Why Earnie Shavers never became champ?

['Sugar' Freddi]

What happened? I'm a big fan of him and I feel sorry for him not being able to win a championship. Considered one of the P4P Puncher of all time, why wasn't he able to win a title? Would he beat the Klitschko brothers today? Discuss please.

[J23]

He fought in the wrong era. The 70s had the best heavyweights, IMO.

[The_Demon]

He fought in the wrong era. The 70s had the best heavyweights, IMO.

thats it,he fought in an era of so many great heavies,todays division is so weak compared to back then

i think he would beat both klits,but thats just my opinion

[tyger]

I think the main reason is that his title opportunities came against the likes of Ali and Holmes. Not normal champions. Could you imagine if Norton or Spinks defended against him? I would give give Shavers a good chance against Wlad. But I don't know about Vitali, he seems to have the better chin.

[Southpaw16BF]

It's a true shame Shavers never got a title.

He was just unlucky to be in the best Heavyweight era of all time, and his two title shots came against the greatest Heavyweight of all time in Muhhamad Ali, and the other against a top 5 ATG Heavyweight in Holmes.

He was just so damn close to knocking out Holmes in the second fight. That punch would of finished virtually most Heavyweights off. Pretty amazing how Holmes got up from that.

Shavers once told me that, he wishes he woulnd't of spent so much enegy going after Holmes after the knockdown, as that was his downfall. He wasted to many punchers, and never took his time.

Against Ali, he gave a Ali a tough fight and hit him with some big shots, but in the end just came up second to a greater fighter.

I am pretty sure he could of beat many former Heavyweights Champion's including the likes of Leon Spinks, Herbie Hide, and Tommy Morrision to name a few.

But it just wasnt ment to be.....

Stil do at his peak, argubaly the hardest puncher of all time, which is a title and a owner in it's own right.

I would like to see him one day inducted into the IBHOF. He's just as worthy as some others inducted.

[mickey malone]

The main reason, is because the title didn't start to become segmentated until 1984.. Holmes dad been undisputed (wbc/wba) throughout most of his reign, but after having problems with Jose Sulaiman & Don King, was forced to defect to the newly formed IBF, thus creating 2 vacant world titles, that were contested at various intervals by a large group of fighters.. Nearly everyone got a slice of the cake, but by this time, Shavers was in his late 30's and in the twilight of his career..
A few years later, the WBO was formed, which is the belt currently held by Vitaly Klitschko.. Had Shavers been in his prime today; he'd hold at least one of those belts imo.. In fairness, ex alphabet titlists: Gerry Coetzee, Bruce Seldon, Francesco Damiani, Oliver McCall, Frank Bruno, Hasim Rahman, Corrie Sanders etc, would have all probably lost to Shavers..

[sonnyboyx2]

Shavers was had very limited boxing skills and a dodgy chin, he would never have been champion in any era unless he scored a lucky punch KO

[BritishBoxing92]

He fought in the wrong era. The 70s had the best heavyweights, IMO.

what this dude said i agree with

[Silencers]

He was unlucky because of the era he fought in and his title shots came against 2 of the best heavyweights in history but I think some of his losses could've been avoided had he had a better team behind him, guys who would've been able to iron out his flaws and develop his conditioning.