George Foreman, the former world heavyweight champion, has named Earnie Shavers as the only heavyweight he's glad he didn't face during his career. Foreman pointed to Shavers' exceptional punching power as the main reason.
Foreman's boxing career spans decades and includes numerous highlights. He won his first world heavyweight championship in January 1973, knocking out Joe Frazier in just two rounds. But he's perhaps best known for his part in the legendary 'Rumble in the Jungle' in October 1974, where he lost his title to Muhammad Ali in an eighth-round knockout.
After retiring in 1977, Foreman made a comeback in 1987. He regained the world heavyweight title in 1994 by stopping Michael Moorer in the 10th round, becoming the oldest world heavyweight champion in history. His final fight came in November 1997, a defeat to Shannon Briggs. Foreman ended his career with an impressive record of 76 wins (68 by knockout) and just 5 losses.
When discussing the fighter he's glad he never faced, Foreman said:
"I never fought Earnie Shavers. Thank goodness. Nobody can hit like Earnie Shavers. He had a crunch punch and he was like a welterweight, if he caught you then you were going to take a stroll down memory lane. He was the best at executing a punch."
Shavers, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 78, was known for his devastating punching power. Many consider him one of the hardest hitters in heavyweight history. Despite never winning a world title, Shavers challenged for the championship twice, losing to Muhammad Ali in 1977 and Larry Holmes in 1979. His career spanned from 1969 to 1995, racking up 76 wins with an incredible 70 knockouts.
Foreman believes there has never been another puncher like Shavers. The fact that a power puncher like Foreman, with 68 knockouts to his name, speaks so highly of Shavers' power is a testament to Shavers' reputation.
While many boxing fans often wondered about a potential matchup between Foreman and Mike Tyson in the early 1990s, it's clear that Foreman sees Shavers as the most formidable potential opponent he didn't face. Shavers' notable knockout victories over fighters like Ken Norton, Jimmy Ellis, and Jimmy Young likely contributed to this view.
Foreman's respect for Shavers' power gives us a glimpse into the mutual respect between these heavyweight legends, and reminds us of the impact Shavers had on the sport, even without a world title to his name.
