Out of the options above id have to go with really hard. Big big right hand but theres been just as heavy, and more importantly better punchers, than earnie. Not many mind you.
The testimonies have been well circulated and are therefore well known. Everyone can weight the value of those testimonies as they see fit…and it seems for many those testimonies carry considerable weight - which to repeat, is fine but at least it perhaps crystallises from what source the greatest “evidence” is being drawn from. A good question would be: What discrepancy do you see (if any) between those testimonies as compared to the the evidence of Earnie’s record/available vision? Note: I understand there are several Shavers fights for which the vision is missing (Stander, Caldwell, Young 1 and 2, etc.) but there is also a LOT of vision available that can be measured up against the associated testimonies. Another way to put the same question: Imagine that all of Earnie’s opponents remained tight lipped - not giving away a thing as to how they felt about and rated Earnie’s power. Where do you think you might rate Earnie’s power based on the available evidence (boxing record/available vision) otherwise? Btw, I couldn’t find the radio button voting option for “Hit hard enough to punch you in the shoulder to cause a break in your ankle”. An unfortunate oversight perhaps?
He may have hit harder than some of you think, not as hard as others, but he hit exactly as hard as I think he did! Wilder and Liston spent their careers weighing in right around where Shavers did. All of them bouncing around that 205-215 range then creeping up as the years went on, though early on Liston dipped below 200 and of course recently Wilder tried coming in heavier. Boxers give the craziest replies whenever they're asked about their best/strongest/etc opponent. I don't pay it a lot of mind. The near unanimity here is impressive though.
Read newspaper clipping of him blaming his stamina issues on lifting weights, the boxer that beat him also noted he looked bigger then usual and came to the same conclusion.
The trouble was he wasn’t a great finisher, if he’d finished the likes of Holmes and Ali off I don’t think there’s be any doubt.
