Michael Spinks by mid round KO... Shavers only has a punchers chance, and I'd say he wins 2 or 3 outta 10.
I don't know. On the surface Earnie Shavers appears to be a very beatable opponent for the much more savvy Michael Spinks. And he might well have lost to the Jinks. But the acorn wasn't always as vulnerable as sometimes made out to be. From 1977-1979 he seemed to have found a bit of a groove. He wasn't the same slow plodding crude slugger who gassed or was taken out the way he was against quarry and lyle. During the above mentioned time frame he have an old Ali and prime Holmes plenty of problems leaving them both complaining about the power they tasted from him. Mind you these were two of the most skilled and durable heavyweights of all time. And we also saw what he did to Ken norton. If shavers caught Spinks with one of those shots that he dropped Holmes with I'm not so sure he's getting back up.. This of course is assuming that we're taking about earnie shavers the more seasoned contender and not the club fighter version who lost to bob stallings.
Earnie wasn't a slow plodder against Lyle. He swarmed him for five rounds, exhausting himself. It would seem smart to pick Spinks but it's a very shaky choice. I think Earnie would be a major threat and I don't think he would be the least bit afraid of Spinks.
I am going for Earnie. I can't forget how Holmes wobbled Spinks several times, once with a glancing shot. Earnie would have to chase Spinks a bit, but I think he could catch up with him before his stamina runs out.
I'm 50/50 on this one. I feel Spinks the much better boxer overall should be able to win by one sided decision or knock out but I can picture Shavers flattening Spinks at any point in the fight with one punch.
fully focused spinks should handle Big Ern, but it'll be narrow with mikey needing to respect shavers power early on, by losing the early rounds.