How good was earnie shavers?

Cheers and very good post yourself - though I did mention Shaver’s counter right hand taking all the steam from Williams - at any rate, I’m sure we’re talking the same right hand - though, IIRC, in real time, I don’t know that the announcers necessarily realised the ramifications of that particular power punch. It was a beauty.

Another boxer who used to lift weights was Joe Bugner. He did so prior to his boxing career, in connection with body building - not sure if he persisted once his boxing career started.

I think his physique, at least, clearly bore the legacy of him having lifted weight at one time.

Bugner actually had a nice pair of fast hands, including in combination and he could pull out some very respectable shots in terms of power.

Perhaps his perceived lack of aggression was also connected in some way to his being a bit muscle bound, and therefore unable to keep his hands as busy as he might’ve liked.

As far as I’ve seen, his best effort was vs Frazier and. all in all, it was a very entertaining, high quality fight, with Bugner showing some nice grit and determination that many felt was sorely lacking in his most of his other performances.

Of course we know Jumbo Cummings lifted weights - and his heavy muscles definitely impacted on him negatively, from the mid rounds on.

Not to say lifting weights can’t be beneficial - it most certainly can be when the lifting program is properly considered and tailored to the optimal needs of a boxer.

Glad to hear Ali’s brother Rahman is still in good health - though he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s himself several years back - but still at a much later age than Ali was when his condition was officially identified - even though it seemed Ali was already displaying symptoms some time before his own official diagnosis was made.