Earnie Shavers: You Would Not Have Heard Of The Klits In My Day

[greynotsoold]

He is dead right. Lamont Brewster knocked out Wlad. Before emmanuel got a hold of him, he was just a big tall guy with suspect stamina and chin. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, there was a definite bias against guys as big as the Ks. They were considered too awkward and uncoordinated to be good fighters. Vitali would have been Buddy Baer; they were about the same size, liked to mix it up, though I would guess that Baer hit harder.
there is an idea that seems to be very popular that just because a guy is big, he hits hard, that because he is larger he necessarily hits harder than other less large guys. This is not true. This has been demonstrated many times. And when you are fighting smarter guys, like Shavers did, you are less likely to hit them. It is very easy to keep a guy at the end of your jab when his whole idea of how to close distance is to put his gloves in front of his face and walk forward.
I think Shavers would beat Vitali; he would kill the version that engaged in that 2nd rate amateur bout with Lennox Lewis. He would beat the pre-Stewart version of Wlad. The 'new and improved' version would be able, more than likely, to keep distance, keep Shavers at the end of his punches. And earnie would tire and get stopped.

[Dark Lord Al]

He is dead right. Lamont Brewster knocked out Wlad. Before emmanuel got a hold of him, he was just a big tall guy with suspect stamina and chin. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, there was a definite bias against guys as big as the Ks. They were considered too awkward and uncoordinated to be good fighters. Vitali would have been Buddy Baer; they were about the same size, liked to mix it up, though I would guess that Baer hit harder.
there is an idea that seems to be very popular that just because a guy is big, he hits hard, that because he is larger he necessarily hits harder than other less large guys. This is not true. This has been demonstrated many times. And when you are fighting smarter guys, like Shavers did, you are less likely to hit them. It is very easy to keep a guy at the end of your jab when his whole idea of how to close distance is to put his gloves in front of his face and walk forward.
I think Shavers would beat Vitali; he would kill the version that engaged in that 2nd rate amateur bout with Lennox Lewis. He would beat the pre-Stewart version of Wlad. The 'new and improved' version would be able, more than likely, to keep distance, keep Shavers at the end of his punches. And earnie would tire and get stopped.

I don't buy it ,sorry chief , so you found a guy as big from the past , so fucking what.
Shavers was a big puncher , from an era where BIG George Foreman was 220 lb and 6'3
Fighters get bigger / stronger as do sprinters etc.
I personally think Wlad would have beaten any version of Clay you want to wheel out.
Just because it was a good era , doesn't mean you can put them at the top today.

[El Kabong]

Shavers could punch....that's it....do you understand the fucking punishment Lamon Brewster took from Wladimir? Brewster was getting HAMMERED by Wladimir before Wlad gassed out. Lamon Brewster, even the one that lost to Wlad in the rematch, would beat Earnie Shavers.

Shavers is 6'0, Lennox Lewis a guy who is 6'6 around 250 had to REACH to catch Vitali flush and he had trouble with it....how the fuck is Shavers going to connect with Vitali? Plus Vitali can take a punch too.

Earnie Shavers is a guy only known for his punching power and some of you are talking about him like he's A#1 king of the Sweet Science...no, he was a PUNCHER he wasn't Ray Robinson he was just a puncher, a great puncher, but in boxing the Sweet Science usually out matches raw power. Shavers wouldn't last long with either brother because they are smarter boxers AND more physically gifted. Shavers might be a great cruiserweight these days but he wouldn't last in this division.

[greynotsoold]

Shavers was nothing but a puncher, and probably over rated at that. But, beyond size, there is nothing special about either of the brothers. The 'skill' on display in the Lewis/Vitali fight was abysmal. It would have been comedic if it weren't a fight for at least part of the HW world title; that made it disgraceful.

[Dark Lord Al]

Shavers was nothing but a puncher, and probably over rated at that. But, beyond size, there is nothing special about either of the brothers. The 'skill' on display in the Lewis/Vitali fight was abysmal. It would have been comedic if it weren't a fight for at least part of the HW world title; that made it disgraceful.

I don't think you can use the Lennox / Viltali fight as an example of both of their skills , it was a wild fight , but both have lots more than they showed that night.

[El Kabong]

Shavers was nothing but a puncher, and probably over rated at that. But, beyond size, there is nothing special about either of the brothers. The 'skill' on display in the Lewis/Vitali fight was abysmal. It would have been comedic if it weren't a fight for at least part of the HW world title; that made it disgraceful.

I don't think you can use the Lennox / Viltali fight as an example of both of their skills , it was a wild fight , but both have lots more than they showed that night.

That's the problem I have with anyone who bitches about the current heavyweight division.

#1 Argument: "There's no action, they don't punch, they're afraid"

#2 Argument: "There's no skill, there's no talent, they don't know how to box"

When you bring up Vitali vs Lewis here's a few things to remember.

A) They had very little time to prepare to fight each other. Lewis was supposed to fight Kirk Johnson and Vitali was supposed to fight Cedric Boswell.

B ) They both to their credit threw caution to the wind and went out slugging.

Vitali has an awkward style his lower body movement is from his days as a world class kickboxer, his upper body movement is similar to Ali because he doesn't block punches, he just avoids them by leaning out of range. His offense is basic yet powerful and very effective. Every fight he's in he's the only time the opponent across from him will have seen that style so of course it will make for very awkward fights but Vitali vs Lewis was an epic fight to watch it had everything fans wanted but a clear cut decision as to who was better. Yes Lewis won due to the stoppage but he was getting his ass kicked around that ring and he was gassed by the end of the 6th because he knew the only way to win that fight was to keep at that cut.

And for those of you who say "other than size the Klitschko's have no skill", HORSE SHIT Wladimir is as technical a boxer as anyone can possibly be. Vitali has his own style but the effectiveness of his style is in his record every single fight he's been in as a professional he's ended ahead on the cards.

[Master]

With all due respect to Shavers he would have been stopped by the current version of Wlad. He was a hard hitter and he fought in the best quality heavyweight division ever but he was not up there with Ali, Fraiser, foreman and Holmes.

[Beanflicker]

Ernie Shavers STUNK and I have no idea why he gets so much credibility, because outside of his brutal power - possibly the hardest puncher to ever live, or at least top 3 - he really didn't have a whole lot going for him.

He routinely had shitty stamina, a shitty chin, lackluster skills and most importantly, very little heart. He was never a world champ, and is known mostly for losing efforts, such as dropping Holmes and giving a washed up Ali a good fight.

He has a pretty high opinion of himself for a guy who accomplished very little.

And I hate to break it to Ernie and anyone else who (erroneously) shares his opinon, two guys who are 6'6''/6'7'' with the skill set and athletic abilities of the Klitschkos are a tough night for any fighter who's ever lived. Lets not be stupid.

[brocktonblockbust]

yeah but if ol' Earnie got in even 1 clean shot----those Klits aint gettin up off their faces like Larry Holmes dragged his KO'ed ass up off the canvass. Them Klits aint got the Larry Holmes/Muhammad Ali/George Foreman/Joe Frazier chins.

[THE THIRD MAN]

I remember Ali saying without hesitation that Ernie Shavers was the hardest puncher he ever faced. I think of Shavers like i do Ron Lyle, they were at the top of the Championship but when they were promoted into the premier league they floundered. Shavers almost got there with Holmes in the 2nd fight, but at the end of the day Shavers was a good fighter not a great one.
If he thinks he KO''s both Liston and Foreman then i'm convinced he believes in fairies.
What he fails to comprehend is champions like Holmes actually get up from shots like that, i don't know how he did it? It's what makes the difference between champion and contender!
Shavers had two shots at Holmes and failed, sure he might've caught the Klits, he certainly had the power, but did he have the skills?

[denilson200]

As have been said before I think Shavers has a higher opinion of himself than he was.

There was no way he would have beaten a prime Tyson. Would have beaten Wlad ? If I my life depended on it, I would say no. I see Wlad busting him up on the outside and winning on cuts or late stoppage.

[beenKOed]

Shavers could punch....that's it....do you understand the fucking punishment Lamon Brewster took from Wladimir? Brewster was getting HAMMERED by Wladimir before Wlad gassed out. Lamon Brewster, even the one that lost to Wlad in the rematch, would beat Earnie Shavers.

Shavers is 6'0, Lennox Lewis a guy who is 6'6 around 250 had to REACH to catch Vitali flush and he had trouble with it....how the fuck is Shavers going to connect with Vitali? Plus Vitali can take a punch too.

Earnie Shavers is a guy only known for his punching power and some of you are talking about him like he's A#1 king of the Sweet Science...no, he was a PUNCHER he wasn't Ray Robinson he was just a puncher, a great puncher, but in boxing the Sweet Science usually out matches raw power. Shavers wouldn't last long with either brother because they are smarter boxers AND more physically gifted. Shavers might be a great cruiserweight these days but he wouldn't last in this division.

Agreed. Shavers had the big punch, but not the ring smarts--you can say the same thing about Quarry.

[Violent Demise]

Shavers could punch....that's it....do you understand the fucking punishment Lamon Brewster took from Wladimir? Brewster was getting HAMMERED by Wladimir before Wlad gassed out. Lamon Brewster, even the one that lost to Wlad in the rematch, would beat Earnie Shavers.

Shavers is 6'0, Lennox Lewis a guy who is 6'6 around 250 had to REACH to catch Vitali flush and he had trouble with it....how the fuck is Shavers going to connect with Vitali? Plus Vitali can take a punch too.

Earnie Shavers is a guy only known for his punching power and some of you are talking about him like he's A#1 king of the Sweet Science...no, he was a PUNCHER he wasn't Ray Robinson he was just a puncher, a great puncher, but in boxing the Sweet Science usually out matches raw power. Shavers wouldn't last long with either brother because they are smarter boxers AND more physically gifted. Shavers might be a great cruiserweight these days but he wouldn't last in this division.

You're stretching it way to much there. And you know it

[SlimTrae]

He is dead right. Lamont Brewster knocked out Wlad. Before emmanuel got a hold of him, he was just a big tall guy with suspect stamina and chin. .

I got a pretty tough internet chin for the shots I took by claiming an old school Steward brought a new wrinkle or two to the younger brother.

[Max Power]

LOL Good old Earnie Shaver's..

Of all the delusional nostalgist boxers, trainers and "experts", Shavers has to rank right up there among the worst.

Shavers would be considered a bit of a featherfist today ironically.

And would not be able to compete as a professional boxer in either Heavyweight OR Cruiserweight because he had no skills.

Shaver was a cruiser cruncher and bum buster exclusively!

His ONLY win ever in 90 fights vs a real HW with a good record was vs Ken Norton, a chinless punch weak boxer with no pedigree who was himself a bum buster.

This is absolutely pathetic!

A guy stopped by Jerry Quarry has no place in the ring with Tyson, Foreman or either Klitschko.

Liston vs Shavers would have been a decent fight. Battle of the bums! LOL

Shaver is a boxer who the OTNB HAVE to defend at all costs as a decent opponent, because he beat Ali, if Shaver's falls, the whole house of cards from the OTNB deck falls.

Shavers is a living proof of how the golden era was one of the weakest in history.