BoxRec

I finally watched this fight and I was really surprised. I heard this was a boring fight that Ali did not deserve to win but after scoring it and watching it myself, I disagree on both counts.

I had the fight 8-7 for Ali, with the final round being a great back and forth battle. I had Shavers winning the 15th until the final 30 seconds, when Ali finally caught Shavers with a beautiful shot and staggered him. Ali jumped on him and unleashed a prolonged barrage to secure the final round on my card.

I thought this was a terrific scrap with very few boring lulls that mark most heavyweight title fights. Ali took some tremendous shots throughout the fight, proving his great, great chin. I couldn't believe some of the shots didn't floor Ali, because they landed as cleanly as a punch possibly could. Shavers could crack and Ali could take it for sure.

This fight is a perfect example where one fighter loses the war but wins the fight. Ali took much more punishment than Shavers throughout the fifteen rounds but edged it out on points on my card and the three official scorecards.

I would like to hear other perspectives about this fight and I'm interesting in reading about some of the pre-fight hype if anyone remembers it.

Here are a couple pictures of the fight:

http://www.geocities.com/retratoali/varios3/ali77.jpg

http://i24.ebayimg.com/01/i/03/36/6a/6a_1_b.JPG

I agree, I'd heard years ago that this wasnt a good fight etc but when I got it was suprised at both how good a fight it was and how good Ali was in it too... despite his deterioration since Manila he looked like he'd really got in the best shape possible for this bout and thats the only reason he won it really, ...he took quite a lot of heavy shots which would have floored other fighters... but over the course of the fight outboxed Shavers. Definately this fight must have taken a lot out of Ali and is partly the reason why he was in such bad shape against Spinks in their first fight... in many ways I think the Shavers fight was Ali's last really outstanding performance... certainly better than Spinks 2 which was a much less competitive fight than the Shavers war...

I saw bits and pieces of this fight(Rounds 12-15).I pretty much liked what I saw.

Where did you get your hands on this fight? What is the best site to find higher quality old fights that can be bought? Any info is much appreciated.

Agreed, it was an entertaining fight, impressive to see a 35 yr old Ali tackle the hardest puncher in history & fool him out of the fight. In the 15th Ali nearly knocked him out.

Yet another great Ali win...

hebrew_hammer wrote:Where did you get your hands on this fight? What is the best site to find higher quality old fights that can be bought? Any info is much appreciated.

I have a fair to good copy of the fight in full, the original broadcast, PM me if you'd like to have it... 8)