Why do many (not all) people consider Earnie Shavers the hardest puncher of all time

[jiopsi]

Rounds only are a part of the equation...one has to look at quality of opponents and if the fighter is deliberately going for the knock out,guys like Lewis/klitchko and Bowe weren't fast starters...I think the way Shavers punches makes it look more drastic...but no doubt Tyson /Klitchko and Lewis all hit harder.They have more one punch k.o ability with better quality fighters.shavers was known to try and finiosh opponets in the first round,where Tyson ironically went for the k.o if he saw the opening,more evidence where he was just a superior puncher.

I agree the opposition is also to be considered, but it's not like Shavers had tougher opposition than Tyson, and the opponents they shared, Holmes and Tillis, Tyson did better.

[jiopsi]

Tyson maybe didn't have as much raw power as Shavers, but he had much better technique, accuracy and speed to compliment his own bonecrushing power. So he was probably more devastating overall cause he was a better finisher than Shavers was.

Agreed, Tyson could get his body behind the punches in most situations because he was more agile. And Tyson is the only one I can think had it all in punching, the technique, speed, agility and power. You could make case for Tyson in any of those categories, who else can you make the case?

[young_robbed]

You cannot take away speed and technique that is what constitutes making a punch stronger ...its like telling Usain Bolt you cannot jump of the start ,you have to wait a full second because you have an unfair advantage ...weve been over this ..lol

I'm aware of this. I'm just saying, Tyson was a better overall puncher with greater technique, speed and accuracy, while I think Shavers just had more raw power, he just didn't have Tyson's delivery system. I'm not taking away the speed or technique, I'm just saying Shavers appeared to have more power despite those flaws.

One thing is for certain, Shavers has a mean overhand right, YIKES..

[AlexKid]

So we all agree then Earnie hits hardest, then foreman.

[juggernaut666]

I'm aware of this. I'm just saying, Tyson was a better overall puncher with greater technique, speed and accuracy, while I think Shavers just had more raw power, he just didn't have Tyson's delivery system. I'm not taking away the speed or technique, I'm just saying Shavers appeared to have more power despite those flaws.

One thing is for certain, Shavers has a mean overhand right, YIKES..

Ive magnified the Shavers k.o 10x and looking at this it seems Shavers lands and elbow to the temple immediately following thru the punch ,yes he was going down most likely ,if not one more punch ,Tysons looks better theres no evidance to suggest without Tysons speed he would hit any less harder than Shavers,ironically if he fought like shavers with the same opponents i bet he does better than Shavers and still possibly beats anyone because he also had better stamina and chin,and concentrating on just planting your feet and taking someones head off would have been a scary Tyson in that era .

[jiopsi]

I'm aware of this. I'm just saying, Tyson was a better overall puncher with greater technique, speed and accuracy, while I think Shavers just had more raw power, he just didn't have Tyson's delivery system. I'm not taking away the speed or technique, I'm just saying Shavers appeared to have more power despite those flaws.

One thing is for certain, Shavers has a mean overhand right, YIKES..

Tyson had pretty good right too, althought it wasn't as good as his left

broken jaw:


broken cheek bone:

[jiopsi]

Personally the hardest puncher I ever felt is Ernie Shavers, the second would be Mike Tyson, the third would be a prelim fighter named Ken Schmidt.
All of these men fought professionally and were all under 215lbs when I worked hand pads for them.
Ernie was heavy and hard, he hurt! Tyson used speed and explosiveness and Schmidt had a hard punch also with a huge fist that was very even across.

As far as power punching with speed and accuracy in both hands Sugar Ray Robinson was the best p4p.
Ray.

Who were you most in awe, or intimidated if that's the right word? Also in these kind of situations boxers can give more or less I think.

[AlexKid]

It looks like that guys body had an earth quake, when shavers hits him, with Tyson its mainly the head that moves and not so much the body

[young_robbed]

Tyson had pretty good right too, althought it wasn't as good as his left

broken jaw:


broken cheek bone:

oh no doubt tyson's right was great

[AlexKid]

oh no doubt tyson's right was great

This is correct, Tyson merely repeated the typical KO stats for all boxers ie the left hook is far more likely to be a KO punch than any right hand punch. But Tyson had a stronger right than he did a left its just harder to connect for everyone. He still connected and did massive damage with it, if anyone thinks ANY of Tysons punches were weak or not balanced with the rest of his punches they are flat out wrong, Tyson had it all in that department.

Hes not like Fraizer Tua, or Morrison, ie a 1 handed puncher. Hes very much a 2 handed puncher.