Just How Good Was Earnie Shavers.

Arguably the hardest puncher ever.

But, his chin betrayed him.

 

He was extremely powerful

 

If the guy had a chin that backed up that great punching power, he'd have likely been an ATG at HW, but that's not how it goes. He was a pretty crafty guy overall, more so than your David Tua types of power hitters.

 

Hell no, he wasn't no punk ***** like Jab Zudah.

 

Several problems -

Glass chin, bad stamina, fell in love with his power early on and didn't refine some of the technique's that could have protected that glass chin and set up his power better, even though he was more crafty than a Tua type.

Give him an iron chin, he'd have been much more effective.

 

With an iron chin he would have been an absolute monster.

 

Interesting that you have an interest in Shavers, most UK posters couldn't care less of the non-ATG fighters of yesteryear.

 

I recently read somewhere that he was planning a comeback at age 52

 

He is now 62 years old. Although he did fight when he was 50.

 

He was one of the hardest punchers in HW history given that fact alone he'd stand a very live chance against anyone without the most granite of chins, if he caught 'em flush early on in a fight

What betrayed Earnie was mediocre boxing skills, suspect stamina and a weak chin. He was (on his grade A game) a very formidible conender, though I can't think of that many Top 20 ATG fighters who he could realisticially beat prime-for-prime.

That said the guy truely is a character, one of the genuine gentlemen of boxing.