Ali v Shavers

Only up to a point.
Let's not forget that he was 'ducking' rematches with Norton and Young at this time. Shavers was considered less of a challenge.

 

Many disagree that Ali beat Young comfortably. Many thought Young should have won. I thought they both looked ****. Young then went and beat Foreman. The calls at the time were for Ali to fight Norton or Young. He chose to fight Evangelista and Shavers.
People especially wanted to see Ali face Norton again. Norton beat Young in an eliminator and was scheduled to get another shot.
Yes, people wanted to see a 4th fight.
Ali fought Leon Spinks instead.

 

Even though earnie was a little shaky there at the end, he sure won that 15th round. He didn't beat Ali like Young and Norton did, but he sure made his point. he could have ko'ed Ali had he let it all hang out inthe 2nd.

 

He hurt Ali more than Foreman or Liston ever did...if only he let his hands go and not have been so concerned about gassing out.

 

You're right on the money Spider!:good

 

Nah, Shavers didn't win the 15th. He ****ed up and let it slip away. I had Ali winning by a point because of that last round. Either way, Shavers still could easily have gotten the decision. The official scorecards were bogus though: 9-6, 9-5 for Ali. Ha, those look like what should have been the scores for Ali-Norton 3 in favor of Norton.

 

There was no controversy concerning this decision. Period. Shavers lost many rounds simply because he was not fighting. His endurance was hugely suspect and his plan was to conserve himself as much as he could and then come on with all he has the tail end of the fight. So by round 12 or 13 Ali had already won 8 rounds. Earnie came on strong seriously hurting Ali in rounds 13 and 14 as well as the 15th....that is until Ali caught him in the las 30 seconds of the round nearly having shavers out by fights end.

 

I hate to agree with HOUDINI, of all people, but I think he's correct about the scoring. I don't believe there was much controversy. I remain impressed that Ali took the fight against Shavers. High risk, low reward opponent, when there were safer opponents to fight out there. I have always been of the opinion that Ali was one of the most courageous fighters that ever laced them up.

 

I had Ali winning the fight by a single point, on virtue of that 15th round. That is the textbook definition of stealing a round; Do more damage in 30 seconds then the other guy did in the other 2:30, and convince the audience that you ran out of time.

I can't score a round for a guy I think was lucky the bell came. I just can't. 20 more seconds, its an Ali TKO.

Also, Earnie was the better fighter the night of. He was sharp, Ali was not at all. He was honed, Ali was clearly not well-trained. Earnie just didn't punch! Every round he went out and executed, he won, and easily! But there were so many where he just sat there, gloves up, and Ali pecked away, pecked away.

Earnie gave the fight away. He got to the point where he needed a series of big rounds, and one of his best ended then with him on the verge of being stopped.

Ali legitimately stole that fight. The judge's scorecards were pretty darn good.