Is Earnie Shavers a harder hitter than George Foreman?

For one shot, maybe. Debatable. Foreman absolutely had more power across the board however.

 

Most who sparred\fought both seem to think so, but what separates the two is finishing ability and overall talent. Foreman utilizes his power much, much more effectively

 

By account of literally everyone who fought them, yes

 

Leroy Caldwell: "Lyle hit about the same as Foreman. Shavers hit harder than Lyle and Foreman combined." Lyle: "He hit me and the floor came up." Ali: "He hit me so hard my kinfolk felt it in Africa."

Stories of Earnie's power are like the Chuck Norris/Meng-Haku-Tonga stories from pro wrestling.

Foreman and Shavers had at least eight common opponents, Young, Lyle, Caldwell, Norton, Ali, Gullick, Charley Polite and Charlie Boston. All were emphatic that Earnie was by far the harder puncher. This is ridiculous consensus. How do we ignore the guys who were actually on the receiving end of their punches?

The never floored Henry Clark did not fight Foreman, but he was the one common opponent of Shavers and Liston, and he was a sparring partner for Foreman ahead of Kinshasa. The lineup of power punchers Clark faced is more impressive than what's on Chuvalo's resume, and Clark beat some of these monster punchers. But what Shavers did to him in their Yankee Stadium rematch in the semifinal to Ali-Norton III was on another level.

Of course Foreman was more effective, and a better finisher because he ironically didn't have that same level of power. When Earnie tried to follow up, he typically got tied up, as he was by Mercado and Tillis, who also pushed him off. One didn't tie up or push off Foreman.

Quick Tillis has repeatedly been extremely explicit and colorful in expressing the vast superiority of Earnie's power over Tyson's. There's no question Shavers hit him far harder than Tyson.

Holmes got decked by the hardest punch Shavers ever delivered, which is probably the hardest punch in boxing history. He's been pretty consistent during retirement that Earnie was a harder puncher than Tyson, but due to his friendship with both, he does tend to be diplomatic towards Mike, who was obviously sharper and a much better finisher.

 

Lyle said that the Shavers hit harder than George.

IMO Shavers had better single punch than Foreman .Combos George was better than combos Shavers.

 

I’ve never seen anything to suggest Holmes has a friendship with Tyson. Only seen him show complete disdain for the man. Not doubting you, just would like to know where you’ve seen this.

 

Too add to it: Evander said Foreman hit harder than Mike.

 

Shavers is a bigger puncher than all the other great punchers who would beat him.

 

That Caldwell quote seems very much unsubstantiated by the careers of all three men he describes.

 

He was pretty insistent for decades about it, Late in his career, on ESPN, it a live telecast, he absolutely took deadly right handed Jeff Shelburg apart and completely to school. The guy clearly know his stuff.

 

Caldwell went into hyperbole overdrive but it's interesting that he felt so strongly about Shavers hitting so hard.

 

Part of why I elevate Foreman and Liston is the power jab because the ability to knock out fighters with jabs means they are coming from a higher baseline than someone swinging for the fences. I see Shavers as more of swing for the fences guy. Doesn't mean he couldn't knockout with the jab but I perceive the most powerful fighters to be more effortless with their power. In terms of the anecdotes its possible Foreman can hit harder but Shavers actually used more power.

Foremans KO rate was higher against a better SOS until his final few fights in his mid 50s. But its possible Shavers hit harder.Its hard to tell cause Shavers relied on his power more. With the ATGs who can hit harder its harder to seperate how hard they hit from just being better fighters. I wonder how Shavers would do against Foreman compared to Lyle but Lyle is a better fighter so Foreman probably beats Shavers without getting caught and it tells us nothing.

The other easy way to tell ATG power is a Fitz or Wilder who can cut weight and they don't lose any of it because it means it comes from their hands being hard opposed to swinging more mass. But if a fighter doesn't use that strategy we don't know if they could.

 

They actually did one of those talks-by-champions shows together. There's footage of it, and they're joking around and seem cool with each other.

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There's also this bit. The footage you want starts around 3:00.

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L: "Mike, why'd you have to whoop me like that?"
M: "Why'd you have to beat up Ali like that?"
L: "I didn't"
*both crack up*

 

Interesting point about the jab, which Shavers never hurt anyone with the way Liston & Foreman did.