Earnie Shavers
| Earnie Shavers | |
|---|---|
Shavers in 2005
|
|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Earnie Dee Shaver |
| Nickname(s) |
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| Rated at | Heavyweight |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Reach | 79 in (201 cm) |
| Nationality | American |
| Born |
August 31, 1944 Garland, Alabama, U.S. |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 89 |
| Wins | 74 |
| Wins by KO | 68 |
| Losses | 14 |
| Draws | 1 |
Earnie Dee Shaver (born August 31, 1944), best known as Earnie Shavers, is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1969 to 1995, and challenged twice for the world heavyweight title in 1977 and 1979. He is considered by many boxing experts to be the hardest puncher of all time, holding a 91.8% knockout-to-win ratio, and having knocked out 50 opponents in three rounds or less; 24 in the first round.
Shavers is best known for his fights with Larry Holmes and Muhammad Ali: despite losing these contests, he scored a heavy knockdown against Holmes, and had Ali badly hurt in the second round as well as during the final rounds of their fight. Shavers holds notable wins over heavyweight champions Jimmy Ellis and Ken Norton, as well as heavyweight contenders Jimmy Young and Joe Bugner.
Shavers officially retired from boxing in 1995. He released an autobiography about his life and boxing career, titled Welcome to the Big Time in 2001. Today, he attends boxing events as a special guest or autograph signer, and also works as a motivational speaker.
Prior to turning professional, Shavers had a short but notable amateur career, winning the 1969 National AAU heavyweight title.
Known as the "Black Destroyer", Shavers compiled an impressive record, winning 44 of his first 47 fights by knockout; mostly against unremarkable opposition. His KO streak included 27 consecutive knockouts, of which 20 victories were in the first round. He suffered setbacks with losses to Ron Stander and Stan Johnson.
He began to rise through the ranks of the heavyweight division after he hired a Cleveland-based promoter and ex-con named Don King to be his manager. His wins included a novice Jimmy Young who would later become a top contender. Stepping up the class of opposition, he came to public prominence with a first-round KO of one time WBA heavyweight champion Jimmy Ellis. His progress was halted when he was KO'd in the first round by Jerry Quarry which was followed by another loss to a journeyman Bob Stallings. Shavers then had a thunderous match with hard hitting Ron Lyle but was stopped after 6 brutal rounds. He then knocked out hard hitter Howard King and beat powerful prospect Roy Williams in a brutal back and forward battle in which Shavers was nearly knocked out. The match Shavers always said was one of the toughest of his whole career.
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