EARNIE SHAVERS

Earnie Shavers, who started boxing at age 22 as an amateur, is recognized as one of the hardest hitters in boxing history. Muhammad Ali said Shavers was the hardest hitter he ever faced: "Earnie hit me so hard, he shook my kinfolk back in Africa!" Larry Holmes said: "Shavers was the hardest hitting fighter I met in the ring." In comparing Shavers toMike Tyson, Holmes said, "Being hit by Mike Tyson was like getting hit by a speeding Ferrari. Being hit by Earnie Shavers was like being hit by a Mac Truck!" Shavers is #10 on the The Ring Magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Punchers of All-Time. Seven fighters retired after being knocked out by Shavers: Ron Asher, Frank Smith, Bunky Akins, Bill McMurray, Harold Carter, Eddie Parotte, and Larry Sims. Shavers recorded 23 known first-round knockouts and 50 knockouts