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As a young kid and as a new boxing fan back in the mid 70's, Earnie Shavers was my first ever "favourite fighter"...
I just thought I'd mention that for no reason whatsoever.
I just thought I'd mention that for no reason whatsoever.
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Well, if you don't have one compiled then...Get to work!
Nah, I'm kidding about that, although Shavers might sneak in there amongst my own personal ranking of the top 100 heavyweights of all-time, but I think he'd probably find himself toward the very bottom of such a ranking if he did even manage to get in there...
It'd be close either way, I think.Comment
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shavers always had a punchers chance
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A friend of mine sent me an Earnie Shavers "Greatest Hits" tape a while back; and I have to say the man's power was impressive.
One day I'm going to have to get full copies of his fights wit Ali, Lyle, and Williams. The 9th and 10th rond of Shavers-Williams is some of the most dramatic action I've ever seen.
Great stuff.Comment
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I don't recall seeing Shavers' fight with Roy Williams, but I've heard from quite a few who say it's one of the more impressive 'from the brink of defeat' comebacks someone will ever see from a fighter who, supposedly, was all but out of it before turning things completely around with one single punch.
Even Shavers thought Williams "damned near destroyed me(him)" over the last couple of rounds.Comment
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In a nutshell, Shavers was visibly exhausted and after eating some serious leather at the end of the 9th, he was practically out on his feet. Early in the 10th, Shavers took a standing 8 after another pummelling, followed by Williams trapping him in another corner and beating him to teh point to where Earnie was bent over 90 degrees at the waist, leaning forward, and taking William's hooks flush on the side of his head. Today, the fight would have been stopped.
Somehow, Shavers found the resolve to launch a haymaker that caught Roy flush and visibly wobbled him. Backing into a corner, Earnie followed throwing everything he could muster and landing with about every 3rd shot. Williams, exhausted from punching himself out on Earnie, offered no return fire as Shaver threw and threw until you'd think his arms would fall from their sockets; Williams leaned back onto the turnbuckle as the ref stepped in to issue a standing 8-Count on Tiger, while Shavers heaved for extra oxygen in a neutral corner.
At the conclusion of the 8, the Ref half-looked at Williams to ask if he were okay, Williams respons was a half-hearted nod; and the ref motioned them to continue with mere seconds left in the round. As Williams and Shavers began dragging their feet towards each other for one final salvo, Roy's legs betrayed him and he fell forward and slid down the bottom two ropes. The ref waved it off, and Earnie damn near collapsed himsefl as he raised his arms and fell into the embrace of his cornermen who had rushed the ring.
That is the basic summation of what I remember.Comment
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Thanks for the details, K-Dogg, and it appears that my desire to see that Shavers/Williams fight is even greater than before you posted that...
I'll have to track that fight down now, I guess.Comment
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