Earnie Shavers vs. John Tate

I think the Tate who KO'd Bobick & Knoetzee, and who decisioned over 15 rounds another right-hand bomber in Coetzee, and who looked good for most of the fight vs. Weaver wears Shavers down and stops him sometime after 8. Shavers KO's post-Weaver Tate during the remainder of their respective careers.

 

Poor Ol' Shavers hasn't had much luck on the Classic Forum as of late.... Lotsa' threads about him ALWAYS on the losing end........

Shavers had power, but it was overrated..... Shavers never KO'd "A" fighters outside of Jimmy Ellis and Ken Norton............. Shavers KO'd a buncha' "C & B" dudes along with a few "D & F" mothers, as well...

Johnny Tate could box and punch well, but not take a solid shot to the chops....... But as a boxer, Tate was damn good...... Tate batters a slower Shavers to death at long range and then takes Shavers the **** out in about 8 rds........... Tate wins.......

MR.BILL

 

He damn near KO'd Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes. I think that's enough to prove that his power was legit.

 

Yo, Yo, I hear dat, mango......... But remember, "Almost" is the key word indeed............. That word equates to TWO losses to Ali and Holmes, as well......... No KO victories there........ Cheers.......
:rasta

MR.BILL

 

I don't think a lack of KO power was the reason why he lost those fights though. If a fighter needed just punching power to be great then boxing would hardly be the art that it is.

When it comes to sheer punching power, Shavers has to be ranked up there.

 

Hmmmmmm... Shavers could punch..... Yes, we know that....... Still, the names on his record do not lie.......... Shavers never really KO'd his elite opponents.......... Shavers lost 90% of the time to his "A" team guys...... Why? Not because of a lack of power, but more so his skills were below par....... Fact is, your first class mail ain't gonna arrive at its destination if you don't have a stamp on the envelope..... Shavers lacked the skill and finess to get the job done against elite fighters........
:deal

MR.BILL

 

Shavers by KO within first two rounds.

 

Well, its nice to see some Shavers support rolling in........ Lord knows he needs it......... Again, Shavers could punch hard, but he couldn't box for ****........... And I am a fan of Shavers..... Really.......
:good:hey

MR.BILL

 

Now that I can agree with. Despite having huge punching power, Shavers was not an elite fighter. If he had scored KO wins over Holmes and Ali, he would known as one of the greatest of all time which he wasn't. But I do think he was quite good, with a little more to his game than just a big punch.

Tate would have a hard time avoiding the power in the early rounds. He would have to wear Shavers down in order to win which is possible. Shavers despite fatigue did show a ton of heart at times for example in his comeback KO wins over Roy Williams and Jeff Sims.

 

Didn't need to, facing a non-elite Tate.

 

In 1978 or '79, Tate did massacre Bobick in the opening stanza with a volley of blows that landed all over Bob's head.........

Bobick had indeed been iced before by Norton in '76, but Bobick was on the comeback trail when Tate smoked him like a Marlboro man.......

Point being: Bobick had a punch, but poor defense.....

Ernest Shavers sorta' fits that mold, too.......:rasta

MR.BILL

 

Tate by a decision..remember, he didn't always have the lights turned out on him...he was a good fighter and would have beaten Shavers.

 

interesting fight

 

Bobick who??? Bobick Tomatoecan? :huh

I bet you rate Tate higher than Ali, Holmes, Norton. :nut

Shavers floors a helpless Tate in 1.