the planet, couldn't land properly on the awkward and defensively minded Richard Dunn.

I know, and I was saying look at all the guys who had no problem landing. I see so many poster saying Williams was a terror, I beg to differ, he was not skilled nor was he a big puncher. My point is Shavers could hit but when he moved up in class he had trouble landing. I saw the Ellis fight and Jimmy almost had him out but got caught by a right uppercut and that was Jimmy's last fight. Bob Stallings 21-26 record dropped Shavers for a 9 count and beat him over 10 rds. Earnie also could could not stop former lightheavy Champ Vincente Rondon who was Ko'd in 2 by Bob Foster. Shavers could hit but had stamina problems and trouble with quality

[Bill1234]

I think Earnie hit the hardest. I can't say it like it's a fact, but I can base my opinion based on what people who fought him and other hard punchers have said. Ali and Holmes are the biggest names that said he hit the hardest, and that's a huge compliment considering all of the big punchers they faced. Ali faced guys like Liston, Foreman, Frazier, Bonavena, Quarry, Foster (Mac), and Mathis. Holmes faced guys like Weaver, Norton, Williams (Roy "Tiger), Witherspoon, Tyson, Mercer, Holyfield, and McCall. Both of them said Earnie hit the hardest. Holmes said Tyson was the sharpest puncher he ever faced though, which can be more deadly.

[Duodenum]

I'm not aware of anybody who remembers being hit by Earnie who did NOT say he was the hardest puncher they were hit by. (Jerry Quarry did not know he'd been hit until he saw the footage the next day. Jimmy Ellis claimed not to be impressed by his power, but I don't think Jimmy ever knew what hit him.)

The classic comment by Leroy Caldwell always sticks in my mind. "Foreman hit about the same as Lyle. Shavers hit harder than Foreman and Lyle put together.":scaredas:

[round15]

I'd say Shavers arguably has the hardest right hand in the history of heavyweight boxing. More than Joe Louis, Lyle, Liston, Foreman, Lennox Lewis and Tyson, who are generally considered the biggest heavyweight punchers ever.

Shavers left hand was very powerful as well, but nowhere near as strong as his right. I think Foreman has the greatest combination of overall power in both fists and I think his left was harder than Shavers' left but not his right. Liston's power in both hands is almost as frightening as Foreman's but neither man had the right hand that Shavers possessed. Prime Mike Tyson is quicker than all of them but his overall right hand power is less than Shavers. Lennox Lewis I'd say has the most accurate right and of all the big punchers mentioned, only to be disputed by the accuracy of Joe Louis' right hand.