BoxRec

I only saw this fight one time, which was as it happened. It was shown live on national tv.

I vaguely recall thinking Ali had done enough to win, but it seems not everyone feels that way. IIRC, one of the later Ali fights had the scoring posted after each round, maybe the Shavers fight was the one.

Has anyone scored it?

It was mighty close.

How close? The result was fair...and it'd have remained fair had Shavers received the nod.

Shavers couldn't box his way out of a paper bag,( compared to Ali) but he could bring down a mountain when he connected.

I think this fight sealed the understanding for most that Ali's chin just might be second to none. Cause he didn't do a great job of steering clear.

But unlike the Lyle, Norton and Young fights, I think the win is not controversial. But you could see he was not what he once was.

I think Shavers connected on Ali with a bigger punch than he floored Holmes with, (more than one if I recall) but Ali just dimmed a bit and even "leaned into the wobble moment" and somehow just

simply got past it.

I'm sure it must have been a thunderous skull crushing he was feeling, and I'll bet he was surprised himself that he "managed" those moments so well.

You have to give the guy credit for having THE steel jaw....even when it was broken lol.

Didn't he have it broke more than once? Or was it just Norton that managed that? It looked pretty bad of the FOTC as well.

If you're talking about the second round, Ali wasnt joking around. Shavers badly wounded him, and arguably won enough rounds to snatch it, but the fight indeed proved two things...

1. Ali was shot (because Shavers wasnt 1-100th the fighter a young Ali was)

2. Ali was tough as nails.

I scored it for Ali by 2 points. Very close, very hard. You could certainly have Shavers winning without necessarily being deluded.

It was close but I scored it for Ali. Whenever Shavers threw punches he was winning but he had a stamina problem and he knew he could not go hard for 15 rounds. When Shavers rested Ali stole enough rounds for the win. I actually think the fight was decided in the second round when Shavers landed that huge right hand flush on Ali's jaw and Ali stayed upright.

The 15th summed Ali up. Brilliant.

But I read somewhere (probably internet so likely not true) that it was even on the cards going into the 15th.

I thought Shavers won the fight. But like Norton III. Ali was getting a lot of respect from opponents that allowed him steal rounds.

Ezzard wrote:But I read somewhere (probably internet so likely not true) that it was even on the cards going into the 15th.

If boxrec have it right, the final score in rounds was 9-6, 9-6, 9-5.

Here's that second round.

He was wounded and yet had the presence of mind to invite Shavers in......confused his opponent enough for Shavers to not press the advantage. I call that "leaning IN to the wobble moment". He "managed" it and "played" with the moment. Had Shavers gone in then and there.....he may well have been able to finish him. OR we would have gotten a further lesson in just how remarkable this guys recuperative powers were. By the time Shavers realized what he had done, he lost the opportunity to capitalize.

If that would have been Joe Frazier......Joe wouldn't have been put off by the "come on in" maneuver....he'd been on him then and there.

I see this round now all these years later just as I described it from memory.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfQ56hSXGV0

I don't think it was razor-thin or that a Shavers victory would've been justified (I haven't scored it in years but I think I had Ali up by 3 rounds or so). Shavers did well late so I think people recall the fight being really closer than it was. Most of the early and middle rounds the guy just didn't throw enough punches b/c he was overtly concerned about gassing out a la Foreman (just like Lyle had been)

ok i am sure this is because i am a huge shavers fan but
i scored it a draw
i actually just rewatched this fight sunday and scored it with my son.
he scored it for ali by 3

so again as much of a fan of shavers that i am
i am sure it was prejudice

Ali - 1,3,5,10,11,15
Shavers - 2,4,6,7,8,9,13,14
draw - 12

I felt Shavers edged it 8 rounds to 7. Shavers certainly won the most dramatic moments of the fight. Ali was hurt a few times. I am surprised Shavers bought the acting job. Then again, Shavers had issues with stamina, cuts, and below average chin.

Goodnight, Irene wrote:If you're talking about the second round, Ali wasnt joking around. Shavers badly wounded him, and arguably won enough rounds to snatch it, but the fight indeed proved two things...

1. Ali was shot (because Shavers wasnt 1-100th the fighter a young Ali was)

2. Ali was tough as nails.

Ali won this fight it wasnt anywhere near a Jimmy Young or Norton III type situation.
The Ali who beat Shavers wasnt exactly shot, it was just the last time we saw anything resembling a semblance of the great Ali. After this fight he was shot and fat and out of shape.

I think Ali beat Shavers fair and square. People talk about ALi smiling and mugging after Shaver's right in the second round, but it is later in that same round when Shavers lands a monstrous right hand that has Ali sailing back to the ropes. The man's chin was incredible. He also badly hurt Shavers in the 15th.

A very good fight.