"Ali-Shavers" of '77 was IMO Ali's last great effort in the ring.

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by MRBILL, Oct 28, 2011.


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  1. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Friends and neighbors,

    I've been reviewing various bits and pieces of "Ali-Shavers" from New York yesterday and today, and I have no doubt this was indeed the very last time Ali was able to suck-it-up against a solid foe, despite Shavers owning questionable skills... Yes, its true Shavers rocked Ali hardcore in round 2 with a series of rights to Ali's jaw, but even though Ali was clearly shaken, he took the heat well from Shavers... Ali also got tagged later as well in round 13 but, again, Ali ate them shots well for a fading champ age 35 yrs...... Ali slipped in the corner during round 14.... I'm sure Shavers wanted the call to be a knockdown, but the ref ruled it a slip; it was too..... Round 15 saw Ali flurry well, while Shavers appeared gased and almost out on his feet at the final bell..... The fight turned out better than expected but, all in all, I felt poor Shavers fell just short in his quest against Ali.... Good fight, and to me, Ali's last real hurrah....

    MR.BILL:deal:bbb:hey:hat
     
    MRBILL, Oct 28, 2011
    MRBILL, Oct 28, 2011
    #1
  2. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Ali coming back in Sept. '78 to outbox Leon Stinks really was no shock to me since Ali trained hard and was serious in that fight.... Ali showed that a seasoned pro at age 36 could indeed beat a determined, yet green novice of age 25....... No biggie to me....

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Oct 28, 2011
    MRBILL, Oct 28, 2011
    #2
  3. Vince Voltage

    Vince Voltage Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I thought Ali lost to Shavers, and besides the 15th round, was very ineffective the whole night. He got credit for a lot of punches blocked by Earnie. I wouldn't call it a great effort at all. Last great night for Ali was Manila.
     
    Vince Voltage, Oct 28, 2011
    Vince Voltage, Oct 28, 2011
    #3
  4. joebeadg

    joebeadg Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I just watched that fight again a couple of months ago, there is no way Ali won that fight. He was absolutely earnies ***** all night long.
     
    joebeadg, Oct 28, 2011
    joebeadg, Oct 28, 2011
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  5. Shake

    Shake Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Shavers won that fight, imo. Still, Ali's rally in the last round had him ready to go. Tough, tough man, Ali.
     
    Shake, Oct 28, 2011
    Shake, Oct 28, 2011
    #5
  6. AnthonyJ74

    AnthonyJ74 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Spinks beating Ali in '78 for the title was crazy. It should have been somebody more deserving, somebody like Norton or Holmes.
     
    AnthonyJ74, Oct 28, 2011
    AnthonyJ74, Oct 28, 2011
    #6
  7. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I scored for Ali by a **** hair....... Shavers was game, but fell short on points...
    :hey

    MR.BILL:hat
     
    MRBILL, Oct 29, 2011
    MRBILL, Oct 29, 2011
    #7
  8. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    It was close,but Ali bagged it,imo.
     
    Stevie G, Oct 29, 2011
    Stevie G, Oct 29, 2011
    #8
  9. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    Bill, although Ali won, it should have been at least a draw, to be fair. A great effort? No way.
     
    red cobra, Oct 29, 2011
    red cobra, Oct 29, 2011
    #9
  10. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    It was an exciting fight but for Ali as much a telling portrait of how badly he declined as a decent performance. Ali, who looked terrible against Young and Norton and dreadful v.s. Evangelista took terrific punishment in this fight. Post Manila this fight may have been the one that did the most damage to the man . I have not rewatched the whole fight in years but clearly remember how close it was and how often Ali was hit ... despite his final thirty second burst of arm punches against an exhausted Shavers it was a very sad night at the Garden and I remember the talk that they would never stage an Ali fight there again based on hiw much damage he took ...

    I clearly remember the coverage of the bout ...

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-Intern...Memorabilia&hash=item53e989e796#ht_500wt_1204
     
    he grant, Oct 29, 2011
    he grant, Oct 29, 2011
    #10
  11. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    My guess is, by Sept. '77 up in New York with Shavers, Ali was probably already in the early stages of his Parks syndrome, however, nobody realized it at the time....... Ali appeared in good shape for Shavers, but his speed and skills were fading without doubt.... Shavers was also well tuned and displayed an aggressive attack, but he also ate a lot of stinging leather as his face was swollen and puffy in the late rds.... It took conditioning and savvy for the 35 year old Ali to survive some of them rocky moments.... That's why I say it was Ali's last great effort.......


    MR.BILL:deal:hat
     
    MRBILL, Oct 29, 2011
    MRBILL, Oct 29, 2011
    #11
  12. TheGreatA

    TheGreatA Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ali showed a legendary chin and once again displayed why he was one of the toughest ever with the 15th round rally. Otherwise not a very good showing by him.

    In fact I was quite impressed by Shavers's power punching and stamina in this fight. Then again he wasn't exactly pushed hard by Ali and could fight at his own pace.
     
    TheGreatA, Oct 29, 2011
    TheGreatA, Oct 29, 2011
    #12
  13. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    True, but while Shavers was fine going forward in the fight, he appeared to short-circuit in the final moments of the 15th round when Ali nailed him with a flurry and caused Shavers to back up and go on the defense....

    Ernesto Shavers didn't absorb shots as well as he physically looked... Meanwhile, on the other hand, Ali took a shot / shots way better than anyone could ever imagine....

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Oct 29, 2011
    MRBILL, Oct 29, 2011
    #13
  14. TheGreatA

    TheGreatA Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I think it was as much Shavers being tired as he was hurt. He was in control and did not expect a big flurry by Ali at the end. Ali always found great reserves in the late rounds, even against Leon Spinks the first time. Despite being a lousy fight, that 15th round was a classic. Unfortunately for Ali, Spinks ended up having better stamina than Shavers.
     
    TheGreatA, Oct 29, 2011
    TheGreatA, Oct 29, 2011
    #14
  15. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    Ali was terribly hurt in the second round but fooled Earnie with his acting ... Shavers had a real shot of finishing Ali there and then if he went balls to the wall ...

    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfQ56hSXGV0&feature=related[/ame]

    go to 8:45
     
    he grant, Oct 29, 2011
    he grant, Oct 29, 2011
    #15
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