Let's say he gets the decision against Ali and becomes champ. And give him the normal 10 % psychological improvement you get when you become "The Man". Could he have defended the title for any length of time?
Not if he had faced Larry Holmes as he did right after losing to Ali but he could have beaten Norton, Young, Lyle and Bobick who were the other top 5 contenders at the time. He KO'd Norton in one round later on although Norton was in better form in 1977-1978 than in 1979. He had lost to Lyle in 1975, mostly due to his lack of conditioning. Lyle was slipping by 1977-1978 and was stopped by unheralded Lynn Ball in 1979. He had stopped Jimmy Young while Young was still green, the rematch went to a draw which many thought Young had won. Shavers could have beaten the unmotivated, out of shape Young who fought Ossie Ocasio in 1978. Shavers probably KO's Bobick in the first like Norton did.
I think timing would have been good for him if he managed to stay away from Larry Holmes, which is unlikely though. He pretty much "outlasted" Norton, Lyle and Young as a fighter. Perhaps he could rack up a couple of defenses against them, until the inevitable loss.
Its a long time since I saw ali-shavers but wasn’t shavers just moments away from certain stoppage when the final bell went? shavers did have some big rounds but I heard Dundee was telling ali what rounds he lost since he had a guy reporting from a TV in the dressing room what the official score was as it was broadcast live. The old champ had the luxury of knowing when he could take a round off, quite an edge when you think about it, but does this prove Ali could step it up when he wanted? Fighting without this knowledge Ali could have meant business and stepped it up a bit more.
I think Earnie might have granted Norton the first shot. He may well have looked at Foreman-Norton and decided, "I can do that!" (Unlike Leon Spinks, I don't believe Shavers would have risked splintering the title by signing for an immediate rematch with Ali.) Then, in 1978, he might look for payback at an aging but still respected Lyle. Ron was four and a half years older than Earnie, and this time, youth tells. Next up, the loser of the Norton-Young WBC eliminator. Ali-Shavers was in September 1977. Norton-Young came in November. With Earnie as champion, I don't think Jimmy would have been terribly discouraged by the loss to Norton, as he'd be looking at an undisputed champion over three years older than himself, somebody he's convinced he could stop within the championship distance. What about Ali? I'm of the opinion that the Ali who entered the Shavers bout may have won the first fight with Leon, and that Earnie inflicted brain damage that permanently compromised Muhammad's timing and coordination. If my theory has any validity, then Ali's chances in a rematch with Shavers might have been poor indeed. Earnie would not have been of a style or mind to lay back and let Muhammad steal away with an easy return win. Back to Jimmy Young. He was far more established as a serious contender at the outset of 1978 than Holmes, who made his breakthrough with the first Shavers fight. If Earnie's the champion, then Larry has to make that breakthrough with another contender. Had his match with Norton in June been for 12 rounds, Ken would have lost rather conclusively on the cards, and likely retired. But if Shavers had already bombed him out quickly in a title defense, then Holmes may not get to Norton at all, and have to secure status as a legitimate contender against another ranked rival. Meanwhile, Young could very well unseat Earnie from the throne.
True. Economics would have dictated a quick Ali rematch. Muhammad would have had enough left to reverse the decision.
He would have avoided Young (thereby Jimmy gets screwed yet again), who would have solidly beaten him had they fought a third time..a ko over Norton and then the inevitable loss to Holmes by late round stoppage.
