Earnie Shavers from the Muhammad Ali fight vs Leon Spinks 1978.

I have noticed that, long ago lol

 

Leon spinks was the same in 1978 simply Ali was terrible in this year so he made leon look better than he actually was.
Ali post 1976 was only a show against elite oposition.

 

My guess is that Spinks does pretty well taking the fight to Shavers until a few rounds go by and Shavers lands the big right hand.

 

Anything could happen in this fight!!
Maybe Spinks out works shaver s and gets a decision. Or a Leon rushes in, to find himself lookin up at the roof after taking an atom bomb shot from Earnie.
I'll go with Shavers pulling out one of those massive shots, to drop Spinks into an heap on the floor.

 

I'm really surprised so many pick Leon. I think Earny would just blow him out in about a minute or two. Leaon had some good head, upper body movement at his best, so he could be a problem for Earnie, but I think shavers at his best was a fast starter and would just blow Leon the hell out of there

 

Shavers KO 1

 

Nobody was blowing out Leon Spinks on February 15, 1978.

Ali arguably fought better against Spinks than he did against Shavers six months earlier. Shavers just didn't throw a ton against Ali, and Leon was throwing non-stop. Even when Ali tried to close the show like he did against Shavers, Spinks wouldn't relent, whereas Shavers was covering up trying to survive the closing seconds.

Leon had a lot of bad days. That wasn't one of them.

 

I think people need to think more. Leon looked hot that night, and true, Ali was in a bad way, but Leon may have been on fire even if he was fighting '77 or '76 Ali. Some of you forget that Leon's style is designed to beat Ali's regardless of age.

 

What about the Spinks form in his previous bouts to Ali? Hardly a world beater and a guy you had better stay away from certain opponents.

And Earnie would be one of them. So was Holmes. Norton. Coetzee proved the huge defensive flaw and punch resistance when they fought in Monte Carlo. I'm sure Foreman comes out of retirement for a Spinks fight.

A fight with Bobick at that time would have been good. A shot Lyle he beats. Maybe another Ledoux rematch might see him win a decision. Maybe Young he outworks especially if Jimmy has his B game.

 

I think Lyle would have knocked the living dog**** out of Leon. Lyle hit harder than Coetzee, and imo was an overall better fighter.

 

Shavers by brutal and early KO

Leon wasn't too impressive in his close fights against LeDoux or Righetti both of whom were inferior fighters compared to Shavers. Coetzee blew him in 1 round right after the Ali fights. Leon was lucky that Ali had little power in 1978, cause he was hittable in both fights. As was he against LeDoux or Righetti. Shavers catches him early and Leons' chin wasn't any better than Norton's (actually worse). Shavers KO1

 

This is not meant to tear apart your argument, but what about all of Shavers' losses to nobodies? Two losses in his first two yrs. pro. 1st round knockout loss to Quarry. Decision loss against Bob Stallings. 4 more losses to top opposition the rest of the decade. Kicks off the 80s with 2 knockout losses and 2 decision losses. I realize that the 80s Shavers was losing his abilities, but when Spinks lost, he didn't look too hot, when Shavers lost he looked pathetic.

 

Both men blew hot and cold. Both lost to guys they weren’t supposed to and both beat men they weren’t supposed to. While Leon was the more skilled fighter I don’t think he could take Earnie’s overhand rights for long. By 1977 Shavers had developed more stamina and poise than the man who was beaten in one round by Jerry Quarry years earlier. This was the guy who nearly flattened Larry Holmes. And had Ali saying he threw the hardest right he ever got hit by. Leon might pull it off but if he get decked it could end quickly

 

I agree with much of what you say and am leaning towards Shavers myself. But we have to consider that the spinks who fought Coetzee in 1979 wasn’t quite the same fighter he was in 1978. Reason being was that after he won the title and had some fame and money in his pocket, his self discipline and dedication went to shlt... that said I’d still be weary about picking a 1978 Leon over a 1977 Shavers.... sheesh I feel like I’m talking about cars...

 

I'm waiting for the day when u say something absolutely ridiculous @mr. magoo, lol. I don't think it'll ever happen.