A Earnie Shavers interview from a few years back.........
James Slater - It's a great honour to talk to you Mr. Shavers. Let me first ask you, do you still follow the game today, particularly the heavyweights?
Earnie Shavers - To be honest with you, no, not really. I still train though, to keep trim (laughs)..
J.S -Yeah you still look good Earnie, do you do roadwork?
E.S - No, I walk instead (laughs) I hit the heavy bag mostly, and lift weights.
J.S - Can I ask you, what to your mind was your greatest ever win?
E.S - Ellis. Without a doubt. When I beat Jimmy Ellis. That was my big breakthrough. A lot of big opportunities arose after that win. The big money came.
J.S - If you'd got a fight with George Foreman back in the '70's what would have happened?
E.S - Oh, two or three rounds. We had a contract drawn up three or four times, but it never happened. George was real wild with his punches. He got tired too.
J.S - So you think you would have beaten him then?
E.S - Definitely.
J.S - You also stopped Jimmy Young, in three rounds. How was he able to last the full fifteen with Ali, yet you destroyed him?
E.S - Well, Ali was never a real big puncher, he was more of a smart boxer.
J.S - Speaking of Ali, many people think you did enough to have won your fight with him. Do you think you won?
E.S - No. It was a fair decision. He outsmarted me. It was close but he won.
J.S - I read recently that Archie Moore was once a trainer of yours?
E.S - Yeah. Archie. He taught me where to place my punches. He was very wise.
J.S - I know you also beat Ken Norton. In one round. That for me was your best ever win.
E.S - Yes, I beat Kenny. I used to intimidate opponents. I knew Norton was afraid of me when we did a press conference together.
J.S - Can I ask you what you think about Ricky Hatton?
E.S - He's a very good friend of mine. He's a great fighter.
J.S - Earnie, it has been an honour to talk with you and I really appreciate it. Thanks a lot champ.
E.S - Best wishes always. Peace.
Earnie Shavers - To be honest with you, no, not really. I still train though, to keep trim (laughs)..
J.S -Yeah you still look good Earnie, do you do roadwork?
E.S - No, I walk instead (laughs) I hit the heavy bag mostly, and lift weights.
J.S - Can I ask you, what to your mind was your greatest ever win?
E.S - Ellis. Without a doubt. When I beat Jimmy Ellis. That was my big breakthrough. A lot of big opportunities arose after that win. The big money came.
J.S - If you'd got a fight with George Foreman back in the '70's what would have happened?
E.S - Oh, two or three rounds. We had a contract drawn up three or four times, but it never happened. George was real wild with his punches. He got tired too.
J.S - So you think you would have beaten him then?
E.S - Definitely.
J.S - You also stopped Jimmy Young, in three rounds. How was he able to last the full fifteen with Ali, yet you destroyed him?
E.S - Well, Ali was never a real big puncher, he was more of a smart boxer.
J.S - Speaking of Ali, many people think you did enough to have won your fight with him. Do you think you won?
E.S - No. It was a fair decision. He outsmarted me. It was close but he won.
J.S - I read recently that Archie Moore was once a trainer of yours?
E.S - Yeah. Archie. He taught me where to place my punches. He was very wise.
J.S - I know you also beat Ken Norton. In one round. That for me was your best ever win.
E.S - Yes, I beat Kenny. I used to intimidate opponents. I knew Norton was afraid of me when we did a press conference together.
J.S - Can I ask you what you think about Ricky Hatton?
E.S - He's a very good friend of mine. He's a great fighter.
J.S - Earnie, it has been an honour to talk with you and I really appreciate it. Thanks a lot champ.
E.S - Best wishes always. Peace.
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