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Boxing great Earnie Shavers tells students about his Braceville roots, powerful punch
By Ed Runyan
WARREN
Of all the sports icons in Mahoning Valley history, former heavyweight boxer Earnie Shavers ranks among the greats for those who remember him.
Shavers, who grew up in Braceville Township and went to Newton Falls schools, never won a title in two tries, but he fought Muhammad Ali in 1977, losing in 15 rounds; and fought Larry Holmes in 1978, losing in 12 rounds. He beat Ken Norton in 1979 and lost a rematch with Holmes in 1979.
His signature as a fighter was his ability to hit hard, leading to a record of 52 knockouts in 54 victories when he fought Ali, when he was 33.
His ability to deliver a punch was a trait he discussed while speaking Wednesday with high school students at Inspiring Minds, a program that gives underserved youths the confidence, skills and experiences to help them achieve scholarships, educational goals and careers.
“I was small compared to those guys,” he said of some of his opponents. “I was like 6 foot, but I was like 210 pounds, but I could punch.”
He said he decided at age 12 he wanted to be an athlete and that led to high-school football. But at age 22, he got into boxing, having his first fight in Youngstown in 1967. He turned pro in 1969.
“I knew the first time I walked into a gym, I knew I would be successful,” he said.
He fought about 15 years, which is a long time, but his ability to hit hard and knock out his opponents helped him avoid the type of debilitating injuries that have plagued other fighters.
“I was a puncher so it can’t take a toll on me. They were afraid of me. Most guys’ careers didn’t last that long, but mine did, and George Foreman. We were big punchers.”
He told the students that he had an opportunity to go to college, but he knew his future was in athletics, and he had confidence he would succeed.
“Anything you want to do in life, you can do it. Work hard. Do research on it, and you will be successful. You cannot tell me anything I cannot do. I keep up all night to prove you wrong.”
He grew up on a farm, and it taught him to work hard. “I was happy living in Braceville, living on a farm,” he said. When he became a boxer, he kept working hard.
“It’s a lot of hard work, but I thank God for it, because it made me dedicated – because you put a lot of work in, you want something out,” he said.
But he also had motivation as a father.
“I had a family. I had 10 daughters. They motivated me because they wanted this, they wanted that. They wanted to go there, they wanted to go to Disney World, Disneyland. That motivated me.
“Everything they wanted to do in life, they did it because we made sure they had the opportunity to do it. It pushed me to be successful to train and work hard.”
The family went on several trips every year, including trips to Europe. But a tutor and nanny went along “to make sure they did their school work. They couldn’t do anything until they did their school work.”
Shavers, 72, who lives in Las Vegas, has set aside $1 million for each of his daughters, but they have not reached the age he feels is necessary before they are mature enough to receive the money.
He speaks to kids at schools all over the world.
“Get a good education. It will last your whole life. Listen to your parents, don’t drink, don’t smoke,” he told his audience Wednesday. “Be a leader, not a follower.”
He remains in good physical health, and still “trains” periodically. He gave the impression that he could still go a few rounds, punctuating a few sentences with “Bam” at the end of pretend right hand punch that caused a girl nearby to flinch.