Earnie Shavers

Infobox_Boxer
name=Earnie Shavers

---

realname= Earnie Dee Shaver
nickname="The Acorn", "Black Destroyer"
weight=Heavyweight
nationality=flagicon|USA American
birth_date=Birth date and age|1945|8|31|mf=y
death_date=.
birth_place=Garland, Alabama, U.S.
style=Orthodox
total=89
wins=74
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. Although Shavers never became Heavyweight champion, he has often been rated as the hardest puncher in heavyweight history. Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes, Ron Lyle and Kenny Norton all credited Shavers as being the hardest puncher they had ever faced in the ring. 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. Earnie worked out daily in Warren, Ohio.

Amateur career

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

Professional career

Known as the "The Acorn" and "Black Destroyer", 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 developed a reputation early in his career for his ability to 'dismantle' opponents known for their ability to absorb punishment, in one case even delaying a bout because Earnie's right-hand glove 'imploded' and needed to be replaced. 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. Among his early victims were former WBA champion Jimmy Ellis and top contender Jimmy Young, both in the first round. He also suffered knock-outs at the hands of Ron Lyle and Jerry Quarry.

Shavers fought Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden on September 29, 1977 and, while hurting Ali with a right in the second round, he lost a close decision. 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". [cite web|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sportheadlines/Junior39s-close-Shave-with-ring.3170099.jp|title=Junior's close Shave with ring legend Ernie|publisher=The Star|author=Bob Westerdale|date=2007-09-04|accessdate=2008-02-07]

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

The Holmes bout was the last big bout for Shavers. In 1980, he was knocked out in the seventh round by Randall "Tex" Cobb, and never again fought for the title.

Fighting Style

Shavers was a heavy handed puncher who stalked his opponent in order to set them up for his straight right, which accounted for many of his knockouts.

Life after Boxing

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 80s while preparing for "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."

He 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 [ [http://www.fgbmfi.org.uk/fgbmfi/index.asp Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International FGBMFI UK & Ireland empower men for life ] ] to preach at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Amongst other things, Earnie also works in Liverpool UK, as nightclub security at a Yates' 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, [ [http://www.shannonstrust.org.uk Shannon Bradshaw Trust ] ] a children's charity based in Warrington, Cheshire, helping children with life threatening conditions, and their families.

Earnie is due to give a speech at The Streetly School in Walsall in the near future, which will be based around helping kids making the right decisions in life. - He has done it (26th February 2008)

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.

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 is in the sport of boxing 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.

He is 6'0" (6 feet .75 inches) tall.

References

External links

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