On August 31, 1944, exactly 80 years ago, a baby was born in Garland, Texas, whose fists would one day become powerful enough to fell a tree: the unforgettable Earnie Shavers. Nicknamed the “Black Destroyer,” Shavers never managed to become world champion, but he was still a key figure with his brutal knockouts and sensational battles during those magical 1970s, which many analysts consider the golden era of heavyweight boxing. On the anniversary of his birth, let’s revisit the highlights of the career of a man whom many of his opponents have called the most powerful heavyweight in history.
The Remarkable KO Streak and the Catastrophic Loss to Quarry
The young Earnie Shavers was quite unaccustomed to hearing the judges’ scorecards: his first 39 victories as a professional all came by knockout, a testament to his truly extraordinary power. Among the most notable names crushed by the Texan during his triumphant climb to the upper echelons of the heavyweight division were Jimmy Young, who was extremely inexperienced at the time and struggling to even afford daily meals, and former WBA champion Jimmy Ellis, who, after shaking Shavers and trying to finish him off, was pulverized by a terrible uppercut. However, in this early phase of his career, the Black Destroyer also showed a certain fragility that, in addition to causing a couple of setbacks early on, emerged forcefully during his 1973 match against Jerry Quarry. Shavers, who, according to his co-manager Don King, was preparing for “the easiest fight of his life,” was overwhelmed by his opponent’s punches and knocked out in just one round!
The Confusion and the “Third World War” Against Ron Lyle
When a powerful puncher suffers a heavy and unexpected defeat, it often leads to a period of confusion. This happened to Shavers, who, after being beaten by Quarry, struggled to regain confidence in his abilities and put on some lackluster performances. The Black Destroyer incredibly lost on points to Bob Stallings, who had more losses than wins at the time of the fight, in a bout where Shavers wasted a huge amount of energy only to be knocked down and dominated in the final stages. A similar scenario played out in his draw with the now-mature Jimmy Young, who, after being knocked down in the fourth round, dominated the rest of the fight and, according to most observers, deserved the win. Shavers’ career was not in its best shape when, in September 1975, he shared the ring with his fierce compatriot Ron Lyle, but that didn’t stop him from engaging in what many dubbed a “Third World War.” The two fighters exchanged brutal blows, but in the end, Lyle’s greater resilience, which allowed him to get up from a terrifying knockdown in the second round, proved decisive as he won by knockout in the sixth round.
The Missed Opportunity Against Muhammad Ali
Earnie Shavers’ career seemed to have lost its momentum, and in December 1976, American Roy Williams came close to ending it for good when, in the tenth and final round of their fight in Las Vegas, he inflicted a standing count on the Black Destroyer, giving the impression that a knockout was imminent. However, Earnie wasn’t ready to exit the scene just yet and found the strength to turn the situation around spectacularly, winning by knockout. This stunning twist earned him the greatest opportunity of his life the following year: a chance to challenge the great Muhammad Ali for the world title. The Greatest was in decline at the time, a shadow of the exceptional athlete he had been in his prime, but he had retained his cunning and charisma. Despite tremendous difficulty, the champion managed to frustrate and confound the naive Shavers, who struggled to find openings when Ali went into his defensive shell against the ropes and found himself losing rounds due to sudden bursts of energy from the champion. Ali later said, “Earnie hit me so hard, it shook my kinfolk back in Africa.” Nonetheless, Shavers himself nearly went down during a legendary final onslaught by the champion, and in the end, he was declared the loser by decision.
The Turning Point Against Norton and Holmes’ Resurrection
After losing virtually every round of a non-title fight against the rising Larry Holmes, Shavers seemed to be at the end of the road. However, a powerful puncher can always shock the world and turn his career around, which is exactly what Earnie did in March 1979 when he faced the notorious Ken Norton. The Black Hercules was coming off 15 grueling rounds against Holmes, the latest war in a punishing career: he was a finished fighter but didn’t know it yet. Shavers wiped him out in less than a round, knocking him down twice and forcing the referee to step in as the former world champion was being mercilessly bombarded. This stunning triumph earned the Black Destroyer another unexpected title shot, this time against the same Holmes who had previously schooled him. Larry, likely thinking he could repeat the feat without much trouble, was managing the challenger’s assaults with ease when, in the seventh round, he made a potentially fatal mistake, taking a punch to the face that could have killed a bull. Holmes fell as if struck by lightning, his face slamming violently into the canvas, and it remains a mystery to this day how he managed to get up, recover, and win by knockout. The most incredible “resurrection” in boxing history shattered Shavers’ dream.
The Final Punches and the Rocky Balboa Anecdote
The Black Destroyer continued to fight for another eight years until 1987 and even attempted a dramatic comeback in 1995, but he never again came close to the world elite. The most significant victory during this final phase of his career was a stoppage due to a cut against former world title challenger Joe Bugner, who vehemently contested the decision. Nevertheless, Shavers never lost his notorious power, so much so that the irreverent and flamboyant Randall “Tex” Cobb, who defeated Earnie in eight rounds in 1980, said of him, “Nobody hits like Shavers. If anybody hit harder than Shavers, I’d shoot him. … Earnie could punch you in the neck with his right hand and break your ankle.” As incredible as it may sound, among those who had the misfortune of testing the Black Destroyer’s punches was the famous actor Sylvester Stallone, who considered casting Shavers as Clubber Lang in the film Rocky III. However, when, at Stallone’s insistence, Earnie landed a body shot during rehearsals, the actor was carried away in pain by the crew and realized he needed to choose a less dangerous co-star.
Having passed away two years ago, just after his 78th birthday, Shavers, who wrote and published his autobiography titled “Welcome to the Big Time,” will forever be remembered by boxing enthusiasts alongside his explosive and sensational knockouts.