RingSide Report

World News, Social Issues, Politics, Entertainment and Sports

Somebody’s Knockin’: Remembering Earnie Shavers Vs Howard Smith

Do you think Earnie Shavers could be a Heavyweight Champion today?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

200px-Shavers79By Kevin “The Voice” Kincade

It’s hard to believe now; but at the beginning of 1977, Earnie Shavers appeared nowhere in Ring Magazine’s Top Ten. He just wasn’t there. Without being in the board room or wherever these decisions are made, it is impossible to say for sure why Earnie wasn’t ranked; but one can speculate.

The first time Earnie had knocked on the door to a title shot was when he knocked former WBA Champion, Jimmy Ellis senseless in two minutes and thirty-nine seconds in Madison Square Garden in June of 1973. Rumors of “The Dark Destroyer” had been heard in boxing circles; but once he had Ellis on the canvas with a look on his face that can only beg the question, “Did anyone get the number of that truck?!”….did the public really take notice.

The mystique didn’t last long, though. Six months later he was back at the scene of the crime to test his mythical power against Jerry Quarry. Quarry, at the time, was in the midst of a comeback. He’d retired in 1972 after Ali humiliated him on the way to an easy 7th round TKO; but Quarry, still a young man at 28, decided to give it one more go. He’d already given 19-0 Ron Lyle a boxing lesson in Lyle’s first defeat back in February and had won all three fights this year. The bout with Shavers in December of ‘73 was one of those, “how good is he Vs how good is he, still” kinda fights.

Quarry was supposed to be Lyle’s “opponent” and now he was in the same position against another up and comer, in Shavers. This was Earnie’s big chance. If he blew Quarry away like he did Ellis, the fans would be demanding Foreman give him a shot, or at least a shot at Frazier or Ali.

True to form, Earnie came out swinging. This was a showcase bout for him and he wanted to win impressively. The trouble was Jerry had solid skills, a granite jaw, and a counter left hook which would put you in La La Land, if you weren’t careful. Earnie was anything but careful.
Shavers went after Quarry as if he had no respect for Jerry’s power; and he paid dearly for it. After withstanding the early assault of withering blows, Jerry saw an opening and took it; and then proceeded to take Shavers out…in two minutes twenty-one seconds…..less time than Shavers had done away with Ellis. The bubble burst.

The next two years had ups and downs as Earnie picked up 4 Wins, a draw to Jimmy Young, whom he had stopped in 3 the first time they’d met, and a points loss to 21-24 Bob Stallings, which certainly did his reputation no good.

When he climbed into the ring in Denver, Colorado with Ron Lyle in September of ‘75, he needed a win badly. Lyle was ranked and had just lost on a somewhat controversial stoppage to Ali, after he’d been winning the fight. A win over Lyle would get people talking again; and he nearly had it in Round 2 when he sent Lyle into the Dream Room with a monstrosity of a left hook. Unfortunately for Shavers, the knockdown occurred towards the end of the round and Lyle, somehow, was able to make it to his feet. Four rounds later, it was Shavers who felt the power of Lyle’s left hook; and that was that.

Since the loss to Lyle, Shavers had racked up four more wins. He’d shown guts and resolve decisioning Henry Clark in Paris with an injured right hand. He then got Clark again on the Ali-Norton III undercard at Yankee Stadium, which was great exposure and took him out in impressive fashion in the 2nd. Then, in his last bout in December of ’76, he came back dramatically from the brink of a knockout loss in Round 10 to anestitize his opponent, gym legend, 23-5, 6’ 5” 231 lb. Roy “Tiger” Williams, who had never been knocked out.
Still, wins over Clark and Williams weren’t enough to get him ranked because they weren’t. However, Howard “Kayo” Smith was.

Like Shavers, Smith was also a puncher, hence the nickname. Smith was 16-1 with the only loss on his record coming in his 4th pro fight. He’d stepped into the rankings after his hard fought, decision win over 19-0-1 Johnny Boudereaux in June of 76. In his last fight, he’d gotten off the 200px-SmithHowardcanvas to decision the always wily Henry Clark. There was much anticipation of this showdown at “The Aladdin” as hopes were high for a Foreman-Lyle type of blockbuster. An impressive win over Shavers was guaranteed to catapult Smith into championship consideration.

The 31 year old 53-5-1 Shavers was now in the position of “opponent” to his 6’ 3”, 30 year old rival. He was the dragon to be slain to launch another man’s championship aspirations. Earnie had lost all of the big ones. Whenever he’d been put in the position to advance to the next level, disaster had struck. He had to know if he lost to Howard Smith, there would be no more “tomorrows.”

Sometimes, that’s what it takes; that point of no return, that point of “no more chances”. Earnie wasn’t a great boxer. He didn’t have that much speed of hand or of foot. His stamina had been in question from day 1. However, Earnie did have one asset, one gift, one thing that money can’t buy.

Power. Pure, raw, natural, unadulterated jaw crunching, neck-breaking power.

From the outset, Earnie was looking for his opportunity; but he wasn’t forcing it. He’d learned from his early mistakes about jumping right on a man who could punch also; and Smith could punch. Earnie knew that from the days they’d sparred together. Still, while “Kayo” had a punch, while “Kayo” did have 10 KO’s, he’d also gone the distance six times in his sixteen wins. Shavers had only heard the final bell twice in 53 victories.

Twice in Fifty-Three wins.

That number would stay the same when he notched up win # 54. For the first two minutes of Round 1, the men sparred, feeling each other out. Smith landed some good punches as Earnie had him pinned along the ropes. Then thunder landed in the form of a left hook and, suddenly, Smith’s legs were stepping in potholes. He fell back into the corner with the “Dark Destroyer” in hot pursuit. A vicious volley of punches and Smith was on the canvas.

Howard got up on unsteady legs, only to be hammered down once more like an unruly nail. Still, up he rose, in denial, telling the referee, “I’m alright.”

Shavers could smell it.

Howard went down one more time from the sheer fact that his legs no longer wanted to remain upright. Earnie didn’t even land a punch. Fortunately for “Kayo,” the round ended. The look on his face as he stumbled to his corner was one of utter disbelief.

The second round started with Shavers applying pressure; but not having much success. Smith was now blocking the shots, slipping, rolling, and countering. Had Earnie punched himself out again? Was disaster going to rear its ugly head once more when was so close to victory? Was history going to repeat itself, yet again?

Smith had been counterpunching well with his back along the ropes. Then, somewhere along the two-minute mark, Smith landed a vicious counter hook which sent Earnie backwards towards the center of the ring. Smith emerged off the ropes and quickly crowded Shavers to lessen his power. Shavers immediately grabbed Howard around the back of the neck and proceeded to rip right uppercuts until the referee jumped in and gave him a quick lecture on the rules.

As soon as the talking was over, Earnie launched a right which just missed Smith’s head and now it was Howard who returned the favor. With one hand around Earnie’s neck and hitting him to the body at the same time, he guided his opponent back with him to the ropes, which proved to be fatal.

No sooner had his back touched the strands, then he dropped his left hand from around Earnie’s neck. Shavers quickly followed with a right which landed solid. After three more shots, the referee stepped in to separate the men and Smith walked off, as if in a dream, until he strolled right down into the canvas.

It was over.

Finally, after so many missed opportunities and blown chances, Earnie Shavers was knocking at the door of the Heavyweight Championship.

[si-contact-form form=’2′]

Leave a Reply