Earnie Shavers v James 'Bonecrusher' Smith

Well, my point is that I have always been a fan and follower of Ernesto Shavers, but I have also been a harsh critic of his as well....... I know he could punch, however, I doubt he really was or is the hardest heavyweight puncher of all-time....... Who can say Shavers punched harder than dudes like "Liston, Foreman or even Cleveland Williams" prior to 1980-circa........ I also think several more modern heavies have a claim of punching harder than Shavers such as "Tyson, Lewis, Mercer, Ruddock and the K-Bros." Again, who's to say?? Its a touchy topic........

As for stamina / endurance is concerened, well, that really was a BIG issue with Shavers throughout his whole career..... Even when Shavers was a ripped and buffed 210 + or - pounds and looking cut, he still would gas out by rounds 5 or 6 if he failed to put his man away...... Shavers could NEVER keep pace if forced to fight hard each and every round in a distance fight......

I was also disturbed with how wild Shavers got after decking Holmes in 1979..... Sure, Holmes was hurt and reeling in round 7, but Shavers went on the attack throwing crazy-ass shots from left and right field in which most missed by miles........ Very poor technique from Shavers there.......

Again, I do like Earnie Shavers, but he was seriously flawed in several key areas..........
:deal

MR.BILL

 

Shavers explained himself in the latest Ali documentary, stating that throwing the kind of punches that he threw would take a lot of energy out of anyone. And he didn't have the opportunity to train much so his stamina was always in question.

As for his power, I really do believe the hype about it after all I've read and seen. I can't say who truly hit the hardest, I was never hit by any of them (gratefully) but Shavers has a solid case. I don't think much of it though, what is evident to me is that Shavers could knock anyone out with one punch. Whether you punch less harder than someone else doesn't matter when you can still get the job done with a single blow.

The statement that I've bolded is the key to this fight in my opinion. As you probably know, Smith could either turn up as the Bonecrusher or as the Boneclutcher. He's not going to beat Shavers by hanging onto him and laying back while Shavers is scoring points. The late rally by Smith is to be expected but I wouldn't put all of my money on it. Shavers had some heart.

 

Smith, due to Shavers dodgy chin and questionable stamina.

 

Shavers was a fairly active fighter amongst his career and he rarely ever entered the ring prior to age 35 looking like an unfit slob with baggage hanging off his sides and lower back.......... Even later on against "Sims, Bugner and Tillis," Shavers looked buffed and strong........ I'm not sure how much roadwork Shavers did, but he had the physique of a man who trained pretty hard in the gym..... Why his handler's didn't work harder on stamina and endurance is beyond me..........

MR.BILL:huh:think

 

Shavers did not win enough rounds to get the nod against Ali... It puzzles me that so many people seem to think Shavers got robbed there... Ali put a lot of early rounds in the bank.... Lost the 13th.... The 14th BIG as Shavers really punished the Greatest in that round - what kept Ali upright in that round is anyone's guess! The 15th seemed to be following the same pattern as the previous round until Ali's indomitable will and courage seized the day seeing him batter Shavers with pinpoint punches in the last 30 seconds of the round.... That awesome display would have have been the perfect icing on the cake to his career IMO... Shavers fought like a lion but was clearly shaken, exhausted, and on "***** street" and was fortunate the round ended when it did.... So my point is that in addition to be ahead of Shavers on the round by round scoring Ali clearly stole the 15th and clearly the fight.

 

He often complained about not having been given the right amount of time to train in post-fight interviews. Also his trainers only cared about improving his power, not about making him a more complete fighter. His training was based more on strength and power (which he already possessed) than conditioning. Jerry Quarry noted this when commentating one of his fights.

Here's a book about him:

http://books.google.fi/books?id=qn2n-lFDe0UC&lpg=PP1&dq=earnie shavers&pg=PA131#v=onepage&q=&f=false

 

Bill, it was said many years ago that Shavers was one of the first boxers who regularly lifted weights to augment his strength and physique... Earnie was a pretty mean high school football player in Ohio and was offered college schlorships from several schools.... I believe he had to start working so he turned down the offers.... His bio is a great read... Earnie talks about having a business selling meat door to door and extending credit to many of his customers... He claimed that many of his customers made Don King seem like a "paragon of virtue" in comparison to them.... Shavers is doing well today... He's healthy, happily re-married and living over in England now although he comes back over here to visit frequently.

 

I heard Shavers was in England, but, he just seems outta place there.....

I bought his video "The Hardest One Punch Hitter Of All-Time." I scored it through KO magazine back in the 1990s.... It was distributed through his church..... I expected a little better footage from various fights, but I ain't gonna complain........

MR.BILL

 

He fell in love with an english women while over there and I guess he decided to stay!

 

Okay, but I also heard some bull**** that Shavers struck it rich over there preaching and working some Security / Bouncer type job for a few clubs and such.......... Shavers never really made the big money as a fighter, and I doubt he's making big bucks as a preacher or security guard..... And, to top it off, if he did make it big in business with plenty of money earned, staying in England isn't the smartest thing to do with all the British tax laws, etc...... You bank your cash elsewhere.......
hat

MR.BILL

 

I gotta say, I thought Bones Smith looked gross after age 45 when he was fighting Joe Bugner at 281 pounds and Larry Holmes in a rematch at 275 pounds.......... Bones Smith had saggy man tits with a bald dome and a grizzled face.......... He looked ancient in 1999......... I haven't seen him since..... I bet he's 300 pounds with ease these days.......
:shock:

MR.BILL

 

Mr. Bill, when you talk about hard punchers, you have to look at how they knock people out. When Foreman beat beat Lyle, it was because he put his punchers together. Foreman was a huge puncher, but he couldn't knock Lyle down with one punch.
Ernie had Ron ready to go with one punch, and if time permitted, it's quite conceivable that he would have finished Lyle if he had one more minute.

 

Smith

 

You know I'd forgotten about him losing to Marvis Frazier! Geez how did that happen

 

My money's on Smith. He was a big and powerful guy, he had a good chin and good enough technique.
I reckon Smith might even KO him.