George Foreman, one of boxing's hardest hitters, admitted he's glad he never stepped into the ring with Earnie Shavers. The former heavyweight champ made this surprising confession during an appearance on Late Night With David Letterman.
Foreman's career kicked off with a bang in 1969. He quickly became a force to be reckoned with in the heavyweight division, racking up an impressive 37 consecutive victories before getting his shot at the world title.
The boxer's tough childhood fueled his rise to the top. His big break came when he faced Joe Frazier for the World Heavyweight Championship. Foreman dominated the fight, flooring Frazier six times before the referee stopped the bout in the second round.
After his title win, Foreman successfully defended his crown against Jose Roman and Ken Norton. He seemed unstoppable until he met Muhammad Ali in the ring.
The bout, dubbed "The Rumble In The Jungle," ended with Ali stopping Foreman in the eighth round. This fight marked Foreman's first career defeat and remains one of boxing's most iconic moments.
Despite his impressive record and powerful punches, there was one opponent Foreman was relieved to have avoided - Earnie Shavers. Known as "The Black Destroyer," Shavers had a reputation for thunderous punching power.
"I never fought Earnie Shavers, thank goodness," Foreman said on the show.
Shavers' record speaks for itself. He won 76 fights in his career, with a staggering 70 of those victories coming by knockout. He challenged for the heavyweight title twice, facing Muhammad Ali in 1977 and Larry Holmes in 1979. Although he lost both fights, Shavers left a lasting impression on the boxing world.
Shavers' power was so respected that even a knockout artist like Foreman was grateful their paths never crossed in the ring. This admission from one of boxing's greatest heavyweights underscores Shavers' fearsome reputation and the respect he commanded among his peers.
