Was Ali really still a great fighter when he beat Earnie Shavers?

This is all true. Ali’s legendary chin was never actually upheld against elite punchers. A mere fantasy world construct. I just have this strange gut feeling that he would’ve survived said shots IF they had landed flush…..but who am I to say?

 

All good…different views make the world go round.

 

Ali was far from his peak but this was his last great effort in my opinion as he had to dig into his well of courage, grit and determination to fend Earnie off.

 

That last round...that might have been the last time we saw "our" Ali. Earnie wouldn't have made it another round.

 

It was by far Shavers best performance of his career, and I do think Shavers deserves credit for it despite Ali being past it. I was actually very impressed how the gung ho puncher like Shavers, showed discipline to pace himself in a 15 round fight. And if most of other Heavyweights were taking them right hands consistently, for 15 rounds from Shavers they would of been gone.

So I think both fighters deserve credit, Ali for his amazing will and chin. And Shavers for adopting a new gameplan.

 

Nope again not true how about lets see a scorecard from you sometime here's mine.

Muhammad Ali vs Earnie Shavers

1 Ali
2 Shavers
3 Ali
4 Shavers
5 Ali
6 Shavers
7 Shavers
8 Shavers
9 Ali
10 Ali
11 Ali
12 Ali
13 Shavers
14 Shavers
15 Ali

143-142 Ali

 

I don't see it that way, I say he was a solid rated contender who would be a threat to any champion. I rate Shavers highly imo

 

this is as an elite of a punch as it gets

This content is protected

 

Its interesting like in Manila Muhammad Ali would typically
Slow down from rounds 4-9 and 10.

 

Ali did not look good against Shavers. There's lots of champions that could have beaten that version of Ali. He was pulling through via sheer willpower and chin.

 

IMHO, at that time, Ali was still great, in many ways, but not the fighter he was when younger.

 

Unbelievable.

 

He was decent for a brief period, but he wasn't anything special in historical sense. There have been plenty of hard hitting limited brawlers during the HW division history.

Shavers wouldn't be a threat for prime Ali, that was my main point.