Liston or Shavers? - Hardest Hitting Heavyweight.

Never any accurate way of measuring these things. But Earnie Shavers has the testimony of historically durable men in Larry Holmes, Muhammad Ali, Jimmy Young and I believe Tex cobb as being the hardest hitter they fought. I’m sure Liston has many testimonies of his own from guys he fought.

 

Good question, I would go with Shavers, from everything I've read of what their opponents had to say.

I'll try to dream of fighting each of them tonight - I'll let you know which one knocks me awake.

 

Who has Liston as a top hitter? I don’t remember many testimony’s that weren’t attached to documentary’s which really aren’t great sources when a guy is being paid to talk up someone. He hit hard undeniably but he wasn’t Shavers.

 

Ali said it was Shaver the hardest puncher he ever faced.

For me that settles the discussion.

 

I know the question: Hardest HW Puncher Ever? has done the rounds many times.

Personally, I think several of the testimonies are open to some question and possible ulterior motive/agenda. I won't detail all of them specifically. I also know that there are some testimonies that don't appear to have any "angle" other than it being the simple truth as per the opponent's opinion.

Ron Stander stated that Shaver hit him with everything and that Earnie's punches were like being hit with a nightstick. However, Stander also referred to Shavers as "The Hardest Puncher in HW History" - which is a broader statement than just suggesting that Shavers hit him the hardest. Rather, it reads like a reference to a "title" already bestowed upon Earnie - via other 3rd party testimonials. I could be wrong but my guess is that Stander gave his opinion on Earnie many years after the fact of their fight.

Shavers probably summed himself up best. He admitted winging for all he was worth to take his man out . Even a power hitter like Liston didn't put everything he had into every and every shot.

Earnie also said that some fighters might equal his power with their best punch(es) but no one hit as consistently hard as Earnie did. For mine, it's hard to reconcile Stander leaving out the Jeff Merritt fight. Now Stander did say Earnie hit him with everything, so we can't say that a limitation in skill or finishing abilities prevented Shavers from KO'ing Stander. But here is Jeff Merritt absolutely destroying Stander like no one ever did before or since. And the punches in question are not particularly stylish or pretty - but the raw power is unmistakable. Looks like Stander was being beaten by a whole gang of cops with nightsticks. Anyway.....

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No way to know for sure Liston was indeed a very hard puncher, but Earnie has many more testimonies than Sonny so I would lean towards Shavers. However the better question to me is who hit harder Shavers or Foreman? This has been brought up a lot too. And as far as I can tell Shavers might have a slight edge on the right hand but Earnie was only known for his right whereas George could demolish you with either hand plus had all that strength and an iron chin. Also Tyson, Marciano, Dempsey all are in the discussion as well.

 

Tbh I'd give Liston the edge over Foreman. All their common opponents favored Liston when it came to punching power.

 

Yeah, Liston’s raw power was harnessed within a great skill set. Liston didn’t grunt or grit his teeth with his punches, Sonny just delivered his shots in a relatively effortless manner but with ridiculous power.

Of course Liston had a beautifully educated left jab and hook (including off the jab) which he could throw in his sleep and he had a very nice right hand also. All power laden.

 

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Sonny Liston’s punches put away hall of famers in seconds!

 

If young prime Foreman said that I believe him.If it was old Foreman, I wouldn’t believe just about anything he said. This was a guy who said that looking back he was so scared of Frazier that his knees were shaking during the staredown . Anybody else watching that stare down only saw Foreman looking like he wanted to rip Joe’s head off there and then.

 

Yeah but what do you mean hall of famers? Top 10 or top 20 durable guys with great chins? Patterson is a hall of fame level guy based on being youngest champ ever at that time an first to win back the title but he sure as hell didn’t have a hall of fame chin.

 

what great chin did shavers knockout?