'Bobcat' Bob Stallings ~ "I Lumped Up Earnie Shavers'

[Bill Paxtom]

November 4, 1974

Felt Forum ~ New York, New York

Earnie Shavers ~ 47-3-0 {46 KO's} ~ 6' 0 1/2" ~ 213 lbs. ~ {Age; 29 years, 9 months}
vs.
Bob Stallings ~ 21-23-0 {4 KO's} ~ 5' 11" ~ 209 lbs. ~ {Age; 30 years, 4 months}
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'Bobcat' Bob Stallings

Earnie Shavers was making his comeback bid, after taking 6-Months off. Earnie had only
1-Bout, since losing by {L KO 1} to Jerry Quarry back here in New York on December 14, 1973.

Earnie wanted to make his comeback bid here in New York, in hopes of getting an early-1975
bout with a 'name fighter'.

Earnie was still sporting his 'hair', and was going by the moniker of 'The Dark Destroyer'.

I had seen him during his sparring-sessions here, and he was at 213 lbs., which was more
than he was when he fought here in 1973. He also had bigger arms, so I figured that he had
been lifting weights, which is not good for your endurance.

As for me, my record {21-23-0} made me look like a 'patsy', but I had won '5-Straight' since
June 1973, including an 'upset' over Mac Foster on June 30, 1973.

The last guy to beat me was Ron Lyle, who just barely edged me out by a 10-Round Decision
on May 14, 1973.

I figured that my size {5' 11" and 209 lbs.}, and my style would be a problem for Earnie..
As I liked to get in tight-and-close, and come in real low. With that approach, I could
smother and frustrate my opponents.

I figured that Earnie would come out like he normally does, and unload with everything in his
arsenal in an effort to take me out early. My plan was to ride it out by staying low, and try to
smother him on the inside, so that he couldn't get any room for leverage to throw his bombs.

I knew that I would have to take some 'hard-and-bad' punishment over the first-half of the bout,
but that is 'the business' that I'm in.