I fought Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Butterbean – but ‘Puncher of the Century’ hit harder than them all

Larry Holmes shared the ring with several big punchers during his illustrious career - but one stood out above the rest.

'The Easton Assassin' is the third longest-reigning heavyweight world champion in the history of the sport (7 years, 3 months and 12 days) and defended his belts a remarkable 20 times before he was dethroned by Michael Spinks in 1985.

Three years later, he was given another bite of the cherry against then-undisputed heavyweight king Mike Tyson, who flattened him inside four rounds.

Holmes was 38 years old at the time and considered to be past his best, yet the wiry veteran continued slugging it out with varying levels of opposition for the next 14 years.

Over the following decade and a half, Holmes defeated Ray Mercer, was beaten on points by Evander Holyfield for the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight titles and even slugged it out with Butterbean in his final bow as a professional.

All of the aforementioned boxers are noted for their punching power but Holmes insists one man hit harder than them all.

“Earnie Shavers, no doubt about it," Holmes told Boxing News. "He could knock the hell out of you!”

Shavers, aptly nicknamed 'The Puncher of the Century', was rated the No.6 hardest hitter of all time by Ring Magazine - 7 places above Tyson.

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Out of 76 wins (76-14-1) 70 of them came by way of knockout while you'd be hard pressed to find a former foe that doesn't shudder when recollecting what it felt like to get hit by him.

The incredibly durable Randall 'Tex' Cobb perhaps said it best: “Earnie Shavers could punch you in the neck with his right hand and break your ankle."

Shavers challenged twice for the heavyweight world title - losing to Muhammad Ali in 1977 and Holmes in 1979 - but both were shaken up by his destructive right hand in the process.

Holmes managed to win their inaugural encounter over the distance in 1978 without tasting the canvas.