1978 Earnie Shavers vs Gerrie Coetzee

I'll take Coetzee.

He was more consistent at a higher level and a more accurate puncher than Shavers.

Shavers could pretty much beat anybody with the right punch, of course, but he also conspired to lose to people that were absolute nobodies.

It took a high-level fighter to be favoured over Coetzee.

 

Coetzee was not very tough, but Shavers was less durable. With that said, if Shavers nailed him early, he would put Coetzee away, who I have never seen come back from tremendous difficulty. Coetzee usually came out guns blazing though, so I think he would probably stop Shavers within 7 rounds. I actually favor Shavers as the fight goes on though, not because of stamina, but because of determination. Coetzee usually died after he realized his punching had no effect on the likes of Tate or Weaver. Shavers was soft-chinned, but very gutsy, therefore I favor him after round 7 or 8.

 

Honestly, I think Coetzee crumbled late not because of morale, but because he didn't do enough stamina training. For some reason it's a common problem amongst South African heavies, and for the life of me I can't understand why. The Drakensberg must be some of the most beautiful places to do high altitude training.

 

I think Coetzee had short stamina too, I just don't view that as his primary problem, although it could help with a morale problem too.

 

Have you seen the shavers vs Williams fight? Talk about dramatic. Who knew the old acorn had that much determimation?

 

Yep, it was that amazing rally in the 10th that caused me to not rule out the possibility of a late Shavers win. Shavers also defeated Henry Clark for a decision, a guy who was known for his boxing ability. Add to that, Shavers had some great moments late in his fights with Ali and Holmes.

 

I just think Earnie is too much for him. I don’t see anything on Coetzee’s record that convinces me he could stand up to a puncher of that magnitude — as noted, he seemed easily dissuaded.

 

When asked who would win, my answer is either one could. Who would I favor ? Probably Coetzee. The reason ? Because it generally took a world class fighter to beat him. Shavers lost to fighters at all varying levels and at all stages of his career

 

Shavers won one round in two fights with Holmes. He didn't have any "great moments" except the round he knocked Holmes down. Other than that round the fights were one sided.

*One judge gave Shavers a round in the first fight scoring the fight 119-109, the other two gave Holmes every round (120-108). In the second fight Holmes stopped Shavers in the 11th, Holmes had won all but one round in that fight and was obviously winning the 11th.

 

well, I meant more that Shavers was always able to fire big with a big shot all the way through the fight. In the rematch with Holmes, which Holmes dominated brutally following the knockdown, Shavers continued to tag Holmes every once and a while to the end of the fight. I did not intend to give the impression that Shavers piled up lot of points against Holmes. I agree with you.

 

Coetzee. Though I wouldn't rule out a Shavers knock down early. Gerrie gets off the canvas and proceeds to methodically beat Shavers down though, after Shavers blows his load trying to get him out of there.

 

That's true, nearly everyone who beat Shavers came off the floor to do it: Lyle, Holmes, Mercado, Tillis... and those who didn't floor him struggled plenty. Quarry is the only guy who ever beat Shavers easily.