Best Finisher : Foreman, Shavers, Tyson or Liston

I don't like Ernie Shavers as being mentioned in a "best finisher" thread. He was dangerous no doubt, but for a man with as much power as he possessed, there were a fair number of guys whom he had in trouble that he couldn't put away, ultimately resulting in his demise. Not saying he's a "bad" finisher per say, but he just doesn't belong in a discussion about the " best ".

As for who I picked, I went with George Foreman, as he did manage to stop almost everyone that he had troubled, with the exception of a select few who fought him either in his 40's, or before he had peaked early on. Tyson is not a bad pick, but not sure that I'd give him the nod. He had to clobber the living **** out of Jose Ribalta before the referee finally stopped the action in the tenth, when Jose was still on his feet and willing to continue. Tyson was also prime when he fought Razor Ruddock ( a fighter that Lewis would later make short work of ), and had him in loads of trouble, but never finished him or at least not decisively, ( stoppage in first fight was bull****. ) A lot of his other opponents whom he DID stop decisively were either past prime or had shaky chins. Still he had great finishing ability, but not sure that I can pick him over foreman.

 

To be honest, a few men did, but most of them came in his second career when he was 40+ and no longer had the accuracy or ability to wind up for his shots. Incidentally I picked Foreman in the polls, but mostly for the work in his first career, with consideration for some of the things he did in his second.

 

tyson

 

From at technical standpoint, Liston was without a doubt the better finisher, but Foreman was very good at using his brute strength to set-up his less than clinical bombs. He was also very good at cutting the ring off. It wasn't always pretty, but he almost always got the job done (in first career).

As for people naming Ali as someone he failed to finish, I don't think that's fair. He rocked Ali, but never had him badly hurt. Not nearly as hurt as Frazier had him twice in FOTC without finishing the job. Actually, I don't think he even had him in as much trouble as Liston had a blinded and inexperienced Clay in.

 

According to George Chuvalo, Liston hit harder than Foreman.

As for the men in the list, it's a toss-up between Tyson and Foreman. I respect Sonny as a finisher, too.

 

Agreed,

Lot's of men had Ali in " trouble " at one point or another, but couldn't finish him, including Liston and Shavers.

 

i agree that ali isn't the best example for lack of finishing, because as noted he wasn't really hurt. however i do think it speaks to his recklessness and poor ring iq in his first career

 

Shavers belongs at the top of the list




When you turn it upside down.