What if Earnie Shavers had fought Joe Frazier in the fall 0f 1975? Who wins and why?

Most likely, Frazier recovers from an early round scare (possibly a trip to the canvas or two), then destroys Shavers by the fifth round. This is an intriguing match: either Shavers wins early, or he doesn't win at all.

 

By 1975. I would go with Shavers by early KO. Joe was in steep decline and out of shape by this time.

 

Joe still had enough in the tank to KO Shavers. Shavers had a big punch....that's about it right there. He has the chance to put away Joe but I don't put him in the same class as even a 1975 Joe who gave Ali one of his toughest fights ever that year.

 

If the fight took place after the Thrilla, I think Shavers would have a decent chance of pulling off the upset; if before, Joe would win by KO by the middle rounds. Shavers always had a slugger's chance against anyone, but he didn't exactly have a granite chin himself. If Quarry could avoid Ernie's bombs, crowd him, and knock him out, I don't see why Joe Frazier couldn't.

 

I'd go with frazier. He may have taken some brutal punches and even visited the canvas a time or 2 but he would out match shavers in volume of punches thrown and conditioning. This, along with shavers suspect chin would spell defeat. "Smokin Joe" steam rolls the "acorn" within 5.

 

I could see the first round with Shavers landing some bombs as Joe bobs and weaves with a bit less speed and reflex that a prime Joe would exhibit. I am almost convinced Joe would hit the floor.

By rounds 2 and 3, Joe begins his predatory shuffle and starts to turn the tide of the fight.

Fight is over by round 4 or 5.

 

50/50. I have made a point that Frazier's resume is void of punchers aside from Foreman, and he could have fought Shavers or Lyle in the 70's, possibly Norton as well.

 

as said earlier fraizer may get caught early but he would fight back and catch shavers dodgey chin and stop him by the 5th

 

Up to,and including Manila,there were only two guys whom I'd said could have definitely beaten Frazier. Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Shavers would have given him some rocky moments early on,but once Joe got into his rhythm,it would only be a matter of time till Earnie was stopped. After Manilla,I'd have made Shavers favourite. The Thrilla took that much out of Joe.

 

Frazier would still have taken Shavers imo. Yes, the fact Joe was blind in one eye is quite disturbing, but I rekcon he would still have had enough to take Earnie's shots & come back with his own fierce artillery!

If Shavers doesn't get Joe out of there early then its Joe's fight all day long. Even thugh Joe's skills were eroded a lot by 1975, he could still go some, as demonstrated in his fight with Ali in Manilla. He would never give up!

Earnie's only hope is to land the big right & even then I do not think he's a certainty to win! Frazier was extremely durable!

 

Frazier was in great shape for Ali in '75. Far better than he was in '76
for Foreman. As a matter of fact, Joe was never in great shape for Foreman! But that's another thread. Frazier wins this '75 match with Shavers, but like previously stated, gets wobbled early.