Earnie Shavers is considered one of the greatest punchers in boxing history. He was repeatedly ranked as the most feared puncher, although he was never a champion. He once nearly knocked out Sylvester Stallone on the set of Rocky.
How hard did Shavers hit?
The killer statistics speak for Shavers: 68 knockouts in his career with 74 wins. He lost a unanimous decision to Muhammad Ali in 1977, but he amazed the legend. “Ernie hit me so hard that it shocked even my relatives in Africa,” Ali admitted.
Famous heavyweight Larry Holmes defeated Shavers twice, but was impressed by his power: “Ernie hits harder than any other boxer, including Mike Tyson. He hit me and I fell face down on the deck with Jimmy Tillis the saxophonist playing in my ears.”
Holmes reasoned that if Iron Mike’s punch was like hitting a speeding Ferrari, then hitting Ernie’s fist was like hitting a truck head-on.
Despite his knockout power, Shavers was a predictable boxer. Due to his low speed and endurance, he was dangerous only in the opening rounds, so he lost to almost all top opponents. Shavers never became a world champion; the only title he won was the Nevada heavyweight champion.
How did Shavers hit Sylvester Stallone?
When Shavers retired, he auditioned for Rocky III. Stallone wanted to find a real professional for the role of Clubber Lang. Shavers was invited to audition, and sparring was one of the stages of the casting.
Ernie worked carefully with Stallone, without putting the actor under full load. But he asked him to hit him harder.
“He’s not a very tall guy. We sparred, I threw punches. He said, “Don’t hold back, Ernie. Hit me.” I said, ‘I can’t do that, Mr. Stallone.’ ”
I wanted to get a job, but I thought that hitting hard would hurt me. But he continued to push me, saying: “Come on, show me something,” even hitting me. Finally, I agreed and gave him a light blow to the liver,” Shavers recalled.
The blow was strong, and the actor was carried out of the ring by an assistant. Shavers was not invited to the film without giving any reasons.
“He almost beat me to death. “I immediately went to the toilet, where I vomited,” Stallone later recalled.