Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York. 29th September, 1977.
Muhammad Ali had been in boxing
for so long and had become such a part of American life that
he was now seeing fighters who idolised him staring over from
the opposite corners. Earnie Shavers, a big hitting man who
threw the hardest single shots in the fight game was one such.
In 54 fights, Earnie had won by stoppage or KO 52 times. His
plan was simple he was going to hit his hero hard.
The garden was sold out again and a huge television audience
tuned in to the fight. Drama was inherent in almost all of
alis bouts, but the emphasis had shifted as he grew older.
Now people watched to see if he could survive.
If Earnie Shavers had possessed the ability to read a fight
in equal measure to the size of his punch, he would have defeated
Ali and became champion of the world. In round two, he hurt
Ali but failed to follow up. In an inspired piece of brinkmanship
Ali had convinced shavers he was merely pretending to be hurt
and shavers backed off.
Ali came through the second and built a steady lead. In a
promotional gimmick the television commentators at ringside
were allowed access to the judges’ scorecards at the
end of each round and so Angelo Dundee was able to gain access
to the status of the fight. By the 12 Ali was ahead by eight
rounds to four. Shavers came on strong in the 13th and 14th
rounds, rocking Ali with some big punches. At big last three
minutes for the challenger might have seen him home, yet Ali
came back from the edge yet again. He stole the centre of
the ring and stung Shavers with some cutting punches. It was
enough.
Ali had won again, but some of those closest to him were
worried. Teddy Brenner who had booked Ali at the garden for
so long took a stand. He told the 35-year old champion he
would no longer put on his fights, that it was time for Ali
to go. Ferdie pacheco wrote to Ali to advise him that his
kidneys were showing signs of damage and that he should no
longer fight.
The response of Herbert Muhammad and of Ali was to look for
an easy pay-day. In Leon Spinks,they thought they’d
found one.
