Baer vs Shavers

Agree on the jab set up but with their long reaches, sans preceding jabs, Max and Earnie did sometimes get away with landing their big, lead, overhand rights.

Even if he added nothing else otherwise, Baer’s game would’ve been vastly improved with a half way decent, consistently applied jab. At best he often pawed with it and perhaps aided him in fixing the range for his right hand.

As an aside, could you imagine what superlatives screwball Maxie might’ve conjured up to describe Earnie’s punching power? He might’ve even surpassed the classic descriptions given by James Tillis and Randy Cobb.

 

So true. Earnie’s stamina issues are often not properly divorced from the sheer quality of his chin.

Much is made of Ali duping Earnie in the 2nd round after Shavers rocked Ali to his heels - but then, as per considerate strategy, Earnie was also mindful not to shoot his wad too early - and ultimately, he posted one of, if not the, best performances of his career over the long, old
school haul of 15 rds - a duration that has found many fighters out - even those who didn’t necessarily have a reputation for poor stamina in the first place.

 

Can you imagine some of the shots landing here!!
I'll go with max with the better whiskers, but this is Shavers, if Baer doesn't take it seriously??

 

True. We get wrapped up in picking a winner - but this one could promise some entertaining fireworks all round until the dust settles and one man is left standing.

 

With a decent left jab and a bit more love for boxing Baer certainly would have been a demon and a half at the time. Obviously he did well as is but he could have been a fair bit more too.

 

Neither is too 5

 

This fight is going to be SO explosive!

Someone is getting laid out.

…And it’s not going to be the one with a full head of hair.

 

Yeah that’s the one. @swagdelfadeel loves the clarence. And Nobody knows why.

 

Baer accomplished more but boy was he easy to hit. If he survives Earnie's first bomb he can take Shavers out, but,,,,,

 

I fancy Max, I allways remember Ellis rocking Shavers early and I was a big fan of Earnie...but not one to bet on!

 

I’ve always thought a prime Norton(before the Foreman rematch perhaps the second Ali bout) would’ve beaten Shavers.

 

Link rules!

 

Still not sure who you’re picking.

Earnie’s first equalising punch will knock most of the hair off Max’s head. His second punch will put Max down for good.

There’ll be no “cute” waving from the canvas by the Magnificent Screwball - unless you count his “twitching” foot (ala Ingo vs Patto) as a “wave”.

 

Interesting that Ken was described as “freezing” against big punchers. I only really saw that to any pronounced degree vs Foreman - and Ken admitted to same.

I don’t think he said felt similarly impaired vs Shavers or Cooney.

With Shavers, supposedly Ken was trying on a “rope a dope” on Earnie - and visually it appeared that way to some extent on film. At the same time, Ken was banging right along with Shavers for a bit (suicide?) and he simply got caught with huge punches.

Looking at it from the other side, it was a terrifically tight performance from Earnie - short, efficient and accurate power punching. Shavers was also possibly in his best ever condition for Norton (and Ali) and very hungry given the right opportunities.

Viewed in their own way, Earnies’s performances vs Ali and Norton might’ve been his very best - tailored perfectly for the opponent in front of him.

Unlucky for both Ali (in terms of punishment absorbed otherwise I think Ali won) and Ken that Earnie really hit his own stride when he fought them.

Shavers did himself very proud against two big names.

 

So does the other Lin(c)k..…Lancelot Link, secret agent!