Who Was the Strongest Puncher in History: George Foreman or Ernie Shavers?
Who Was the Strongest Puncher in History: George Foreman or Ernie Shavers?
The debate surrounding the strongest puncher in boxing history has been a topic of discussion among fans and boxing historians for decades. Two names stand out prominently in this discussion: George Foreman and Ernie Shavers. Both fighters possessed incredible power, but if we delve into their statistics and the opinions of their contemporaries, it becomes clear that Shavers may have had the edge in pure one-punch power.
The Numbers and The Punches
Let's start with the numbers. In his 76 wins, George Foreman had 68 stoppages, with 47 of those coming by pure on the deck or 'gone for 10' knockouts. This translates to 42.1% of his victories by these means. Conversely, Ernie Shavers, with 70 stoppages in 76 wins, had 41 of those come by pure knockout, with 53.94% of his victories by pure on the deck or 'gone for 10' knockouts. Additionally, Foreman had 32 pure knockouts in his 68 stops, while Shavers had 41 in his 70.
First Round Dominance
Both fighters were known for their formidable power, but Shavers seems to have a slight edge in terms of first round knockouts. Foreman knocked out 22 of his opponents in the first round, compared to 33 for Shavers. It's worth noting that Shavers' first-round knockouts account for 43.9% of his total stoppages, compared to Foreman's 32.1%.
What Opponents and Trainers Say
The opinions of common opponents and trainers from the era provide another layer of insight. Opinions vary, but they overwhelmingly favor Shavers for pure punching power.
Common Fighters' Opinions
Ken Norton, one of the toughest opponents in Foreman's career, described Shavers as hitting harder than even Joe Frazier. In later interviews, Norton noted, 'Only one guy stood toe to toe with Earnie and took his best shots and beat him. And it nearly killed him. [Ali]'. Rogers Everett, a renowned sports writer, added, 'Mention Ernie Shavers' name and the word "hair" comes to mind.' This statement suggests that Shavers was so dominant that his punches could literally make a fighter's hair stand on end.
Trainers' and Boxers' Opinions
Trainers and boxers from both men's eras also threw their weight behind Shavers. Larry Holmes, a two-time heavyweight champion, declared, 'Joe Frazier broke my ribs in sparring. Gerry Cooney hit like a horse. Mike Tyson hit me with a hammer. But nobody and I mean nobody ever hit me harder than Earnie Shavers did.'
Historical Testimonies
Even great fighters like Muhammad Ali acknowledged Shavers' power. In their 1977 heavyweight championship bout, Ali said, 'Earnie hit me so hard he shook my kinfolk back in Africa! ' In the second round, he was floored by what he described as the best punch of his life. Ali later remarked, 'I was done out on my feet I couldn’t move couldn’t defend myself but I managed to fool him into thinking I wasn’t hurt and he held off to keep from punching himself out. That saved me.'
Closing Thoughts
While George Foreman is undoubtedly a great puncher and a respected boxer, Ernie Shavers appears to have had the edge in sheer one-punch power. Critics often cite Holmes' comparison of Shavers to Tyson, saying, 'Earnie hit me harder than any other fighter including Mike Tyson. He hit me and I was face down on the canvas hearing saxophonist Jimmy Tillis. '