Earnie Shavers

Earnie Shavers
Statistics
Real name	Earnie Dee Shaver
Nickname(s)	Black Destroyer
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Nationality	American
Born	August 31, 1944 (1944-08-31) Garland, Alabama, USA
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	89
Wins	74
Wins by KO	68
Losses	14
Draws	1
No contests	0

Earnie Dee Shaver (born August 31, 1945), better known as Earnie Shavers, is an American former professional boxer. In 2003, he was listed #10 on The Ring's ranking of the 100 greatest punchers of all-time. Muhammad Ali, Joe Bugner, Larry Holmes, Randall "Tex" Cobb, Ron Lyle and Ken Norton all credited Shavers as being the hardest puncher they had ever faced in the ring.^{[citation needed]}

Shavers took up boxing at the late age of 22, yet two weeks later he won his first ever fight by a first round knockout, against Jim Daniels. Earnie worked out daily in Warren, Ohio. He was generally in and out of the top ten ratings for no less than about a ten year period.

• 10 on Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. His right uppercut and cross were his two biggest shots. But as Angelo Dundee once respectfully said 'He can get you out of there with any shot'.

Amateur career

Prior to turning professional, Shavers had a short but notable amateur career and was the 1969 National AAU Heavyweight Champion.

Early Professional career

Known as the Black Destroyer, Shavers compiled an impressive record at the start of his career, winning 44 of his first 47 fights by knockout, mostly against unremarkable opposition. His KO streak included 27 knockouts in a row and over 20 victories were in the first round alone. However 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. However his progress halted when he was KO'd in the first round by 'white hope' 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 Roy Williams in a back and forward battle. The latter Shavers always said was one of the toughest of his whole career.

Shavers vs Ali

Shavers fought a somewhat past his peak Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden on September 29, 1977. Ali nicknamed Shavers "The Acorn" because of his shaved bald head, unlike early appearances. The fight was shown in prime time broadcast television by NBC, which rarely did prime time fights (ABC tended to get the Ali fights) and had the judges' scoring announced after each round to help avoid any controversial decision. Ali's cornerman Angelo Dundee had a crony in the dressing room watching the broadcast, and would get signals from his friend on the scoring. In the second round, Shavers hurt Ali badly with an overhand right. Ali exaggerated his motions enough that it seemed he might be play acting and Shavers hesitated. They exchanged rounds scorewise, Ali won the fifth in a big way. All Ali had to do was survive the last three rounds. But Shavers, whose stamina was suspect before the fight, came alive in the 13th. In the 14th, he battered Ali about the ring. Before the 15th, according to the story by Sports Illustrated's great boxing writer Pat Putnam, Ali was on very wobbly legs. Ali was always very resilient.

Though knowing Ali needed only to last three more minutes, Dundee told him, "You don't look so good. You better go out and take this round." In a furious final round, the two men tagged each other, but Ali closed strongly, almost dropping Shavers over the last 20 seconds. He took a unanimous decision, but the next day, Garden matchmaker Teddy Brenner tried to encourage Ali's retirement by stating the Garden would never host or make an offer to host another Ali fight. Brenner also thought that Shavers deserved the nod against Ali. The fight made the cover of Sports Illustrated, with "ALI'S DESPERATE HOUR" over a shot of Shavers scoring with an overhand right. Fight doctor Ferdie Pacheco also urged to Ali to retire after noting the damage Ali had absorbed against Shavers. Ali later said Shavers was the hardest puncher he ever faced, famously stating "Earnie hit me so hard, it shook my kinfolk back in Africa" although Ali had used this amusing punch line in reference to various hard hitting opponents.

Shavers v Norton/Holmes

In a mandatory title challenge eliminator he knocked out former champion and Ali beater Ken Norton in the first round, possibly the best win of his career.

Shavers then fought for the title against skilled champion Larry Holmes at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on September 29, 1979, exactly two years after his defeat by Ali. Shavers knocked Holmes down in round seven but was himself knocked out in round eleven after taking punishment. Holmes, known for his ability to take a punch, later said that Shavers' blow was the hardest he had ever taken in his career.

Later career

The above Holmes bout was the last really big match for Shavers. In 1980, he was knocked out in the seventh round by durable prospect Randall "Tex" Cobb. He'd never again fight for the world title. In 1982 he fought Joe Bugner, also on the comeback trail. Bugner was knocked down in the first but was stopped on cuts in the second.

Shavers continued to fight professionally for many years afterwards only finally retiring in 1995 after losing to Brian Yates. Many thought he should have retired after his upset loss to lower contender Bernardo Mercado. Shavers had a similar retinal eye surgery to Sugar Ray Leonard.

Fighting style

Shavers was a heavy-handed puncher who stalked his opponents in order to set them up for his thunderous right, which accounted for many of his knockouts. Sometimes ungraceful and without accuracy, Earnie was known to exhaust himself before round 7, perhaps lack of proper training facilities, and critics argued he rarely won a bout that went longer than 8 rounds. But he fought Ali well for 15 rounds and Holmes for 11. Earnie would throw punches against any legal area he could reach, exposed or covered, relying on his tremendous power to wear down his opponents and exploiting any opening. In fighting stance he made a short and powerful image. His chin was perhaps not as strong as ideal. He could 'box' too as well as slug. Famously he hurt his right hand early in a 10 round match against rated Henry Clark and then nearly jabbed Clarke's head off, beating him at his own game as it were, to win on points.

Video and Book

Shavers published a video of highlights of his career in 1992 titled 'Earnie D. Shavers, The hardest One-Punch Hitter', and later an autobiography.

Life after boxing

Shavers during a 2005 interview.

Shavers retired in 1983 after retinal problems were discovered. After retirement, he became an ordained Christian minister and moved to Phoenix, where he pastored for many years. He moved to England to pastor a church there in the early 2000s. He has been on the Benny Hinn TV show several times.

During the early 1980s while preparing for the feature film Rocky III, Sylvester Stallone explored the possibility of using a real heavyweight boxer in the role of James "Clubber" Lang by inviting Earnie Shavers to spar with him. Shavers initially refused to hit Stallone with anything other than a soft jab. This frustrated Stallone, who asked Shavers, "C'mon Earnie, show me something real." Earnie responded by punching him once near the liver, forcing an immediate retirement; Stallone later said: "that nearly killed me. I went straight to the men's room and threw up".

Shavers has visited Ali several times and he says he, Ali, and George Foreman have become very good friends over the years. Shavers accepted the invitation of the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International to preach at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Amongst other things, Earnie also works in Liverpool in the UK, as head of security at Hannahs' bar, where he is very much respected. Shavers was a troubleshooting referee in professional wrestling for a little while after his retirement.

He is also a Patron of The Shannon Bradshaw Trust, a children's charity based in Warrington, Cheshire, helping children with life threatening conditions, and their families.

Earnie has given a speech to pupils at Barr Beacon Language College in Walsall. Earnie also gave a speech 26 February 2008 at The Streetly School in Walsall, which was based around helping kids make the right decisions in life.

Personal life

Shavers was married to Laverne Payne and has eight daughters, Tamara, Cynthia, two daughters named Catherine, Carla, Amy, Lisa, Natasha and a son named Earnie Jr.. He also has eleven grandchildren. Shavers was a guest appearance in the Irish TV programme "The Late Late Show" hosted by Ron Lyle where the two fighters discussed their previous bout that had previously happened a month earlier. Shavers was a frequent visitor to the pub "Roddy Bolands" in Dublin. There is a signed picture of Shavers drinking a pint of Guinness hung up on the wall there.

Comeback

Shavers made a short comeback in the late 1980s and early 1990s. After a few wins and losses he retired for good in 1995, after being defeated by Brian Yates, by a KO in round 2.

In 2003, Shavers was ranked number 10 among boxing's greatest punchers in history by Ring Magazine. Shavers was given the title of "puncher of the century" and, within the sport of boxing, is widely considered to be the hardest puncher of all time.

Shavers finished his career in 1995 with a record of 74 wins (68 by knockout, 23 inside the first round), 14 losses and 1 draw.

Professional boxing record

74 Wins (68 knockouts, 6 decisions), 14 Losses (7 knockouts, 7 decisions), 1 Draw [1]
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Rounds	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	74-14-1	Brian Yates	KO	2 (10)	24/11/1995	Ho-Chunk Casino, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, United States
Win	74-13-1	Brian Morgan	PTS	8	19/09/1995	Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Win	73-13-1	Larry Sims	KO	1 (10)	16/05/1987	Cincinnati Technical College Gymnasium, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Loss	72-13-1	George Chaplin	DQ	9 (10)	01/03/1983	Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Win	72-12-1	Rahim Muhammad	PTS	10	29/01/1983	El Paso, Texas, United States
Win	71-12-1	Tony Perea	KO	7 (10)	05/11/1982	El Paso, Texas, United States
Win	70-12-1	Phil Clinard	TKO	2 (8)	14/10/1982	Duke's Country Nightclub, Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Win	69-12-1	Chuck Gardner	KO	2 (10)	05/09/1982	Wales, Tulsa, Wisconsin, United States
Loss	68-12-1	Walter Santemore	UD	10	17/08/1982	Blackham Coliseum, Lafayette, Louisiana, United States
Win	68-11-1	Billy Joe Thomas	KO	5 (10)	22/06/1982	Astro Arena, Houston, Tulsa, Texas, United States
Loss	67-11-1	James Tillis	UD	10	11/06/1982	Caesars Palace, Houston, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	67-10-1	Danny Sutton	TKO	7 (10)	15/05/1982	Yorktown Aircraft Carrier, Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Win	66-10-1	Joe Bugner	TKO	2 (10)	08/05/1982	Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas, United States	Bugner down in the first round. Fight stopped due to Bugner's cut
Win	65-10-1	Ali Haakim	PTS	10	22/04/1982	Grand Traverse Hilton, Traverse City, Michigan, United States
Win	64-10-1	Jeff Sims	KO	5 (10)	11/12/1981	Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre, Nassau, Bahamas	Shavers down in first round.
Win	63-10-1	Mike Rodgers	KO	2 (10)	09/09/1981	Civic Center, Lansing, Michigan, United States
Win	62-10-1	Terrel Williams	KO	2 (10)	29/07/1981	Civic Center, Saginaw, Michigan, United States
Win	61-10-1	Ted Hamilton	KO	2 (10)	17/10/1980	Auditorium, West Palm Beach, Florida, United States
Loss	60-10-1	Randall Cobb	TKO	8 (10)	02/08/1980	Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan, United States
Win	60-9-1	Leroy Boone	UD	10	14/06/1980	Riverfront Coliseum, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Loss	59-9-1	Bernardo Mercado	TKO	8 (10)	02/08/1980	Great Gorge Resort, McAfee, New Jersey, United States	Mercado down in the third, and then floored Shavers in the seventh before the stoppage.
Loss	59-8-1	Larry Holmes	TKO	11 (15)	28/09/1979	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	For WBC Heavyweight title. Holmes was down in round 7.
Win	59-7-1	Eddie Parotte	TKO	3 (10)	25/05/1979	Richfield, Ohio, United States
Win	58-7-1	Ken Norton	TKO	1 (12)	23/03/1979	Hilton Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	57-7-1	Harold Carter	KO	3 (10)	04/12/1978	Saginaw, Michigan, United States
Win	56-7-1	John Girowski	KO	4 (10)	09/10/1978	Coliseum, Hampton, Virginia, United States
Win	55-7-1	Harry Terrell	RTD	2 (10)	20/07/1978	The Dome Civic Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States	Terrell floored twice in the first round. Terrell did not come out for the second.
Loss	54-7-1	Larry Holmes	UD	12	25/03/1978	Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Eliminator for WBC Heavyweight title.
Loss	54-6-1	Muhammad Ali	UD	15	29/09/1977	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States	For WBC & WBA Heavyweight titles.
Win	54-5-1	Howard Smith	KO	2 (10)	16/04/1977	The Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Smith down three times in first round.
Win	53-5-1	Roy Williams	KO	10 (10)	11/12/1976	The Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Shavers down in round 10 before stopping Williams.
Win	52-5-1	Henry Clark	TKO	2 (10)	28/09/1976	Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, United States
Win	51-5-1	Henry Clark	PTS	10	28/03/1976	Pavillon de Paris, Paris, France
Win	50-5-1	Tommy Howard	KO	3 (10)	13/11/1975	Howard Johnson's, Monroeville, Pennsylvania, United States
Loss	49-5-1	Ron Lyle	TKO	6 (10)	13/09/1975	Denver, Colorado, United States	Lyle was knocked down in the 2nd, Shavers down in the 6th round.
Win	49-4-1	Oliver Wright	KO	3 (10)	08/05/1975	Steelworkers Hall, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Win	48-4-1	Rochelle Norris	KO	10 (10)	09/04/1975	Binghamton, New York, United States
Win	47-4-1	Leon Shaw	KO	1 (10)	11/02/1975	Orlando, Florida, United States
Draw	46-4-1	Jimmy Young	PTS	10	26/11/1974	Capitol Center, Landover, Maryland, United States
Loss	46–4	Bob Stallings	UD	10	04/11/1974	Felt Forum, New York, New York, United States	Shavers down in 9th round.
Win	46–3	Roy Wallace	KO	1 (10)	16/05/1974	Civic Auditorium, San Jose, California, United States
Loss	45–3	Jerry Quarry	TKO	1 (10)	14/12/1973	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win	45–2	Jimmy Ellis	KO	1 (10)	18/06/1973	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win	44–2	Harold Carter	KO	1 (10)	12/05/1973	Arena, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Win	43–2	Jimmy Young	TKO	3 (10)	19/02/1973	Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	42–2	Leroy Caldwell	KO	2 (10)	25/10/1972	High School Gym, Newton Falls, Ohio, United States
Win	41–2	A J Staples	KO	1 (10)	22/09/1972	Moonlight Gardens Ballroom, Canton, Ohio, United States
Win	40–2	Vicente Rondon	UD	10	26/08/1972	Canton, Ohio, United States
Win	39–2	Lou Bailey	KO	2 (10)	05/05/1972	Akron, Ohio, United States
Win	38–2	Bob Felstein	KO	5 (10)	22/04/1972	Akron, Ohio, United States
Win	37–2	Charley Polite	KO	3 (10)	06/04/1972	Packard Music Hall, Warren, Ohio, United States
Win	36–2	Elgie Walters	KO	2 (10)	15/02/1972	Beaumont, Texas, United States
Win	35–2	Ted Gullick	KO	6 (10)	01/02/1972	Packard Music Hall, Warren, Ohio, United States
Win	34–2	Del Morris	KO	3 (10)	30/11/1971	Bryant, Indiana, United States
Win	33–2	Elmo Tex Henderson	KO	4 (10)	29/10/1971	Stateline, Nevada, United States
Win	32–2	Charlie Boston	KO	2 (10)	17/10/1971	Akron, Ohio, United States
Win	31–2	Pat Duncan	KO	5 (10)	28/09/1971	Reno, Nevada, United States	Won USA Nevada State Heavyweight title.
Win	30–2	Richard Pittman	KO	1 (10)	11/08/1971	Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	29–2	Bill McMurray	KO	1 (10)	13/07/1971	Sahara Tahoe Hotel, Stateline, Nevada, United States
Win	28–2	Bill Hardney	KO	1 (10)	29/06/1971	Western Reserve Field, Warren, Ohio, United States
Win	27–2	Chuck Leslie	KO	10 (10)	10/06/1971	Sahara Tahoe Hotel, Stateline, Nevada, United States
Win	26–2	Willie Johnson	TKO	4 (10)	24/04/1971	Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida, United States
Win	25–2	Mac Harrison	KO	2 (10)	21/04/1971	Akron, Ohio, United States
Win	24–2	Young Agabab	KO	1 (10)	24/03/1971	Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	23–2	Steve Carter	TKO	1 (10)	03/03/1971	Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Carter down three times.
Win	22–2	Dick Gosha	TKO	5 (10)	17/02/1971	Armory, Akron, Ohio, United States
Win	21–2	Johnny Mac	KO	3 (10)	03/02/1971	Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	20–2	Nat Shaver	KO	1 (6)	16/01/1971	Convention Hall, Miami Beach, Florida, United States
Win	19–2	Lee Estes	KO	2 (8)	06/01/1971	Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	18–2	Jim Carefelli	KO	2 (10)	11/12/1970	Austintown Fitch High School Gym, Youngstown, Ohio, United States
Win	17–2	Bunky Akins	KO	1 (6)	07/12/1970	Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win	16–2	Johnny Mac	TKO	4 (8)	18/11/1970	Austintown Fitch High School Gym, Youngstown, Ohio, United States
Win	15–2	John Hudgins	KO	1 (6)	14/10/1970	Canton, Ohio, United States
Win	14–2	Don Branch	KO	1 (6)	12/09/1970	Cooper Arena, Columbus, Ohio, United States
Win	13–2	Jim Daniels	KO	1 (6)	29/08/1970	Austintown Fitch High School Gym, Youngstown, Ohio, United States
Loss	12–2	Ron Stander	KO	5 (8)	11/05/1970	Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Win	12–1	Frank Smith	KO	4 (6)	14/04/1970	Canton, Ohio, United States
Win	11–1	Ron Asher	KO	1 (8)	23/03/1970	Fitch High Gym, Youngstown, Ohio, United States
Win	10–1	Art Miller	KO	1 (6)	06/03/1970	Canton, Ohio, United States
Win	9–1	Abe Brown	TKO	5 (6)	27/01/1970	Orlando, Florida, United States
Win	8–1	Joe Byrd	KO	3 (6)	24/01/1970	Canton, Ohio, United States
Win	7–1	Abe Brown	KO	1 (6)	07/01/1970	Akron, Ohio, United States
Win	6–1	Gene Idelette	KO	1 (6)	26/12/1969	Orlando, Florida, United States
Win	5–1	Chico Froncano	KO	1 (6)	18/12/1969	Canton, Ohio, United States
Win	4–1	J D McCauley	KO	2 (6)	04/12/1969	Akron, Ohio, United States
Win	3–1	Lee Roy	KO	3 (6)	21/11/1969	Rapid City, South Dakota, United States
Loss	2–1	Stan Johnson	UD	6	13/11/1969	Arena, Seattle, Washington, United States
Win	2–0	George Holden	KO	1 (6)	11/11/1969	Orlando Sports Stadium, Orlando, Florida, United States
Win	1–0	Silas Howell	KO	2 (6)	06/11/1969	Akron, Ohio, United States

External links

• Professional boxing record for Earnie Shavers from BoxRec

Awards and achievements
Preceded by George Foreman	United States Amateur Heavyweight Champion 1969	Succeeded by Ron Lyle