Don King Statement on Earnie Shavers Death

If there was ever a fighter that was meant to be with me, it was Earnie Shavers.

Earnie Shavers was the pure embodiment of the rage, heart, courage and desire that was required of a great in the sport of boxing.

I gave Earnie the only two shots at the heavyweight title he got, first with Muhammad Ali and then with Larry Holmes. He lost both of them, but won the praise and adulation of boxing fans who clamored to see more of him.

He was born in Alabama, but he belonged to Ohio. After he won the Cleveland Golden Gloves in 1968, he was destined to become one of the great heavyweights of all time and one that would be synonymous with Warren, Ohio forever.

Earnie was one of the most pleasant people that I had ever met, a good man with a good heart.

My heartfelt condolences go out to his daughters Tamara, Cynthia, Catherine, Carla, and Amy, Catherine, Lisa, Natasha and Latonya.