May 1973 ~ 'Heavyweight Rankings'

[Bill Paxtom]

May 1973

World Champion
*** George Foreman

#1 - Joe Frazier
#2 - Ken Norton
#3 - Muhammad Ali
#4 - Ernie Terrell
#5 - Jimmy Ellis
#6 - Jerry Quarry
#7 - Ron Lyle
#8 - Oscar Bonavena
#9 - Jose 'King' Roman
#10 - Joe Bugner
#11 - Gregorio Peralta
#12 - Mac Foster
#13 - Jose Luis Garcia
#14 - Earnie Shavers
#15 - Giuseppe 'Bepi' Ros
#16 - Randy Neumann
#17 - 'Irish Pat' Duncan
#18 - Larry Middleton
#19 - Danny McAlinden
#20 - Chuck Wepner
#21 - Terry Hinke
#22 - Ron Stander
#23 - Wendell 'Fig' Newton
#24 - Jack O'Halloran
#25 - Henry Clark
#26 - Alvin 'Blue' Lewis
#27 - Boone Kirkman
#28 - Mario Baruzzi
#29 - Rudi Lubbers
#30 - Miguel Angel Paez

[Bill Paxtom]

May 1, 1973

Earnie Shavers

Earnie {Age; 27 years, 8 months}

Had an impressive record of > 43-2-0 with {42 KO's}.

But the log was loaded up with many 'Third-Rate' fighters, and smallish
Heavyweights.

The best opponents on Earnie's list were >

* Augst 26, 1972 ......... W Dec 10 .... Vicente Rondon ~ 37-7-1 {21 KO's} ~ 191 lbs.
* September 22, 1971 .. KO 5 ........... 'Irish Pat' Duncan ~ 19-3-1 {15 KO's} ~ 203 lbs.
* June 10, 1971 ........... KO 10 ......... Chuck Leslie ~ 35-21-6 {7 KO's} ~ 185 lbs.
* March 3, 1971 ........... KO 1 ........... Steve 'Iceman' Carter ~ 14-2-0 {7 KO's} ~ 199 lbs.


Jimmy Ellis >
"I have seen Earnie fight 3-Times. I am not impressed. He has no clue on how to box.
If I ever got in the Ring with him, I'd box his ears off."

[Master]

Bugner was a waste of space and time.

[Bill Paxtom]

May 1973

World Champion
*** George Foreman

#1 - Joe Frazier
#2 - Ken Norton
#3 - Muhammad Ali
#4 - Ernie Terrell
#5 - Jimmy Ellis
#6 - Jerry Quarry
#7 - Ron Lyle
#8 - Oscar Bonavena
#9 - Jose 'King' Roman
#10 - Joe Bugner
#11 - Gregorio Peralta
#12 - Mac Foster
#13 - Jose Luis Garcia
#14 - Earnie Shavers
#15 - Giuseppe 'Bepi' Ros
#16 - Randy Neumann
#17 - 'Irish Pat' Duncan
#18 - Larry Middleton
#19 - Danny McAlinden
#20 - Chuck Wepner
#21 - Terry Hinke
#22 - Ron Stander
#23 - Wendell 'Fig' Newton
#24 - Jack O'Halloran
#25 - Henry Clark
#26 - Alvin 'Blue' Lewis
#27 - Boone Kirkman
#28 - Mario Baruzzi
#29 - Rudi Lubbers
#30 - Miguel Angel Paez

Joe Bugner warrants a #10 position in May 1973

[brocktonblockbust]

Joe Bugner one tough somavabitch

[Master]

Joe Bugner one tough somavabitch

Lazy good for nothing slob who did not realise his talent.

[Bill Paxtom]

Joe Bugner one tough somavabitch

Lazy good for nothing slob who did not realise his talent.

Joe Bugner

A very good Heavyweight, who never over-achieved.

A survivor.

[Bill Paxtom]

Nobody wanted to fight Earnie Shavers

'Irish' Jerry Quarry originally signed a fight contract in {May 1973} to face Earnie Shavers
@ Madison Square Garden on June 18th.

But, Jerry got a 'stomach flu' and pulled out.

Burl Charity {Trainer for Earnie Shavers}

"We had signed to face '4' previous World Ranked fighters, and they all bowed out for
one reason or another."

"Before Jerry Quarry, we had signed to fight George Chuvalo. But he pulled out 'twice'.
We also had deals with Mac Foster and Ernie Terrell. And they too, backed out."

[SlimTrae]

the top 10 is pretty durable.

[Bill Paxtom]

the top 10 is pretty durable.

How about the fighters who were just outside the Top 30

* Roy 'Tiger' Williams
* Richard Dunn
* Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merrit
* Pedro Lovell
* Alfredo Mongol Ortiz
* Bunny Johnson
* Jan Lubbers
* Les Stevens


Not a bad group.

[SlimTrae]

the top 10 is pretty durable.

How about the fighters who were just outside the Top 30

* Roy 'Tiger' Williams
* Richard Dunn
* Jeff 'Candy Slim' Merrit
* Pedro Lovell
* Alfredo Mongol Ortiz
* Bunny Johnson
* Jan Lubbers
* Les Stevens


Not a bad group.

True! But admit I am familiar with these names more so through boxing forums where members who know the 70's fighters well-have brought these names up and not so much me watching them.

[Bill Paxtom]

May 1973

Nice to see 'good guy' Ernie Terrell back in the picture.

There was 'chatter' that Ernie would get a Title opportunity at
new Champion - George Foreman.

[Bill Paxtom]

May 1973

WBA......................................... Ring Magazine
*** George Foreman .................. George Foreman

#1 - Ken Norton ......................... Joe Frazier
#2 - Muhammad Ali .................... Ken Norton
#3 - Joe Frazier .......................... Muhammad Ali
#4 - Jimmy Ellis .......................... Ernie Terrell
#5 - Jerry Quarry ........................ Jimmy Ellis
#6 - Ron Lyle ............................. Jerry Quarry
#7 - Larry Middleton ................... Ron Lyle
#8 - Jose Luis Garcia .................. Oscar Bonavena
#9 - Joe Bugner ......................... Jose 'King' Roman
#10 Oscar Bonavena .................. Joe Bugner

[Master]

Dunn was not good at all at the world level.

[Bill Paxtom]

Dunn was not good at all at the world level.

Richard Dunn

A 'scrappy' southpaw.

'King Richard' had pretty decent hand-speed and was always in shape.
His awkwardness was a benefit, as he threw punches from every angle.

Far from a good puncher, but he could get your attention at times.

Weakness, was obvious the lack-of-a-chin, and his defense was porous
at times.

He did have about '10' quality wins during his career.