Big John Tate vs Earnie Shavers in 1979

Either Tate would box to an easy decision or get caught and kod by one punch. If he got hit with the type of right hand that almost stopped Larry Holmes he'd be done. I think if I had to choose I'd say Tate would avoid Shaver's home run punches and win a decision or stoppage on cuts.

 

Berbick had no good wins at that point and was Kod in one round by mediocre Bernardo Mercado in 1979. He was seen as a safe opponent. Yes, it looks bad in hindsight.

 

IMO the only reason this thread was started was due to Shavers age at the time. With all due respect to any fighter that steps into the ring wanting to make it his career, Tate was an overrated wannabe. Buster Mathis comes to mind and IMO he was far superior.

 

I don't know... 1979 was the same year that Shavers dropped Holmes and crushed an aged but still competitive Norton. Tate outpointed Coetzee in the same year but not in what I'd call a stellar performance. Then he several months later loses to Weaver. Could have gone either way but I wouldn't put too much down on either man.