A Heavyweight contender back in the 1970s and 1980s, Leroy Caldwell, 27-31-6(6) often took short notice fights, and as his numbers show he was no stranger to defeat.
Larry Holmes, George Foreman, Leon Spinks, and George Chuvalo are still with us, yet there are not too many survivors of the golden era of heavyweight boxing: the 1970s, a time when boxing was BIG.
“Nobody hits like Shavers. If anybody hit harder than Shavers, I’d shoot him,” Randy “Tex” Cobb.
There have been legendary heavyweight slugfests and then there is the Tex Cobb Vs.
Often referred to as the hardest hitting heavyweight never to have won even a version of the world title, Earnie Shavers’ withering power continues to fascinate fans; his highlight reel KO’s still sending shivers down the spine of a fight fan some 40-plus years after the shaven-headed banger scored them.
Well, that was a s**t night. I had lots of good nights, but that was a s**t night,” Earnie Shavers on his 1973 fight with Jerry Quarry
Today in 1973 at Madison Square Garden in New York, heavyweight contenders Jerry Quarry and Earnie Shavers met in an important bout, one the winner hoped would lead to a shot at the world title that was currently held by George Foreman.
The great Earnie Shavers turns the milestone age of 75 this week, August 31st – One of the remaining survivors of a truly golden age of heavyweight boxing and in good enough shape to be able to talk about it all in a coherent manner, Shavers is widely referred to as the hardest puncher ever at his weight.
Earnie Shavers turned pro in 1969. When he reached his peak it coincided with a heavyweight division that was enjoying a golden era.
The names have been announced for this year’s Las Vegas Boxing Hall Of Fame; with greats including “Sugar” Shane Mosley, Kevin Kelley, Laila Ali and Earnie Shavers set to be enshrined in the month of August.
What was it like to have been hit on the chin by heavyweight power-punchers George Foreman, Earnie Shavers, Cleveland Williams and Ron Lyle?
Called by many the hardest heavyweight puncher in history, Earnie Shavers made his pro debut in November 1969, with a second round KO over one Silas Johnson.