When it comes to boxing, there aren’t many bigger names than Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes.
Throughout their careers, Ali and Holmes established themselves as two of the best heavyweight boxers of all time.
Having started his career out as Muhammad Ali’s sparring partner, Larry Holmes broke away to make a name for himself and even beat his former training buddy, inflicting a first stoppage defeat on Ali in his career in 1980.
Both fighters were renowned for being elite power punchers, but one thing Ali and Holmes both agreed on is that there was a heavyweight who punched harder than anyone else.
Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes in agreement over Earnie Shavers
Names that come to mind in terms of powerful heavyweight hitters include Mike Tyson and Deontay Wilder in more recent times, but, Ali and Holmes both agreed that Earnie Shavers takes top prize.
During an interview with FightingHighlights, Holmes recalled his 1979 heavyweight contest with Shavers where he beat him to defend his world title, but it was the same night he received the heaviest hit of his career.
Holmes said: “I got hit by Earnie Shavers, the hardest puncher to ever, I thought, hit anybody. I still got the knock right here, 40 years late.”
Shavers is no slouch in the boxing universe and record 70 knockouts from 91 professional fights – more than Ali and Holmes.
| Stats | Earnie Shavers | Muhammad Ali | Larry Holmes |
| Professional fights | 91 | 61 | 75 |
| Wins | 76 | 56 | 69 |
| Draws | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Defeats | 14 | 5 | 6 |
| Wins by knockout | 70 | 37 | 44 |
Muhammad Ali claims Earnie Shavers was stronger than George Foreman and Joe Frazier
Holmes wasn’t the only one to feel the wrath of Shavers, with Ali also facing a similar battle.
Like his contest against Holmes, Shavers would be beaten by ‘The Greatest’ via unanimous decision in 1977.
Ali had to fight off the likes of George Foreman and Joe Frazier in his career – both of whom packed a powerful punch behind their shots – but none compared to Shavers.
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He said: “Earnie Shavers. Yeah, man. Stronger than George Foreman and Joe Frazier. He hit hard. I don’t know why I picked on him that late in my career.
“I didn’t really believe he was as good as he was. I predicted I’d beat him in round seven, but he was really good. He took all I had and he hit hard.”
As for Shavers, he named Holmes as his toughest opponent ever in a career that also saw him knock out the likes of Joe Bugner and Jimmy Ellis.