here's what earnie shavers had to say about mike tyson

[Scott9945]

I'm not much of a Tyson fan, but Shavers seems to forget that he was KO'd by heavyweights who wouldn't have been very good in any era. He was one of the hardest punchers who ever lived, but if we're being honest, Shavers was a one trick pony.

[TheGreatA]

shavers did fight into his 50s but none of his victories past his younger years really mean anything on his record today. he was only moderately successfull. tyson could do that now, and come out and have the same result that shavers had. going out, feeling good about competing with younger guys. making money on the side while loosing. tyson has the shape to do that, but why should he?

Yeah but Shavers was still at the top in his mid 30's when he KO'd Ken Norton (former champ coming off a split decision loss to Holmes). He then gave a spirited effort against Larry Holmes.

Shavers was effective from the early 70's to the 80's. He always had his power, the only thing he ever really had.

I hold Tyson to a different standard, IMO he was only at his best for 3-4 years from 86 to 90 (if even that).
He was still effective in his 30's but never like he was in his early 20's.

willpower, is the factor of debate. taking a beating from buster douglas for 8 rounds, and knocking buster down for good 13 seconds didnt require willpower?

Tyson had willpower no doubt but Shavers made a career out of taking beatings and coming back to KO his opponent (especially in his older days).

If Tyson only had his power and his fighting heart, I doubt he would've been much of a fighter.
But he was a complete boxer, much better in his short prime than Shavers ever was.

[Boogie Nights]

Yeah but Shavers was still at the top in his mid 30's when he KO'd Ken Norton (former champ coming off a split decision loss to Holmes). He then gave a spirited effort against Larry Holmes.

Shavers was effective from the early 70's to the 80's. He always had his power, the only thing he ever really had.

I hold Tyson to a different standard, IMO he was only at his best for 3-4 years from 86 to 90 (if even that).
He was still effective in his 30's but never like he was in his early 20's.




Tyson had willpower no doubt but Shavers made a career out of taking beatings and coming back to KO his opponent (especially in his older days).

If Tyson only had his power and his fighting heart, I doubt he would've been much of a fighter.
But he was a complete boxer, much better in his short prime than Shavers ever was.

yeah he did take care of norton in a devastating fashion, not to discredit earnie, but shavers was a finished fighter after the holmes fight, and he didnt have much of a chin to start with. had he faced tyson i hold it that tyson would have the same effect that foreman, shavers, and lastly cooney had.

and yes tyson without the skills taught to him by damato wouldnt have been as succesfull, simply because of his size in time when the heavyweights of new generation came along. having a teacher like damato at an early age was a big benefit for tyson.

the amount of skill that tyson had was a big substitude for his height, and lack of reach. tyson himself said in the interview that he wished that he was smaller, because the little guys always displayed more skill and smarts.

[MELLY-MEL...]

Ridiculous. A pre-'90 Tyson would have given ANY era a lot to think about.

absolutely correct!

[D_Chosen_1]

tyson without a doubt is one of the most overrated fighters in the history of the sport. right up there with duran, ali, and leonard.

[Ropeee]

Shavers started fighting in his mid-20's and did well for himself without having anything except his punching power and his willpower. He barely trained for his fights.

As limited as Shavers was as a boxer, there was something he had that Tyson never had and that was his willpower and longevity as a fighter (still fought in his 50's!). Every time Shavers lost, he came right back and KO'd a top contender.

One only needs to watch Earnie's fight against Roy Williams who was beating Shavers in every department and nearly had him out.
The referee was about to stop the fight when Shavers unleashed one last flurry of punches and knocked Williams out.

I don't think Tyson had nearly as much raw power as Shavers had but there's obviously no way to know for sure.

But Shavers won 30 fights in a row by KO and ended his career with 68 KO's (with 6 fights going the distance, most of them at the end of his career).
He knocked out some very tough fighters and had Holmes nearly KO'd with one punch with the canvas waking Holmes back up.

IMO Shavers was the harder puncher.

Tyson was obviously the better fighter but then again, so were many of the boxers Shavers knocked out. Doesn't mean he would KO Tyson but he always had a chance, the punchers chance.

Frazier Norton Listo, Lyle, Young Folley, Bonavena, Quarry are not different than Ruddock Tucker Mercer Moorer Byrd Alis resume is no better than any other great0 dominant HW champ But Ali era got and still the most media attention and exposure his myth and resume are distorted

[Ropeee]

I completely agree with him. Great fighters beat other great fighters and what great fighter has Tyson beaten that was in their prime? Everytime he has stepped up and fought the best competition, he has always came up short. In fact, i have always said that i would have favored Bowe over peak Tyson and Mercer would have had a chance at outlasting Tyson. His skills were not overrated but himself as a fighter was.

Guys like Douglas would be able to outbox Ali. Ali vs Doug Jones Jones was a small but he used his jab and Ali couldn't stop it Even a guy like Bryd would put up a great fight with Ali and might get the nod.Akinwande,Bowe, and and other taller fighter would easy outbox Ali.

[QueensburyRules]

I'm not much of a Tyson fan, but Shavers seems to forget that he was KO'd by heavyweights who wouldn't have been very good in any era. He was one of the hardest punchers who ever lived, but if we're being honest, Shavers was a one trick pony.

- - Big tribute to my buddy, Scott, R.I.P.

I might embellish with Shavers was ONE Helluva One Trick Pony and quite beloved for it! Moreover, he's still with us to this day. Last I seen him in public he had Ms Cecilia Braekhus on his arm.

[hugh grant]

Tyson was a phenomenal puncher so would always be succesful. Roach said Tyson was best puncher he trained

[eco1]

Well, I did bet against him when he fought Hollyfield and Lewis. I won both times and I always said the same thing: He looses as soon as he fights someone, I guess I was right at the time and Shavers is right now.