Muhammad Ali vs. Earnie Shavers

**Challenger rankings**
Org.	Pos.	As of	Published
1+ Mth. Old
WBA	6	~31.03.1977	24.04.1977
WBC	6	~31.03.1977	by 06.04.1977
Ring	NR	~31.01.1977	21.01-19.02.1977*
2+ Mth. Old
WBA	N/A	N/A	N/A
WBC	N/A	~28.02.1977	11.03.1977
Ring	NR	~31.01.1977	21.01-19.02.1977*
3+ Mth. Old
WBA	5	~31.01.1977	07.02.1977
WBC	6	~11.02.1977	11.02.1977
Ring	NR	~31.01.1977	21.01-19.02.1977
* it is unknown when May and June 1977 issues were published; Shavers unranked in the May issue and ranked 10th in the June issue

Notes

On April 16, after knocking out Howard Smith, Shavers said in a post-match interview: "I want Ali, Norton, Young", while Madison Square Guarden matchmaker Teddy Brenner told the press of his intentions to arrange the Ali-Shavers bout.[1][2]
On May 11, Ali showed interest in fighting Shavers after he defended his title against Alfredo Evangelista: "I'll talk to the Garden about me and Shavers. If Shavers beats me, he fights the winner of Norton and Young."[3]
On May 13, Associated Press reported that their source had confirmed to them that Ali-Shavers fight had already been made, though no date or site had been agreed yet. Ali himself told the press that after Evangelista he would want "to fight a good fighter, like Earnie Shavers. Then Norton and Young can fight four months later and I'll go another three months and fight the winner".[4][5]
On May 27, Top Rank announced that Shavers had signed to face Ali, though Ali was yet to do so himself.[6] On May 30, Shavers and his manager Joseph Gennaro stated that Ali had put his signature on the contract.[7]

Initially unranked by The Ring, Shavers was moved to No. 10 in the June issue (released by April 20) and then to No. 7 in the July issue after defeating previous seventh-ranked Howard Smith.
After the fight was signed, Shavers contiuned ascending in The Ring Magazine rankings: he was moved to sixth in the August issue, then to fifth in the October edition (released around August 6).
Shavers was also promoted one spot by both WBC (from 5th to 4th) on June 5 and WBA (from 6th to 5th) on June 9.

Ali entered the ring accompanied by the theme music from Star Wars.
This bout was broadcast in primetime on NBC. The commentators were Dick Enberg, Larry Merchant and Ken Norton, the #1 ranked heavyweight contender.
NBC arranged to flash the official scoring on the screen after every round. Such an obvious edge was not lost on Angelo Dundee, Ali's trainer, who posted Baltimore matchmaker Eddie Hrica in the champion's dressing quarters to watch the TV set there and relay the numbers after each round. And so, after 12 rounds, Dundee knew the only way Shavers could beat his man was by a knockout.
The bout drew a 37.3 television rating.[8]

"Earnie hit me so hard, he shook my kinfolk back in Africa!" - Ali after the fight.

Preceded by: Ali vs. Evangelista	WBA Heavyweight Title Fight # 29	Succeeded by: Ali vs. Spinks I
Preceded by: Ali vs. Evangelista	WBC Heavyweight Title Fight # 30	Succeeded by: Ali vs. Spinks I