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Earnie Shavers, whose thunderous punches stopped 68 fighters and earned him heavyweight title fights with Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes, has died. He was 78.

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Former British boxer and shut buddy Kenny Rainford instructed The Related Press in a phone name from Liverpool, England, that his shut buddy died on Thursday in Virginia on the house of one in every of his daughters.

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“He had a tough profession, traveled loads and slowed down all of the sudden,” mentioned Rainford when requested a couple of a reason for loss of life.

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Rainford’s aunt (Sue) was married to Shavers for a decade. Their marriage ended amicably when Shavers needed to return to the US to be along with his youngsters and he or she needed to remain in England, Rainford mentioned.

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Shavers’ loss of life got here a day after his birthday. Rainford mentioned a funeral is deliberate for Sept. 17 in Warren, Ohio. Shavers was born in Garland, Alabama, in 1944 and grew up within the Youngstown, Ohio, space. He didn’t take up boxing till he was 22.

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Shavers fought from 1969-1995, which included two abbreviated returns from retirement. He completed 74-14-1 with 68 knockouts.

Shavers misplaced a unanimous determination to Ali in September 1977 at Madison Sq. Backyard in a battle for the WBC and WBA world heavyweight titles. Ali pulled out the victory with a robust rally within the fifteenth spherical.

In March 1979, Shavers beat Ken Norton by knockout within the first spherical, in what was thought of one in every of his best victories.

Shavers later confronted Larry Holmes for the WBC heavyweight title in September 1979 in Las Vegas. Holmes gained the bout by TKO within the bout stopped within the eleventh spherical. Shavers did knock Holmes to the canvas within the seventh spherical.

Holmes had labored with Shavers in Cleveland at an occasion run by promoter Don King.

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“He was one of many hardest punchers in boxing,” Holmes mentioned of Shavers in a phone interview with The Related Press on Friday.

Former New York State Athletic Commissioner Randy Gordon mentioned Shavers at all times had time for the followers, whether or not it was signing autographs or exchanging a phrase or two.

“He was one of many nicest guys on this planet, till he acquired into the ring and tried to take your head off,” Gordon instructed The AP Friday.

Shavers had surgical procedure for a indifferent retina after the Holmes battle and was stopped by Randall “Tex” Cobb within the eighth spherical the next 12 months. In 1982 he fought Joe Bugner, additionally on the comeback path. Bugner was knocked down within the first, and was stopped by cuts within the second spherical.

Shavers continued to battle professionally for a number of years, however by no means fought for a title once more. He was named among the many top-10 punchers in boxing historical past by The Ring and others.

Earlier than turning skilled, he gained the 1969 Nationwide AAU heavyweight title.

Shavers was married to Laverne Payne. That they had 5 daughters from their marriage collectively: Tamara, Cynthia, Catherine, Carla, and Amy. He additionally has 4 daughters from different relationships: Catherine, Lisa, Natasha and Latonya. He labored at Basic Motors in Lordstown, Ohio, within the late Sixties.

— AP Sports activities Writers Tom Canavan, Bob Lentz, Dan Gelton and Greg Beacham contributed to this report.