On September 29, 1977, a 33-year-old Earnie Shavers (54-5-1, 52 KOs) got a shot at the undisputed heavyweight championship held by 35-year-old Muhammad Ali (54-2, 37 KOs).
Shavers came in to the fight on a 5-fight win streak with a 86% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 5 months and 13 days. Ali was on a 13-fight win streak with a 66% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 4 months and 13 days.
Muhammad Ali defeated Earnie Shavers via unanimous decision and successfully defended his WBA, WBC, and The Ring heavyweight titles. Ali improves his record to 55-2, while Shavers adds a loss to his record at 54-6-1.
On March 23, 1979, a 34-year-old Earnie Shavers (57-7-1, 55 KOs) and a 35-year-old Ken Norton (41-5, 33 KOs) met in the ring.
Shavers came in to the fight on a 3-fight win streak with a 84% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 19 days. Norton was on a 1-fight win streak with a 71% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 4 months and 13 days.
Earnie Shavers stopped Ken Norton via KO in the 1st round. Shavers improves his record to 58-7-1 (56 KOs), while Norton adds a loss to his record at 41-6.
On September 28, 1976, a 32-year-old Earnie Shavers (51-5-1, 49 KOs) and Henry Clark met in the ring for the 2nd time,.
Shavers came in to the fight on a 2-fight win streak with a 86% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 6 months.
In the rematch, Earnie Shavers stopped Henry Clark via TKO in the 2nd round. Shavers improves his record to 52-5-1 (50 KOs)
On June 18, 1973, a 28-year-old Earnie Shavers (44-2, 43 KOs) and a 33-year-old Jimmy Ellis (38-7, 22 KOs) met in the ring.
Shavers came in to the fight on a 32-fight win streak with a 93% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 1 month and 6 days. Ellis was on a 8-fight win streak with a 48% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 1 month and 13 days.
Earnie Shavers stopped Jimmy Ellis via KO in the 1st round. Shavers improves his record to 45-2 (44 KOs), while Ellis adds a loss to his record at 38-8.
On May 8, 1982, a 37-year-old Earnie Shavers (65-10-1, 61 KOs) and a 32-year-old Hungarian boxer Joe Bugner (52-8-1, 32 KOs) met in the ring.
Shavers came in to the fight on a 5-fight win streak with a 80% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 16 days. Bugner was on a 1-fight win streak with a 51% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 1 year, 8 months, and 15 days.
Earnie Shavers stopped Joe Bugner via TKO in the 2nd round. Shavers improves his record to 66-10-1 (62 KOs), while Bugner adds a loss to his record at 52-9-1.
On May 8, 1975, a 30-year-old Earnie Shavers (48-4-1, 47 KOs) and Oliver Wright met in the ring.
Shavers came in to the fight on a 2-fight win streak with a 88% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 29 days.
Earnie Shavers stopped Oliver Wright via TKO in the 3rd round. Shavers improves his record to 49-4-1 (48 KOs)
On October 28, 1971, a 27-year-old Earnie Shavers (31-2, 31 KOs) and Elmo Henderson met in the ring.
Shavers came in to the fight on a 19-fight win streak with a 93% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 12 days.
Earnie Shavers stopped Elmo Henderson via KO in the 4th round. Shavers improves his record to 32-2 (32 KOs)
On February 19, 1973, a 28-year-old Earnie Shavers (42-2, 41 KOs) and a 24-year-old Jimmy Young (7-3, 2 KOs) met in the ring.
Shavers came in to the fight on a 30-fight win streak with a 93% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 25 days. Young was on a -1-fight win streak with a 20% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 11 months and 9 days.
Earnie Shavers stopped Jimmy Young via TKO in the 3rd round. Shavers improves his record to 43-2 (42 KOs), while Young adds a loss to his record at 7-4.
On July 20, 1978, a 33-year-old Earnie Shavers (54-7-1, 52 KOs) and Harry Terrell met in the ring.
Shavers came in to the fight on a 2-fight losing streak with a 83% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 25 days.
Earnie Shavers stopped Harry Terrell via RTD in the 1st round. Shavers improves his record to 55-7-1 (53 KOs)
On September 19, 1972, a 28-year-old Earnie Shavers (40-2, 39 KOs) and A J Staples met in the ring.
Shavers came in to the fight on a 28-fight win streak with a 92% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 24 days.
Earnie Shavers stopped A J Staples via TKO in the 1st round. Shavers improves his record to 41-2 (40 KOs)