RIP Earnie Shavers

[scorpio83]

Earnie Shavers, who was one of the hardest punchers in heavyweight history and he was nicknamed "The Acorn" by Muhammad Ali before they fought in their 1977 World Heavyweight Title fight had passed away a day after he turned 78 years. Shavers fought unsuccessfully against Ali and Larry Holmes, whom he fought for the WBC Heavyweight Title as he knocked Holmes down in the seventh before Holmes got up and stopped Shavers in the eleventh round of their rematch. Shavers also fought in the Golden Age Era of the Heavyweights and his two best wins were against former WBA Heavyweight Champion Jimmy Ellis and former WBC Heavyweight Champion Ken Norton as Shavers knocked them out each in the first round. Shavers also decision former WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Vicente Rondon. Shavers also stopped Jimmy Young, Joe Bugner and Roy "Tiger" Williams during his long career that lasted from 1969 to 1995. Even though he never held the World Heavyweight Title, Shavers was the champion in our minds and hearts.

RIP Earnie Shavers, Champ

[Coco]

Saw him at one of those after dinner speaking things once, seemed like a lovely fella.

[Tony1244]

One of the last of the bulls.

[Ambling Alp II]

Sad to hear. Always seemed like a great guy. Always fun to watch.

[handsofstone]

Has there ever been a fighter get up from a punch harder than the one Shavers detonated on the chin of Holmes in their rematch?

Doubt it, RIP to arguably the hardest hitter of them all, can't give Shavers a higher compliment than that

[evrenb]

Has there ever been a fighter get up from a punch harder than the one Shavers detonated on the chin of Holmes in their rematch?

Doubt it, RIP to arguably the hardest hitter of them all, can't give Shavers a higher compliment than that

Should be in the Hall of fame

[SteveO]

R.I.P Earnie
Never won the world title but still one of boxing's greats.

[Cap]

Met him once to shake his hand. Always one of my favourite fighters. A really nice human being.

[Flump]

What a career he had overall, some devastating wins and memorable losses. And always came across as one of the good guys, in fact I can't remember reading or hearing anything bad about him.

RIP Earnie

[orbtastic]

Shame to hear this, that was some right hand he had.

That puts Ali's remaining opponents down to Chuvalo, Foreman and Holmes? Perhaps Evangelista and Lubbers?

[Nile4000]

Bit of a shock. Sad to hear. RIP Earnie. Was robbed in the Ali fight.

[writehooks]

With Shavers' passing, the list of Ali's surviving opponents is down to eight: Chuvalo, Foreman, Holmes, Wepner, Lubbers, Evangelista, Coopman and Dunn.

[bwu]

Has there ever been a fighter get up from a punch harder than the one Shavers detonated on the chin of Holmes in their rematch?

Doubt it, RIP to arguably the hardest hitter of them all, can't give Shavers a higher compliment than that

Should be in the Hall of fame

I see what you did there, evenrb.

As astonishing as Holmes' recovery was, I actually think the most astounding moment was at the end of round nine. With around 30 seconds left in the round, a half-blind Shavers is staggering from the corner to the ropes, barely able to hold up his hands and partially bent over. Holmes is going at him hammer and tong. Shavers throws an absolutely wild right hand that puts Holmes on the deck with about 17 seconds to go. The ref didn't call it a knockdown, but it sure looked like one. It's a testament not only to Shavers' immense power, but his even bigger heart.

[DrDuke]

Bit of a shock. Sad to hear. RIP Earnie. Was robbed in the Ali fight.

I remember scoring it even until the bunch of final rounds, which were taken by Ali. It didn't seem to be a robbery at all.

[evrenb]

With Shavers' passing, the list of Ali's surviving opponents is down to eight: Chuvalo, Foreman, Holmes, Wepner, Lubbers, Evangelista, Coopman and Dunn.

Don't forget Aussie Joe! A legend never dieeessss!!!

[scorpio83]

With Shavers' passing, the list of Ali's surviving opponents is down to eight: Chuvalo, Foreman, Holmes, Wepner, Lubbers, Evangelista, Coopman and Dunn.

Don't forget Aussie Joe! A legend never dieeessss!!!

There are 9 surviving opponents of Ali: Chuvalo, Lubbers, Foreman, Wepner, Bugner, Coopman, Dunn, Evangelista and Holmes.

[evrenb]

Is Alex Miteff not still alive??

[bwu]

With Shavers' passing, the list of Ali's surviving opponents is down to eight: Chuvalo, Foreman, Holmes, Wepner, Lubbers, Evangelista, Coopman and Dunn.

Don't forget Aussie Joe! A legend never dieeessss!!!

There are 9 surviving opponents of Ali: Chuvalo, Lubbers, Foreman, Wepner, Bugner, Coopman, Dunn, Evangelista and Holmes.

It’s extremely unlikely at this point, but Jimmy Robinson may be alive.

[elmersalsa]

R.I.P, champ! You was as exciting as any heavyweight that put on the gloves. And you hit hard like a mule or truck. Devastating punching power. We missed a fight between Earnie and Big George Foreman. I wonder how would that fight would have turned out?

You was never a world champion, but a champion in many people's hearts.

[Nile4000]

Bit of a shock. Sad to hear. RIP Earnie. Was robbed in the Ali fight.

I remember scoring it even until the bunch of final rounds, which were taken by Ali. It didn't seem to be a robbery at all.

I gave Ali the final round, but Earnie clocked him unlike anyone else.

[goose 5]

Shavers has 9 daughters and no sons.

[evrenb]

Don't forget Aussie Joe! A legend never dieeessss!!!

There are 9 surviving opponents of Ali: Chuvalo, Lubbers, Foreman, Wepner, Bugner, Coopman, Dunn, Evangelista and Holmes.

It’s extremely unlikely at this point, but Jimmy Robinson may be alive.

That's a fascinating story right there!

[scorpio83]

Don't forget Aussie Joe! A legend never dieeessss!!!

There are 9 surviving opponents of Ali: Chuvalo, Lubbers, Foreman, Wepner, Bugner, Coopman, Dunn, Evangelista and Holmes.

It’s extremely unlikely at this point, but Jimmy Robinson may be alive.

Is Alex Miteff not still alive??

It hard to find if Jimmy Robinson is alive or not as boxing journalists had a hard time looking for him. Also, I forgot Alex Miteff is still alive at 87 today as there are 10 surviving opponents of Muhammad Ali: Miteff, Chuvalo, Wepner, Lubbers, Dunn, Coopman, Foreman, Holmes, Bugner and Evangelista.