Earnie Shavers
Shavers vs. Norton, Holmes
In
a mandatory title challenge eliminator he knocked out former champion
Ken Norton in the first round, possibly the best win of his career.
Shavers then fought for the title against skilled champion Larry
Holmes at Caesars Palace in Pardise on September 29, 1979, exactly
two years after his defeat by Ali. Shavers knocked Holmes down in
round seven but was himself knocked out in round eleven after taking
punishment. Holmes, known for his ability to take a punch, later said
that Shaver's blow was the hardest he had ever taken in his career.
Later
career
The Holmes bout was the last big match for Shavers. In 1980,
in a wild slugfest he was stopped in the eighth round by durable prospect
Randall "Tex" Cobb. Prior to the Cobb fight, Shavers had undergone
eye surgery for a detached retina. (Since eye surgery was not nearly
as refined then as it is today, the majority of boxers retired for
good after that kind of injury. In the words of Duane Ford, a detached
retina for a boxer was like and Aids diagnosis). Shaver had not fully
recovered from the surgery when he came back for the Cobb fight. He
never again fought for the world title. In 1982 he fought Joe Bugner,
also on the comeback trail. Bugner was knocked down in the first,
and was stopped by cuts in the second round.
Shavers continued
to fight professionally for several years, retiring in 1995 after
losing to Brian Yates. Many thought he should have retired after his
upset loss to lower contender Bernardo Mercado. Shavers suffered a
similar retinal eye injury as boxer Sugar Ray Leonard.
Fighting
style
Shavers was a heavy handed puncher who stalked his opponents,
setting them up for his thunderous right, which was responsible for
many of his knockouts. Although Angelo Dundeee in a Sports Illustrated
mid 1970s article said "He can get you out of there with any kind
of shot", referring to Shaver's ability to inflict damage with a left
hook, right cross or right uppercut.
Shavers would throw punches
against any legal area he could reach exposed or covered, relying
on his tremendous power to wear down his opponents and exploiting
any opening. His fighting stance produced a short and powerful image.
His chin was his weakness. He could however "box" as well as slug.
Notably, he injured his right hand early in a 10 round match against
rated craftsman Henry Clark and responded with a strong jabbing performance
to beat Clark, himself noted for his jabbing ability, on points.
Life
after boxing
Shavers retired in 1983 after retinal problems were discovered.
After retirement, he became an ordained Christian minister and moved
to Phoenix, where he preached for many years. He moved to England
to pastor a church there in the early 2000s. He has been on the Benny
Hinn TV show several times.
