Ali vs Shavers, this fight thoroughly convinced me that Ali was finished . He had to really dig deep with all his heart and strength to survive the bombs Ernie put on him. It was his last heroic effort.
Chris Eubank in his first fight with Carl Thompson. There was another fight between these two…Chris’ last ever fight…but this contest is the one where I think we saw the last remnants of the Eubank of old, where he fights on until the bitter end. The first half of this fight, which was Eubank’s Cruiserweight debut, Chris rolled back the years, giving the naturally bigger Thompson nightmares. For a few rounds, this was Eubank of old! He peppered Thompson with crisp shots, knocking him down, and looking like he’d end it early. But as the fight went on, Thompson took control as Chris fought on with little else but courage and determination. Thompson got the decision. But what a fight, and what a performance Eubank put on considering he was fighting at more than 20lbs more than his usual boxing weight. Coupled with him fighting well beyond his prime, and the odds were always stacked against Chris pulling off what would have been his greatest ever victory.
In some ways it was one of his greatest "victories" as he said himself those beatings he took at the end of his career finally gave him the admiration and sympathy he desired from the public.
I'd agree with you Muhammad Ali knew Earnie Shavers was a dangerous opponent and had to adjust accordingly however I would say after he had lost to Leon Spinks in February of 1978 he prepared and trained harder than ever for seven months for his rematch in September. Butch Lewis said Spinks threw away the title by partying and not training properly so that could be a valid argument for those saying Ali was already finished before the first Spinks fight.
