Talk:Ken Norton vs. Earnie Shavers

Former WBC champ Kenny Norton was one of the best, but he was a declining, older boxer at this stage of his career and even some of the best get caught cold. "The Acorn" Earnie Shavers is one of the all time biggest punchers in heavyweight history. Incidentally, Norton and Shavers had a number of common opponents. Shavers was stopped by Ron Stander (KO 5) and Jerry Quarry (TKO 1). Norton stopped Stander and Quarry (both by TKO in the 5th). In addition, Shavers lost to Muhammed Ali (once) and Larry Holmes (twice), while Norton beat Ali in their first bout and lost the next two (Norton arguably won all three bouts with Ali). As champion Norton lost a controversial split-decision to Holmes in their WBC title match by one point. Both Norton and Shavers beat Jimmy Young although Shavers fought to a draw against Young in their second bout. Shavers lost to Randy "Tex" Cobb by TKO in 8 and Norton beat Cobb by split-decision over 10 rounds.