Ron Lyle, a tough heavyweight boxer who never won a world title, shared his thoughts on who hit harder between George Foreman and Earnie Shavers. Lyle fought both men in his career and had a clear opinion on their punching power.
Lyle's boxing career spanned from 1971 to 1980, with a brief comeback in 1995. He faced some of the biggest names in heavyweight boxing, including Muhammad Ali, Jimmy Young, and Gerry Cooney. But it was his fights with Foreman and Shavers that left a lasting impression.
In late 1975 and early 1976, Lyle fought Foreman and Shavers back-to-back within four months. This unique experience gave him a fresh perspective on their punching power.
Speaking to Retro Boxing before his death in 2011, Lyle said:
"Foreman was a puncher; he was a good puncher, but the best puncher that I ever faced was Earnie Shavers. He had forty-something knockouts in the first round. Some guys don't have that many fights. So, Shavers' record pretty much dictated how the fight was going to go, if you stood in front of him, you know."
While 'Big' George Foreman was known for his power, Lyle's experience put Shavers a step above. Shavers had a knockout rate of over 75% in his career, showing why Lyle rated his power so highly.
Shavers got two shots at the world title in his career. He was outpointed by Muhammad Ali in September 1977 and knocked out by Larry Holmes in the eleventh round two years later.
Lyle never won a world championship himself, but his opinion carries weight in boxing circles. He made a surprising comeback in 1995, 15 years after his initial retirement, scoring four stoppage wins before hanging up the gloves for good.
Shavers passed away in September 2022 at the age of 78, leaving behind a legacy as one of boxing's hardest punchers, confirmed by those who faced him in the ring.
