‘One of boxing’s hardest punchers’: Earnie Shavers dies aged 78

• Alabama-born fighter fought twice for world heavyweight titles
• Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes among 89 professional fights

Earnie Shavers, whose thunderous punches stopped 68 fighters and earned him heavyweight title fights with Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes, has died the day after his 78th birthday.

Born in Garland, Alabama, in 1944 Shavers grew up in Youngstown, Ohio and was a relatively late starter to boxing - he was 22 when he first tried his hand at the sport. Rising quickly, he won the 1969 National AAU heavyweight title before a professional career that spanned 26 years from 1969-1995, which included two abbreviated returns from retirement. His final record in the ring was 74 wins, 68 by knockout, 14 defeats and one draw.