Mike Tyson v. Earnie Shavers

[Vladimir5555]

What happens?

[gilgamesh]

Tyson KO 7, in an awesome fight.

Shavers definitely has the power to hurt and drop Tyson, but I think Tyson would get up and stay in his face enough to wear him out and stop him once he starts to gas.

[Cutman Scabbers]

Am I the only one who picks Shavers here?

The only fighters Tyson faced who punched with power even close to Shavers were Lennox Lewis,
Buster Douglas and Bonecrusher Smith (though Bonecrusher chose not to fight until the last round).

[Vladimir5555]

Razor also a big puncher.

[Vladimir5555]

And Alex Stewart big puncher

[Vladimir5555]

Tyson KO 5 Shavers

[Cutman Scabbers]

Did Tyson ever get off the floor to beat anyone?

vs. Ruddock?

both Lyle and Mercado had to come off the canvas to beat Shavers

[Heartbreak_Kid79]

Did Tyson ever get off the floor to beat anyone?

vs. Ruddock?

both Lyle and Mercado had to come off the canvas to beat Shavers

Whose to say that Earnie would put a prime Tyson down? Tyson by KO mid rounds

[SenorPipino]

Shavers didn't have the size or jab to trouble Tyson.
Doubt that Earnie could withstand the much quicker Tyson's power for too long.
Tyson by KO in 4.

[Nile4000]

Tyson kayoes Earnie in 3 rounds. Earnie was unfortunate in getting robbed against Muhammad Ali, and also unfortunate in having to face Larry Holmes. But, in Tyson, Shavers would be facing a different animal, with tremendous power and speed. And if Earnie happened to tag Mike, Mike would take it, and end it sooner.

[Cutman Scabbers]

From Leroy Caldwell:

Nobody’s punching power, asserts Caldwell, came close to that of Earnie Shavers, who was 41-2 and still had hair when he stopped Caldwell in two rounds in a high school gym in Shavers’ home state of Ohio in October 1972.

“He was the hardest hitting human being I ever met,” said Caldwell. “He hit harder than Foreman and Lyle combined.”

[Controversial]

No way Shavers beats Tyson, he was far too quick for him and Tyson had a great chin. One of the few times Tyson would've been at the same weight or maybe even heavier than his opponent.

Tyson round 3 or 4.

[Controversial]

From Leroy Caldwell:

Nobody’s punching power, asserts Caldwell, came close to that of Earnie Shavers, who was 41-2 and still had hair when he stopped Caldwell in two rounds in a high school gym in Shavers’ home state of Ohio in October 1972.

“He was the hardest hitting human being I ever met,” said Caldwell. “He hit harder than Foreman and Lyle combined.”

Boxing is much more than just how hard someone hits. Yes Shavers was a huge hitter but his chin wasn't that great, he was fairly slow and his stamina somewhat dubious.

[NazNaci1]

Speed wins out here. And Tyson destroys Ernie, in that regard.

[SenorPipino]

From Leroy Caldwell:

Nobody’s punching power, asserts Caldwell, came close to that of Earnie Shavers, who was 41-2 and still had hair when he stopped Caldwell in two rounds in a high school gym in Shavers’ home state of Ohio in October 1972.

“He was the hardest hitting human being I ever met,” said Caldwell. “He hit harder than Foreman and Lyle combined.”

Boxing is much more than just how hard someone hits. Yes Shavers was a huge hitter but his chin wasn't that great, he was fairly slow and his stamina somewhat dubious.

Agree with Controversial.

Your point being that because journeyman Caldwell believed that Shavers was unequaled as a puncher, that would guarantee he beats Tyson?

At the elite level, the bigger puncher probably loses more often than he wins.
The other guy usually has a higher skill level to compensate for his lesser pop. (Ali-Foreman ring a bell?)

A focused Tyson was a much more skilled, much quicker fighter than Shavers. And, of course, his power was nothing to dismiss.
And BTW, Caldwell never tasted Tyson's power. If he did, maybe he'd change his mind about who the hardest hitting human being is.

[Cutman Scabbers]

[/quote]Agree with Controversial.

Your point being that because journeyman Caldwell believed that Shavers was unequaled as a puncher, that would guarantee he beats Tyson?

At the elite level, the bigger puncher probably loses more often than he wins.
The other guy usually has a higher skill level to compensate for his lesser pop. (Ali-Foreman ring a bell?)

A focused Tyson was a much more skilled, much quicker fighter than Shavers. And, of course, his power was nothing to dismiss.
And BTW, Caldwell never tasted Tyson's power. If he did, maybe he'd change his mind about who the hardest hitting human being is.[/quote]


That's an interesting assertion. What evidence, other than Ali-Foreman do you have to support it?

Actually, my point was that if Tyson fought Shavers in a high school gymnasium in Ohio, he would have lost.

[Controversial]

Actually, my point was that if Tyson fought Shavers in a high school gymnasium in Ohio, he would have lost.

Eh, whats the location got to do with anything?

[SamWise72]

Frazier hit harder than Ali, and in a prime for prime fight, beat him. There's equal evidence the other way. Tyson's whole career, he was pretty much always the harder puncher. Ditto Bowe, Lewis. In fact, I no longer understand why Chris Byrd didn't dominate the heavyweight scene.

"The heavier hitter usually loses" is nonsense, and helps nobody to interpret a bout.

[Cutman Scabbers]

Frazier hit harder than Ali, and in a prime for prime fight, beat him. There's equal evidence the other way. Tyson's whole career, he was pretty much always the harder puncher. Ditto Bowe, Lewis. In fact, I no longer understand why Chris Byrd didn't dominate the heavyweight scene.

"The heavier hitter usually loses" is nonsense, and helps nobody to interpret a bout.

[Robinson]

I think the first round is tentative early but has some fire works early.

The second round has Tyson taking control with Shavers landing but
not flush enough.

Third round I would imagine Tyson winning with a KO while Shavers
digs his heels in and tries to land that magic shot.

I just think a prime Tyson is a bad match for a prime Shavers.

[drunkenpiper36]

Tyson wins and it isn't lasting very long. He was much quicker and Earnie couldn't take his attacks long enough to land too many of his sunday shots. This is a mismatch.

[SenorPipino]

Agree with Controversial.

Your point being that because journeyman Caldwell believed that Shavers was unequaled as a puncher, that would guarantee he beats Tyson?

At the elite level, the bigger puncher probably loses more often than he wins.
The other guy usually has a higher skill level to compensate for his lesser pop. (Ali-Foreman ring a bell?)

A focused Tyson was a much more skilled, much quicker fighter than Shavers. And, of course, his power was nothing to dismiss.
And BTW, Caldwell never tasted Tyson's power. If he did, maybe he'd change his mind about who the hardest hitting human being is.[/quote]


That's an interesting assertion. What evidence, other than Ali-Foreman do you have to support it?

Actually, my point was that if Tyson fought Shavers in a high school gymnasium in Ohio, he would have lost.[/quote]

Let's go with your own main man, Shavers.
Aside from landing that Punch from Hell in the 7th round of the rematch, he could barely win a nano-second in the 2 bouts against the much more talented, but lighter punching Larry Holmes. And that's in about 23 rounds of boxing. Shaver's vaunted clout proved worthless when he was unable to land it against a superior fighter.

And how many elite fighters was Shavers able to beat, big punch and all?
Maybe a bit past his prime Jimmy Ellis, but who else? Norton's skills slipped quickly after the Holmes defeat, and we all know his track record against heavy hitters. Jimmy Young was inexperienced and several years from coming into his own when he faced Shavers. Bugner was an old man.
Against the elite (Holmes, Ali, Quarry, Lyle) Earnie's punch was defused.
Tyson could have fought Shavers in Earnie's own bathroom and it still would have been a quick night's work for the ex-champ. Simply put, Iron Mike was a vastly superior fighter, regardless of who punched harder.
Even an Ohio fix couldn't have saved the Acorn.

[Cutman Scabbers]

Agree with Controversial.

Your point being that because journeyman Caldwell believed that Shavers was unequaled as a puncher, that would guarantee he beats Tyson?

At the elite level, the bigger puncher probably loses more often than he wins.
The other guy usually has a higher skill level to compensate for his lesser pop. (Ali-Foreman ring a bell?)

A focused Tyson was a much more skilled, much quicker fighter than Shavers. And, of course, his power was nothing to dismiss.
And BTW, Caldwell never tasted Tyson's power. If he did, maybe he'd change his mind about who the hardest hitting human being is.

That's an interesting assertion. What evidence, other than Ali-Foreman do you have to support it?

Actually, my point was that if Tyson fought Shavers in a high school gymnasium in Ohio, he would have lost.[/quote]

Let's go with your own main man, Shavers.
Aside from landing that Punch from Hell in the 7th round of the rematch, he could barely win a nano-second in the 2 bouts against the much more talented, but lighter punching Larry Holmes. And that's in about 23 rounds of boxing. Shaver's vaunted clout proved worthless when he was unable to land it against a superior fighter.

And how many elite fighters was Shavers able to beat, big punch and all?
Maybe a bit past his prime Jimmy Ellis, but who else? Norton's skills slipped quickly after the Holmes defeat, and we all know his track record against heavy hitters. Jimmy Young was inexperienced and several years from coming into his own when he faced Shavers. Bugner was an old man.
Against the elite (Holmes, Ali, Quarry, Lyle) Earnie's punch was defused.
Tyson could have fought Shavers in Earnie's own bathroom and it still would have been a quick night's work for the ex-champ. Simply put, Iron Mike was a vastly superior fighter, regardless of who punched harder.
Even an Ohio fix couldn't have saved the Acorn.[/quote]


Eloquently put, Senor. But whether in bathroom or backyard, a shaved Shavers may have shaved the shinola out of the son of Ty.

Quarry's counterpunching won the day, but Both Holmes and Lyle tasted the canvas. And as for Ali:

"Fight doctor Ferdie Pacheco also urged to Ali to retire after noting the damage Ali had absorbed against Shavers. Ali later said Shavers was the hardest puncher he ever faced, famously stating "Earnie hit me so hard, it shook my kinfolk back in Africa"

[Cutman Scabbers]

"Shavers knocked Holmes down in round seven but was himself knocked out in round eleven after taking punishment. Holmes, known for his ability to take a punch, later said that Shavers' blow was the hardest he had ever taken in his career."

[dempseyfire]

I favor Tyson, but I'd give Earnie a chance to produce a shocker in the first 2 rounds. Tyson would come and open up fast, and if he trades with Shavers, as much of a force as Mike was, Tyson is going to get hurt. He likely recovers and wins the fight, but electing to exchange punches with a peak Shavers is a risky proposition. And Mike's speed advantage is getting over-rated here . . .Earnie at his peak had very quick hands. By the time of the Ali fight and Holmes rematch (in his mid 30s) he'd already slowed down noticeably.