Earnie Shavers vs. Frank Bruno (both prime)

This is definitely one of those fights where I couldn’t decide. My only prediction is that it ends in less than five rounds

 

Either Earnie lands a nuclear bomb overhand right and ends it within 4, or Bruno jabs, clinches, rabbit punches, and hides behind a hide guard until Shavers starts to run out of stream and then beats a defenseless Shavers senseless by the 8th or 9th round.

Anyone who thinks this goes the distance should delete their account immediately.

 

The younger Bruno, who stood up like a Guardsman and moved in straight lines like a Chess piece would get beheaded here.
The older version of Frank, the one who had learned to fight within his limitations, has a better chance of thwarting Shavers long enough to slow him down and make him a target, wearing him down and stopping him on his feet after the 7th.
Earnie was a monstrous banger but not a great finisher. When he had an opponent hurt he tended to go bananas, swinging for the fences and missing.
Having said that, Bruno used to go straight into stand by mode when caught clean.
Pure instinct says Shavers, who only has to land once, gets lucky some time in the first 5 rounds.

 

I think that Frank Bruno would have outlasted Earnie Shavers in terms of stamina. Shavers did not last a round against Jerry Quarry in 1973. Bruno took bombs from Mike Tyson Oliver McCall, and Tim Witherspoon. I really think in the early going that Earnie would be all offense, and Frank would be strictly defense. But then after a few shaky moments, the straight upright Bruno begins to take over, he ends this as Shavers is all punched out.. Bruno by TKO 5.

 

Shavers by ko

 

The problem with your analysis is Quarrey had an iron chin and Frank had a mediocre chin. And his defense wasn't very good. He's gonna get hit flush by Shavers. And odds are he's not gonna be able to take it. Bruno's only shot is to blitz Shavers early and get him out of there before he gets hit. Not likely

 

I expect a beautiful chess-match with superb boxing ability by both men that goes the distance.

 

Bruno beats him, either on the cards or stops him late

 

Ernie removes his head

 

I'd think Bruno catches him first

It's really 50/50 though ...

 

Why does it always have to be prime vs prime?
I think this would be more entertaining when both guys were slightly over the hill.
I would pick Shavers in any event . They don't have hitters like that over in the UK, Bruno would not be built for that type of smoke.
I say Shavers ko 4 Bruno, extremely brutal in nature. It would be so shocking they would push to ban boxing

 

Earnie sticks and moves to a unanimous decision.

 

Well- I think a win is within the realms of both fighters abilities. Though I pick Shavers, Frank had a very ugly and often times unsuccessful survival tactic as strong as he was he just did not wrestle/clinch he seemed to almost exclusively rabbit punch his opponent into a berserk rage when he was hurt and face the brutal outcome. Shavers often poor finishing ability would have not be an issue in the ring with Frank and their is no doubt if Earnie hurts Bruno the fight is over in my eyes.

 

You are entitled to your opinion and I respect that. I am no debater, that is above my pay grade. I am not a politician, just a poster on this site. But in my opinion, no man is going to stand frozen and allow you to hit them. Yes Earnie has tremendous power, but he has ran out of gas before. Oliver McCall can hit, he took out Lennox Lewis before too but against Bruno, he did not take him out.