BoxRec

HomicideHenry wrote:And whose to say someone couldn't be crippled, killed in their first fight, or few few? That's a risk all boxers take, no matter their age, creed, sex. It's a gimme, it applies to everybody. If everyone doesn't expect that kind of risk to run for everyone, especially themselves, then they need to be out of the business.

I'm sure at Earnie's age, detached retina and other injuries throughout his life, and seeing his fellow boxers, contemporaries and the like, fall to the way side, he very well knows the risks involved.

HomicideHenry wrote:Must add, Ali did at one time plan on having 'exhibitions' against a few of the top HW's a few years back, but he was refused. He also planned on a 'comeback' when Tim Witherspoon was champion, supposedly even joining 'Spoon' in his road work.

All I am saying is, who are you, who is not a boxer, to judge any of these men for wanting to come back? Until you have actually been there and done it all, I wouldn't suggest telling them "NO", seeing as most boxers universally agree that it is a question that the media, fans or anyone else shouldn't put on the boxers, to tell them, ask them to quit.

Sure, I wouldnt want to see any of my idols get hurt, but its not my life. Page, McClellan, Quarry, Ali, yes are some of the saddest cases to have happened in history, but for God's sakes...Ali isn't at all holding boxing responsible for what happened to him and doesn't feel sorry for himself, Page still works around boxing or at least did after his accident.

It's not for us to decide someone else's fate...I didn't think we as fans were supposed to be on jury duty here.

silkov wrote:

HomicideHenry wrote:Must add, Ali did at one time plan on having 'exhibitions' against a few of the top HW's a few years back, but he was refused. He also planned on a 'comeback' when Tim Witherspoon was champion, supposedly even joining 'Spoon' in his road work.

All I am saying is, who are you, who is not a boxer, to judge any of these men for wanting to come back? Until you have actually been there and done it all, I wouldn't suggest telling them "NO", seeing as most boxers universally agree that it is a question that the media, fans or anyone else shouldn't put on the boxers, to tell them, ask them to quit.

Sure, I wouldnt want to see any of my idols get hurt, but its not my life. Page, McClellan, Quarry, Ali, yes are some of the saddest cases to have happened in history, but for God's sakes...Ali isn't at all holding boxing responsible for what happened to him and doesn't feel sorry for himself, Page still works around boxing or at least did after his accident.

It's not for us to decide someone else's fate...I didn't think we as fans were supposed to be on jury duty here.

Well if you value someones right to go into the ring above them looking after their health then fair enough thats your look out but personally I've seen too many great fighters end up brain damaged wrecks depending on the help of their family and friends to get them through life after theyve been allowed to fight on far too long, often for the entertainment of misguided liberals like yourself... its not the fighters I blame its the yes men and blood suckers that allow and encourage these brave men to carry on boxing till they have trouble talking and remembering where they live!... go visit Wilfred Benitez and then tell me some more about freedome of the individual... if you shouldnt discourage someone from fighting when theyre 62, blind in one eye and have a history of wars behind them, then when do you??... where do you draw the line??>.... its not the case of being 'on a jury' but just having a little commonsense... and I have fought in the ring and been around fighters so I know a bit about what I'm talking about... the truth is if there were less people interested in fighters exercising their rights to fight blah blah, and others interested in making a few more pennies out of them, then there would be far fewer fighters going into their 40s and 50s with various physical and mental impairements...

I HIT HARDER NOW!
David Anderson Boxing Correspondent 19/05/2007

MUHAMMAD ALI said he hit him so hard he shook his kinfolk back in Africa, while Larry Holmes claimed his punches "numbed my bones".

He is revered as the greatest heavyweight puncher of the last century - and as Earnie Shavers prepares to hit the comeback trail at 62, he says he's digging harder than ever.

Shavers steps into the ring for the first time in 12 years tonight when he faces Stuart 'Maximus' Livermore, who is half his age, in a four-round exhibition fight in front of a sell-out 1,500 crowd at Liverpool's Olympia.

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The Wirral-based Shavers has been training five days a week for the last few months in the wooden hut that is Wallasey ABC and says he has finally learnt how to punch.

"I think I'm punching harder than I ever did before," said the American.

"Before I used to throw a punch with my arm, but now that I've had all these years to think about it, I've learnt how to twist my body and get my full weight behind it. It's been a long time since I last fought, but I feel good about it."

Shavers' life is like something out of a Rocky script and he was Sylvester Stallone's original choice to play Clubber Lang in Rocky III.

"Sylvester flew me out to California to audition," he said. "He told me he did his own stunts and told me to throw a few punches.

"I took it easy and when he told me to open up, I caught him. He groaned and I could tell I'd hurt him bad. He didn't give me the part because he said the public wouldn't believe Rocky could beat me.

"I smiled when he returned with Rocky Balboa - that's the movies and I'm doing it in real life."

Livermore is understandably nervous about facing Shavers. But the veteran said: "It's just an exhibition fight. I won't be trying to knock him out, but if he tries anything...."

KOJOE90 wrote:

I HIT HARDER NOW!
David Anderson Boxing Correspondent 19/05/2007

MUHAMMAD ALI said he hit him so hard he shook his kinfolk back in Africa, while Larry Holmes claimed his punches "numbed my bones".

He is revered as the greatest heavyweight puncher of the last century - and as Earnie Shavers prepares to hit the comeback trail at 62, he says he's digging harder than ever.

Shavers steps into the ring for the first time in 12 years tonight when he faces Stuart 'Maximus' Livermore, who is half his age, in a four-round exhibition fight in front of a sell-out 1,500 crowd at Liverpool's Olympia.

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The Wirral-based Shavers has been training five days a week for the last few months in the wooden hut that is Wallasey ABC and says he has finally learnt how to punch.

"I think I'm punching harder than I ever did before," said the American.

"Before I used to throw a punch with my arm, but now that I've had all these years to think about it, I've learnt how to twist my body and get my full weight behind it. It's been a long time since I last fought, but I feel good about it."

Shavers' life is like something out of a Rocky script and he was Sylvester Stallone's original choice to play Clubber Lang in Rocky III.

"Sylvester flew me out to California to audition," he said. "He told me he did his own stunts and told me to throw a few punches.

"I took it easy and when he told me to open up, I caught him. He groaned and I could tell I'd hurt him bad. He didn't give me the part because he said the public wouldn't believe Rocky could beat me.

"I smiled when he returned with Rocky Balboa - that's the movies and I'm doing it in real life."

Livermore is understandably nervous about facing Shavers. But the veteran said: "It's just an exhibition fight. I won't be trying to knock him out, but if he tries anything...."

KOJOE90 wrote:I have a short clip of Shavers training for this exhibition and a short interview about his upcoming return to the ring on tape.

From what I saw his punches looked slow and lacked the 'thud' of his prime, he was thicker around the waist and his forearms looked slimmer than they used to.

I am sure Shavers is a fit and dangerous 62 year old man, BUT he is still 62.

In the short interview he blamed his lose to B-52 Yates on a cold.

I just hope it is/was a playfull spar. 62 year olds should not be taking shots to the head, regardless of who they are.

KOJOE90 wrote:Shavers & Lyle 2003.

HomicideHenry wrote:Anyone remember the 'Legends of Boxing' title? Larry Holmes won it and defended it against ex champion Bonecrusher Smith and I think Mike Weaver. Would anyone have any quarrells if it was Legends against Legends? Or is it just because Shavers is facing a four round fighter who is in his 30's?

Myself I do not see what harm is in it. Hell Rocky Marciano trained like mad at age 46 to do the computer fight with Ali, with the idea in his head that if suddenly the punches became 'real' or too hard (body punches were allowed) that he would have to fight against Ali. The result? Rumors that Ali was doubled over/downed by a body shot after Ali knocked off Marciano's wig, Ali demanding more money and Ali offering up this tid bit of information:

"I can't believe how strong and how hard Rocky can hit. Marciano was alot harder to hit with a jab than he looked. I can feel how great Marciano must have been just from being in the ring with him when he was 46 years old. I can't even imagine what Rocky must have been like in his prime."

I know, I know what u all will say: "Theres a major difference from fighting in your 40's than in your 60's."

And while this maybe true, I look at the Kentucky Rosebud Walter Edgerton as being evidence that it isn't entirely impossible, being as he came back in his mid 60's and knocked out men in their early 40's. WHile this is labeled as an exhibition, I don't blame Earnie for making the effort and for talking up the bout. Hell, its the last hurrah for him. No problem in having the old man talk some shit.

And on another note, could you imagine the reputation of the man he's fighting if he hurts Earnie? He'd be just about the biggest SOB in the sport wouldn't he if he opened up on Shavers if he lands a nice shot in. It's really a no win situation for either man---the guy wins he beats an old guy, and is an asshole if he uploads on him too much---Earnie gets criticised cus he's an old man 'kidding' himself that he can still box, and would get a big fat "We told you so" if he loses or gets hurt.

Also, ever notice how Chuvalo, Wepner, Cobb and a few other men who took some of the most hurrendous shots in the spots history have no ill affects at all, yet movers like Ali and Patterson ended up with Parkinson's or 'Old Timers' disease? Quite the quandry...