Fights that did not need to happen and the gain was so small compared to the price paid. I was thinking of Ali vs Shavers. He won a token victory a spot on his already huge resume. Ali had the respect of the crowd for that night yet the toll was so high and he proved nothing we did not know he had a great will to win at any cost to his health. However the fight was simply ugly, forgettable and in retrospect now it is just depressing to watch. "At what cost?"
Bit of a stretch to fault the Shavers effort with Ali's condition in and of itself. Not sure I understand the point being raised.
I saw that fight live on NBC on Sept 29 1977. Muhammad Ali started to show movement, flicking out his left jab, but when Earnie Shavers started to land his bone rattling right hand to the jaw of Ali, the champ, took it but you could tell that it must have hurt him. Ali began to rub Shavers bald head. Ali used Rope A Dope in the corner but Earnie stepped back, not willing to engage. The crowd at Madison Square Garden was on their feet every time Shavers landed. I believe that it was a well deserved decision for Ali, it demonstrated that he could still take a punch from a murderous puncher such as Earnie, even at such an advanced age. Ali's skills from his peak years of 1964-1967 were long gone, but what kept him in many tough fights such as this was his long experience and his confidence. I think that after this fight Ali should have called it a career, retiring with his title as so many great champions in boxing history have done. His next fight against Leon Spinks was so unnecessary. Again, his skills by that time were eroded. From a monetary perspective and from a historical one it was a good move, but from a physical one, it was a bad move. Everyone should take care of their bodies, you are only given one in life. These Bean Stock sized fighters today with their Steroid use, it is not modern nutrition, (many of us were not born yesterday) those individuals may someday suffer from bad after effects on their bodies due to vanity. Ali should have left the game after Earnie Shavers in 1977.
Kiyoshi Hatanaka had just won the WBC Super Bantamweight title with a KO over Pedro Decima, making him widely famous in Japan in addition to his popular, fan friendly fighting style. Instead of taking an easy defence for some good change, however, he elects to fight bonafide badass Daniel Zaragoza in one of the most ridiculously high paced wars in Boxing history. Losing a SD, he retires having completely burnt out, the bout having caused paralysis in his eye. Jack 'Kid' Berg also qualifies, ironically in a win. Berg took a vicious hiding from the legendary Tony Canzoneri in their first bout, almost being KO'd repeatedly in the 1st, with ringside press wondering how the **** he was still taking it. Yet Berg somehow managed to rally forth with incredible heart, brawling with a whirlwind intensity that somehow lead to an incredible win. I'm pretty sure this fight took a lot out of him, even though Berg went on to have an incredible short run of wins, including being the first man to beat Kid Chocolate. However, after the KO loss to Canzoneri in the 2nd bout, Berg started to lose multiple fights by TKO, and I think the first bout was a big contributor to his overall damage.
Fights that took more then they were worth. Shavers vs Ali is the example I’m using because Earnie was no great fighter and one he really did not need to face he was already shot and suffering from brain damage. He took huge shots and was said to have not been able to touch his nose with the lights off afterwards. It only proved that he did not belong in the ring anymore despite winning.
Gotta disagree. I LOVED that fight. Shavers greatest performance. No one thought he could go 15. And DOMINATE? I had him winning and love the right hands and left hooks he caught Ali with. One of my fave Heavyweight Championship fights and the card itself was a great card & night with Rossman & Arguello. No bueno! Your wrong. I get your point though. ALI was hrt 4ever & that is sad.
I agree completely, but I've always believed that Ali deliberately lost to Spinks. Spinks was supposed to e a tune up for a 4th fight with Ken Norton who reastablished himself as the number 1 contender in 1977. The Ali-Spinks shenanigangs were a disgrace to boxing, Ali was over the hill and Spinks was a novice. Ken Norton was the real victim, getting the WBC title in Mexico City in June of 78 and losing it to Larry Holmes a mere 3 months later. As much as I like Holmes I really wish that Norton got the decision in their fight, because of getting screwed by Ali and the politics surrounding Muhammad.
I remember Ali saying some years later he didn't recall several rounds of his fight with Shavers after that second round. It's like he went from round 2 to round 9. I believe Ray Robinson had a similar experience . Not a good sign for sure
