Which Champions could Shavers beat?

Shavers might level the Douglas Holyfield fought quite possibly.


Burns beats Shavers? atsch

 

People seem to underrate Shavers in general, because no one with his sickening power could possibly do anything else but bang, right?

He was a bad finished, but I can't level too many things at him.

Prepared like he was for say, the Norton fight, he looked pretty damned good.

 

Are you studying philosophy lately or something?

This post is perfectly logical in that Shavers might have hit the hardest of any HW, so he will always have a chance vs anybody.

 

You seriously pick Shavers to knock out Tunney and Walcott? Why???

I don't think he knocks out Patterson, Johansson or Braddock, either. I think you're pretty badly overrating him, here. In all probability, I would bet Johansson, who was also a brutally powerful right-hand knockout puncher but was a considerably more skilled boxer than Shavers, would score big first. Patterson may have had a weak chin, but he was lightning fast and had a crushing left hook, and would be liable to crowd and overwhelm Shavers early. Braddock was knocked out only once in his entire boxing career of over 40 amateur and 80 professional fights, and that was while on his way out against Joe Louis; Shavers was not nearly so deadly an offensive package as Louis- he was more like a Baer, who was too predictable and one-dimensional to take out the extremely experienced and durable Braddock.

Also, many of the fighters you name above were paper champions.

 

Well that, and I take in the fact that Burns was never counted out. Pound for pound, Burns had a top chin. Unlike Johnson, who can fight for a longer period of rounds, I think Shavers will get off and start to gas out once he notice that Burns is there to stay. Burns was knocking heavyweights like Moir out, and by some accouts, he gave Johnson a body beating. I dont think Shavers will ko Burns. Burns's chin is made out of cement,

 

Great points all well taken. I just think the late 60's to late 70's were the golden age of HW boxing. Guys that Shavers lost to like Quarry and Lyle for example - would have been considered spcial fighters if they had been around in a different era. As it stands they were just considered to be okay. Did you ever see Shavers' fight with Ellis? Ellis was taking it to Shavers and had him covering up. One perfectly placed right uppercut and Ellis was sleeping on the canvas. I think a guy like Schmelling would have had a chance maybe. Or a guy like Bonecrusher Smith who could tire Shavers out ala how Tiger Williams almost did. Walcott could outbox Shavers too but if Earnie connects solidly the 195lb. Walcott will be blown up. Braddock would have zero chance. Shavers would butcher him. Johansson would have a chance if his right hand reached Shavers first. But I see Shavers just overpowering him. You either had to be super durable - Jeffries. Durable and have a great punch - Dempsey, Marciano, Baer. Or be a great boxer - Ali, Holmes, Charles, Johnson to beat Shavers. Or just have a dynamic offense - Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Joe Louis. Shavers in his prime was something!

 

Patterson was a fine fighter but someone with elite power like Shavers would decimate him. Floyd ends up out in one round just like the Liston fights.

 

Ali was able to TKO Floyd twice so there exists some MAJOR doubts regarding his durability.

I'll tend to agree with you based upon what a small power guy like Ali was able to do.

 

Absolutely Rocco. It is not an indictment of Patterson's skills. He was a hard guy to keep down. Quarry could not put him away after flooring him a couple of times. Guys with elite type power could do it. Liston is the obvious one that comes to mind. Shavers hit just as hard as Liston.

 

I think Shavers hit the hardest of any HW, Sardu.. although I've no real way to prove it.

 

Everyone who fought him or sparred with him said just that. Holmes even said - YOU DON'T WANT TO LET THAT MAN HIT YOU! Guys with rock hard skulls like Ron Stander, Jerry Quarry, Tex Cobb could take his punches. Ali took punches from Shavers that would have knocked others out cold.

 

I'll have to take first hand accounts for "proof" as I have no way to prove he hit the hardest... I just believe he did through watching some of his fights (not all).

 

I don't know if someone could throw a harder punch than the righthanded beauty Marciano decimated Walcott with. This was rightfully voted the single greatest punch of alltime. Shavers sure did land some dandies of his own though. How Holmes got up in that 1979 fight is anyone's guess. I think he said he was out on impact and then his head thudded against the canvas so hard it woke him up.

 

, both the guys you mention could def throw a good punch! Holmes could def take a huge punch!

 

There is no way that Shavers would win half the fights you are picking him in here.

I single out the picks highlighted in red for particular criticism.