Shavers obviously more powerful. But Chris was a heavyweight version of Pernell Whitaker, a very slick defensive fighter difficult to hit with a clean shot.. I would pick Byrd on points..
I'd like to think that Byrd outruns and outboxes him, but I could also see Shavers tying him up and nailing him with an uppercut while he holds his head down. Could go either way, but I'd pick Byrd by decision.
I think Byrd is able to use his escapology enough to win a decision. Shavers would have some moments but Byrd would be able to get away and not get caught clean enough to be stopped. I'd picture this something like Byrds fight with Tua.
I think Chris was actually the bigger man, he could outpoint Earnie or he could get caught like he did vs IKE
Byrd took a good punch so if he does get caught, he could weather the storm. And I sure don't think for a minute Earnie would look good against a southpaw. Let alone a hard to hit southpaw. Chris would pepper away to a decision in this.
You guys are probably right. Chris managed to avoid bombs from Tua, McCline, lots of people. Earnie might steamroll him early, but most likely Byrd would survive and then pick him apart.
I think Byrd was comparable to the more developed version of Jimmy Young who Shavers fought the second time and who a lot felt got robbed in that draw. Byrd by decision for me unless he gets careless and Shavers nails him with a right hand like the one he dropped Holmes with. Not sure Chris can rise from that the way Larry did.
Has anyone actually seen that Shavers-Young draw? People go around saying Young was robbed, yet there is no footage of the fight and no one who seems to have seen it. I think the statement about robbery was made in a Philadelphia newspaper...guess where Jimmy was from.
Byrd on points, wide, for me. He's not easy to pin down, especially when he's the bigger man. Can't write off Earnie's puncher's chance, but I'd bet on Byrd making him look foolish much more often than not.
Earnie had a great right hand but he wasn't that amazing. Same as Byrd. He could box but he wasn't a heavyweight Floyd. I think they win one each as the reality is they were both B level fighters. Byrd just had the luxury of being in an era that had 14,000 belts to choose from.