Ernie Shavers/David Tua: Limited Legendary Contenders

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

For as long as there have been champions, there have been contenders who could beat most but weren’t good enough to be the best. There is a long line of these contenders, but most are forgotten with time. Time though can’t forget all, some fighters no matter their pedigree can become legendary without a world title moniker. Two of the most famous - came out of the heavyweight ranks, and while they are a few decades apart, there is little to separate their careers and their accomplishments. [details]

[Thread Stealer]

I thought Shavers clearly beat Ali (who was basically shot by 1977). I remember reading an interview where Shavers nowadays says that Ali deserved the close win.

Strange, since most guys will never admit losing a close fight.

Shavers was landing the harder shots compared to Ali's flurries (which often caught gloves). I had it 9-6 Shavers and felt I was being a tad generous to Ali.

It goes to show how connections and bad luck affect things that Tua never won a world title and only got one title shot. Look at how many title shots guys like Golota and McCline got. Tua has wins over Ruiz (2 time WBA titleholder), Maskaev (WBC title holder), Rahman (two time champ), Oquendo (who later challenged for titles twice), and Wilson (who took out future WBO titleholder Briggs).

[HeartAttack]

I thought Shavers clearly beat Ali (who was basically shot by 1977). I remember reading an interview where Shavers nowadays says that Ali deserved the close win.

Strange, since most guys will never admit losing a close fight.

Shavers was landing the harder shots compared to Ali's flurries (which often caught gloves). I had it 9-6 Shavers and felt I was being a tad generous to Ali.

It goes to show how connections and bad luck affect things that Tua never won a world title and only got one title shot. Look at how many title shots guys like Golota and McCline got. Tua has wins over Ruiz (2 time WBA titleholder), Maskaev (WBC title holder), Rahman (two time champ), Oquendo (who later challenged for titles twice), and Wilson (who took out future WBO titleholder Briggs).

But out of all those guys, only Rahman became a world champion, rest were titleholders, and think about it, Tua is respected more so than the rest. Tua basically walked into a hurricane named Ibeabuchi and he just seemed not to show up for Lewis. Then he got lazy and relied on his power too much, sounds anything like Briggs (which reminds me, even though they never fought and were supposed to back in 2006, Briggs albeit controversially, won the real heavyweight title as well). Tua still brings back positive memories for most, hell even he was mentioned in a Family Guy episode (random as that was). As for Shavers, if he could box a little more and set up his right hand better, who cares about his chin or lack thereof, he would've taken out the best anyways. And as far as his oor chin, he might've gone too sleep 7 times in his career, he at least was saved from batterings and has all of his faculties.