In one hand, we have pre steward Lennox, prone to making a few mistakes and getting tagged hard at times. In the other, we have the ever dangerous, nuclear power hitting Earnie Shavers. So do we see Shavers getting hammered by the champ, as Bruno was eventually? Or could Earnie penetrate the guard of Lennox and drop him like Mccall? Anyone see Shavers having a decent chance here?
Nah Lewis all the way for mine. A guy who could hit like Earnie is always a threat but Lewis basically only ever lost when he was complacent. With a chilling banger like Shavers, Lewis would be razor sharp, focused and looking to end it quick to avoid any dramas. Lewis keeps it at range, breaks Shavers down and ends it around the 5th without shipping much punishment. Lewis is simply too big and too good..
People act like pre Stewart Lewis was a bum. He was still an excellent boxer even if he did have flaws. If he knew who shavers was he would not be fooling around. What contributed to the Rahman and McCall KO's is that neither guy were on anyone's radio. They weren't known for being big hitters and often lost some of their biggest fights. McCall especially, he was dismissed as a journeyman and "Tyson's sparring partner". Shavers was limited but everyone knew the man's fists were lethal and didn't take him lightly.
I think your right, regarding Lewis being aware of Shavers killer punch. He'd be aware and fight appropriately against him. There always a chance that he get caught by shavers as Holmes did, and Larry had a better chin. It's a dangerous fight but I see Lewis stopping him in around 7, but he can't be cautious enough against this fella.
all Lennox and early. The Davenport version actually had and used an excellent left hook. It was with Correa and Steward he stopped using it. An excellent left hook and that big right hand are way too much for Earnie's defense and the Shaver's ability to take a punch. Then add his susceptibility to cuts he had in the later part of his career.
Could be an upset special. Lewis’ ego was as big of a problem as his chin and back then he didn’t know how vulnerable he was. Not only could Shavers bang, he had faster than average hands and could box. picking Lewis in a Shannon Briggs vs Lewis type of result.
Lewis blows that chin out of the ring in 3. Pre Steward Lewis was an aggressive killer if a bit sloppy
Too hard fight for Shavers but a bomb of Earnie like with Holmes would knock Lewis out worse than how made Rahman and McCall.
Ohhhh for Christ sake, some of yall are vastly overrating Shavers. I never ever ever liked Lewis - but the Lewis of the Ruddock fight would totally obliterate Shavers. I don't even think Shavers beats Ruddock.
Lewis was KO'd with one punch pre Stewart and under Stewart, no different. There's always a chance for big puncher to put him to sleep. Also, Lewis only take rematch when he knows he could beat the guy but he never consider rematch against someone like Vitali or Mercer. Why he keeps pressing rematch against Rahman and Mccall but not Mercer who almost beat him? Even that Russian guy gave a tough match for Lennox. People love to pointing at Lewis performance against Ruddock, but Mccall beat him as easy as he beat Ruddock. Shavers would only need to perform as good as Bruno did, and with his punching power , he'd more than likely to shatters Lewis chin. When people said Lewis never fight great fighter while they're in their prime, Lewis fans always say because Lennox peak at older age, yet when he lost to Vitali, these people suddenly say Lewis was old and pass his peak wtf...
I must have missed Lewis losing to Vitali. How I remember it was Vitali was stopped because his face looked like roadkill when the fight was barely halfway over but I could be mistaken.
Earnie was fast, had good upper body movement , could box some, and was a FAST starter. He would kill lewis inside 3, probably the first.
The truth be told, Lennox Lewis was kayoed by Hassim Rahman Ali, and Oliver McCall, pre Stewart, They do not have the firepower of The Acorn Earnie Shavers, who hurt post prime Ali, in 1977, but was defeated by the Greatest. The same Shavers, who floored prime Larry Holmes, in 1979, before being stopped. The same Shavers who destroyed Ken Norton, in round 1, on March 23 1979. Lewis, a tall heavyweight would have to use his boxing skills, and improve his defense to beat Earnie, take him into the later part of the fight. If Shavers connects on Lennox jaw, it is goodnight. Stewart taught Lewis defense, and how to be effective when firing his punches. Look how Lewis defeated Vitali Klitchko, Lennox abandoned the classic European style of boxing, with Stewart, sure he got staggered at times,. but weathered the storm, to win on a TKO. Pre Stewart, Earnie by KO 4.