Earnie Shavers
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Earnie Shavers (born August 31, 1945) was a professional boxer. Although Shavers never became Heavyweight champion, he has often been rated as one of the finest fighters never to hold a title. Shavers compiled one of the most amazing records in boxing history. At one point he won almost thirty fights in a row by knockout. He scored over 20 victories in the first round alone. Shavers fought Muhammad Ali at the Madison Square Garden on September 29, 1977, losing a close decision. Ali later said Shavers was one of the toughest men he ever fought. Shavers again fought for the title against champion Larry Holmes at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada on September of 1979. Shavers knocked Holmes down in round seven but was later knocked out in round eleven. Holmes later said Shavers' blow was the hardest he had ever taken in his career.
Shavers retired in 1983 after retinal problems were discovered in his eyes. 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. He has visited Ali several times and he says he, Ali, and George Foreman have become very good friends over the years.
Shavers was a trouble shooting referee in professional wrestling for a little while after his retirement.
In 2003, Shavers was ranked number 10 among boxing's hardest punchers in history by Ring Magazine. However, many feel that Shavers is the hardest puncher of all time, even more so than sluggers George Foreman and Mike Tyson. Ali, who also fought Foreman and Sonny Liston, both of whom are candidates for the title of 'hardest puncher ever', seemed to indicate that he felt that Shavers was the hardest puncher he ever faced. However, Shavers' punching power was not enough to compensate for his weak chin and poor stamina.