Earnie Shavers, an American boxer who faced Muhammad Ali, has died at the age of 78.
Between the years 1969 and 1995, the heavyweight from Alabama, who was known for having one of the hardest punches in boxing history, won 74 of his 89 professional matches.
This featured 68 knockout victories, 23 of which came in the first round, for a knockout ratio of 76.4 percent.
As a challenger for world titles on two separate occasions, “The Acorn” was unsuccessful.
This featured a loss to Muhammad Ali in 1977, a unanimous points decision after 15 rounds at Madison Square Garden for the WBA, WBC, and The Ring titles.
Shavers’s second attempt at the world championship occurred two years later, when he was knocked out by technical knockout against Larry Holmes.
Tamara, Cynthia, Catherine, Carla, and Amy were among the five daughters he had with his first wife, Laverne Payne. In total, he was the father of ten children: nine daughters and one son.
The terrible news that came just one day after his birthday prompted a flood of tributes from boxing fans all over the world to be posted on social media.
“This is the most devastating news!” exclaimed Michael Buffer. In the 1970s and early 1980s, EARNIE SHAVERS was known as one of the most dangerous knockout punchers.
“He was a nonstop Bomber with big hands who competed in the sport of heavyweight boxing during its Golden Age. He fought all of the best! KO King, EARNIE SHAVERS, rest in peace with love and respect from all of us.”
DAZN Boxing tweeted, “One of boxing’s most powerful punchers.
“Earnie Shavers, who was 78 years old when he died, has regretfully left us. Adieu, Champion.”
