Expensive divorces (in 1977, Muhammad wed former mistress Veronica Porsche), a smattering of paternity suits, tax issues, loans and gifts to friends (with low probability of reimbursement), and the pull toward orthodox Islam and away from the Nation gnawed at him. Overarching notoriety is laden with pros and cons. Ali’s yearning to remain ensconced in the limelight drew him as a moth to a flame ignited.
POLISHING SHINY ORNAMENTS
Still capable of pulling off magic tricks, in and out of the squared circle, Ali was slowly overhauled by periods of lethargy, apathy and Father Time. A predilection for bean pies and ice cream between bouts had caused his weight to creep upward. The snake-like reflexes had begun to slip. He had developed a habit of lying on the ropes, especially in training, which led to him sustaining inordinate amounts of punishment via the absorption of body shots and blows to the head. By this time, he relied heavily on the tactic of “dusting off” or “closing the show” against opponents (later adopted by welterweight Sugar Ray Leonard). In short, that was a style in which he jabbed, stayed busy, rested on the ropes for a while, taking or blocking punches, attempting to tire out his foe and then turned on the steam with unrelenting flurries during the last 30 seconds of each round. It gave the judges something to think about and thrilled the crowds. Usually, the outcome was Ali stealing rounds in this manner.
Whether a fan or critic, it was apparent that the champion was in decline during his second reign as champion. His epic bouts (another trilogy) against Joe Frazier resulted in a pyrrhic triumph for Ali. In the post-fight aftermath of their bout in the Philippines, although victorious, Ali was urinating blood and badly bruised. Worse was the fact that from a neurologic standpoint, his speech was gradually slowing, and his voice starkly diminished in tone and tenor. Yet, “The Butterfly,” still craving center stage and the relative galactic financial windfalls, fought on.
Carefully selected competitors filled the docket. Besides the household names, there were a few relatively nondescript foes interspersed for easy paydays: Jean Pierre Coopman, Richard Dunn, Alfredo Evangelista. Another fighter, the up-and-coming Jimmy Young, nearly toppled the applecart by soundly outboxing Ali at The Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland (April 1976). The champion had underestimated Young, trained sporadically, and showed up both overconfident and overweight (230 pounds at the weigh-in). After being gifted a unanimous decision, his trainer, Angelo Dundee, called it “Ali’s worst fight.”
Once in a blue moon, mandatory or ultrahazardous challengers managed to survive the cut. The sixth-ranked contender, the perilous Ernie Shavers, was somehow signed on the dotted line to oppose him in 1977. Many experts scoffed at the idea, including some within Ali’s circle. Dr. Ferdie Pacheco, Ali’s physician, was livid. Upon hearing about the approval of the match from Ali‘s entourage and manager, Herbert Muhammad, Pacheco called it “an act of criminal negligence.” [3] Ali ignored him, but Pacheco would later resign after stating that he “would no longer be part of [Muhammad’s] self-destruction.” [3]
Regarding fiscal matters, the reclusive and controversial Herbert Muhammad was considered the vanguard of the Ali camp. The third son of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad had been omnipresent for the better part of 10 years, functioning as Ali’s manager and advisor. While he was known for negotiating some of his most lucrative deals, the consensus is that currency was king above all else. Yet, he insisted he was more concerned about the boxer’s safety. One way the manager kept the cash flow intact was to increase the frequency of Ali‘s fights. Herbert was roundly criticized for this, and his substantial cut from the ring proceeds.
“Herbert takes a third [of Ali’s earnings],” said Madison Square Garden President Mike Burke, “just as any other fight manager does. The money is deposited into a Chicago bank account bearing his name. It does not go to the church, as many people believe.” [6]
Why pick Earnie Shavers, of all people? And why now?
The hard-hitting Shavers, a knockout maven, was feared and evaded for his power, not his boxing skills. Jabs and fancy footwork were nonexistent. If he connected, Earnie could knock anyone into the following week, especially early on. Stamina was not his strong suit; nevertheless, punchers have a “puncher’s chance.” During their peak, former champions, Frazier and Foreman, avoided him as if he were a creature emerging from a storm drain in a bustling metropolis. Ali, not quite at his nadir, was self-assured of his capability to wear Shavers down, á lá George Foreman in Zaire, outbox him, and win. However, Earnie was well acquainted with the titleholder. In 1973, Shavers was kicked out of the Ali training camp in Deer Lake after a sparring session went awry. The scrimmage started fine, but as the trash-talk escalated, things heated up and Shavers decked Ali. The skirmish ended, and the two left on friendly terms, attempting in vain to keep the fracas out of the press.
Despite being a heavy favorite, many were fearful on fight night for Ali. The champ was indeed playing with fire. Again, during a lackadaisical sparring session, Ali was twice floored. Of note, “The Greatest’s” second trip to the canvas required smelling salts to get him right. There was cause for concern. This time, the antagonist was longtime training partner Jimmy Ellis. Ellis was no slouch. The Louisville native had gone 1-1 against Ali as an amateur, and 0-1 as a pro. Jimmy held one of the “alphabet soup” versions of the heavyweight championship (WBA) in 1968, when Muhammad Ali was watching the sport in exile. While respected, Ellis needed a month-long food binge to break the 200-pound mark and was not known as a heavy hitter. He was a natural light-heavyweight. Given the boxing grapevine’s nature, the Shavers camp was notified promptly, which boosted the challenger’s psyche. For the record, Ellis and Shavers fought in New York City (June 1973). The result: Earnie knocked him out with a pernicious right uppercut in the first round.
Decades later, when joking about once-great fighters who stuck around too long, comedian Earthquake quipped, “Roy Jones got hit so hard my TV moved!” Few wanted
Ali’s fate to be similar to theirs. In the lead-up to the bout, the foreboding sound bite heard repeatedly was, “Earnie Shavers: 54 wins, 52 by knockout!” Still, the champion was known for winning under the most challenging circumstances. Meanwhile, the contender was all business, pushing himself to win the title. He practically homesteaded in the gym for training purposes, unfazed by Ali’s hubris or humor.
Kenny Norton would be a special guest commentator for the Ali-Shavers matchup. Norton, as familiar with Ali as anyone, warned those who underestimated the champion due to his age or diminishing artistry. When asked about Muhammad’s strength and toughness, he said hitting Ali was analogous to “punching cement.”
The “Big Apple” and the Garden were electric that September night. Ali was an indelible mammoth box office draw. Upon arriving at the venue, he was chaperoned by a small assemblage of fans (approximately 60) as he entered a special security entrance. None of his new “acquaintances” had tickets.
SECURITY: “Who are these folks? We’re at capacity. They can’t come in. The Fire Department won’t allow it!”
ALI: “If they can’t come in, I ain’t fighting!” He then turned to walk away.
The two sides reached a compromise. Rather than call Ali’s bluff, 20 of them could enter.
SECURITY: “There’s 20,000 in here. I guess 20 more won’t hurt.” [2]
NBC broadcast the clash live and in primetime. Television ratings were in the stratosphere, and Madison Square Garden was full. When referee Johnny LoBianco read the pre-fight introductions, the challenger and the champion stood nose to nose. Shavers looked as menacing as ever, as Ali chattering incessantly, reached out with a glove and rubbed, as if polishing, his would-be assailant’s radiant bald head three times. “The Acorn” (as the Champ dubbed him), grinning broadly, exercised restraint. For a nanosecond, the Ali cornermen stood sweating oceans. More than a handful of his fans were collectively thinking, “Ali, will you please stop toying with this motherf****r?!?”
Muhammad Ali rubbing Earnie Shavers bald head for good luck before the fight
Brutish “one-hitter-quitters” did not faze Muhammad Ali. The champ was buoyed by the fact that he had conquered the purportedly indomitable bully of the ’60s in Sonny Liston (twice), and the 1970s “‘Deebo’ on the Block” in Foreman. Both former champions are considered forerunners to “Iron” Mike Tyson (of the 80s).
Officially, the judges had Ali far ahead in the scoring through the first twelve rounds. The network (NBC) showed the official scorecards round by round on national television.
Chief trainer Angelo Dundee took no chances and placed a TV in the Ali dressing room. Someone (matchmaker Eddie Hrica) relayed the scorecard signals by hand at the end of each round. Shaver’s trainer, Frank Luca, disregarded the scoring revelations. “[When] asked why, Luca replied, ‘I didn’t want to overreact if I knew the score.’ But in Ali’s corner, the champion’s. Angelo Dundee was aware but did not inform Ali of the scoring because ‘I didn’t want him to let down’ in the [late] rounds.” [7]
Nevertheless, the champion had been rocked several times (in the second round, the thirteenth, and repeatedly in the fourteenth). Shavers set the tempo. While the “Butterfly” could still float, and the “bee” venom was lethal, the rope-a-dope had diminished in efficacy. More intelligent combatants conscientiously picked their shots instead of swinging for the seats until they were out of gas. In other instances, his foes would retreat to the other side of the ring, stand there and wait for Ali to come out of his shell. Unlike Foreman years earlier, Shavers employed both strategies and refused to fall for any of the champion’s trickery. Rather than go for the kill (and he had his chances), the Warren, Ohio native opted to preserve his puissance for the long haul.
“[If] He goes into that rope-a-dope,” said Shavers beforehand, “it’s gonna be the dullest fight in history. When he does I’ll just hit him a couple of times and then go over and lean on another rope and stare at him. It will be a staring contest.” [8]
As the fight progressed, Shavers was coming on strong, and Ali–all guts, guile and savvy–was leading, but fading fast. Power shots were taking their toll.
It was a déjà vu of sorts, harkening back to the third war “Thriller” against Joe Frazier. That particular battle was stopped by Frazier’s trainer, Eddie Futch, against his wishes at the end of round 14. Although ahead, Ali was physically spent and may not have been able to make it for the 15th. Muhammad, who immediately collapsed in his corner after being informed of the stoppage, later admitted that he wanted to quit. Both of Joe’s eyes (he was already legally blind in one) were nearly swollen shut, but he still wanted to go; it was target practice for the champion. Futch, a veteran in the game, had been down this road before and seen enough.
Now against Shavers, Ali (two years older and carrying 10 gratuitous pounds) was again fatigued before the final bell. However, no one was going to halt this conflict prematurely. Furthermore, no mortal could have prophesied the events about to take place in the final three minutes of action.
ROUND 15
Ask anyone about Muhammad Ali’s most significant moment in the ring. In doing so, you will gain several contrasting perspectives; some will mention the upset victory over Sonny Liston in Miami, which secured his first heavyweight title belt. Others will say the introduction of the “Ali Shuffle” during his sterling performance against the dangerous Cleveland “Big Cat” Williams at the Houston Astrodome. Continue surveying, and they may cite the victory over George Foreman in the “Rumble in the Jungle,” or the “Thriller in Manila” triumph over long-time antagonist “Smokin” Joe Frazier. Some may even suggest his capturing of a third world championship by defeating Leon Spinks. Those sentiments are valid.
However, given the circumstances, the escalated number of candles on his cake, personal distractions outside of the sport, and the fact that the assailant in front of him was one of the most noxious pugilists he’d ever encountered, Ali’s finest moment in the ring may have occurred during the 15th and final round against Earnie Shavers. Although long past his zenith, there is no question that the closing seconds may have emblematized the capstone of his storied boxing anthology.
For three minutes, he shirked off being tired and weary, summoned everything in his arsenal, and again worked his magic. His performance in the final round, while going toe-to-toe with “The Acorn,” was impressive. Instead of dancing and protecting his lead, he put on a boxing show for the ages, virtually throwing caution to the wind. Shavers contested valiantly, still advancing, scowling, ready to throw and land a big bomb. Nearly the entire Garden stood screaming in approval. Looking closely at the last 30 seconds, the only thing preventing him from knocking out his younger, rugged challenger was that Shavers sagged against the ropes after staggering. The spine-chilling predator became prey. Not only did a right-left combo catch Shavers on the chin, but for Ali, he seemingly caught lightning in a bottle.
The Champ had the man out on his feet with 15 seconds remaining. The bell sounded, and Ali walked away with another unanimous decision. “Johnny LoBianco, the referee, had Ali ahead, nine rounds to five with one even. The judges, Tony Castellano and Eva Shain, the first woman ever to officiate at a world heavyweight title bout, each had Ali ahead, nine rounds to six.” [7]
Ali, the waning crescent, had once again pulled off a miracle. A Sports Illustrated cover published after the fight showed Ali taking a felonious punch from Shavers under the
caption “Ali’s Desperate Hour.” Nevertheless, the champion got the job done when push came to shove. The Greatest had morphed the so-called 60 minutes of desperation into a magnum opus. Somehow—as a voucher to his command of craft —he could muster a blitz even on a seemingly empty reserve tank. During that interlude, the concept of “dusting off and polishing” an opponent just to placate the crowd and the judges was summarily dismissed. The champ was out there crackin’ heads!
Muhammad Ali vs Earnie Shavers | Last 30 seconds Fight | INCREDIBLE WAR …
On that night in New York City—as the “Acorn” could attest—the “Butterfly” still had its wings, and the “bee” had plenty of sting!
REFERENCES:
- Medsger, Bettey. “In 1971, Muhammad Ali Helped Undermine The FBI’s Illegal Spying On Americans.” The Intercept. (theintercept.com). June 6, 2016
- Hauser, Thomas. “Muhammad Ali: His Life & Times.” Simon & Schuster. New York. (1991). Pp. 338, 345 3. Eig, Jonathan. “Ali: A Life.” Mariner Books. New York/Boston. (2017). Pp. 314, 345, 416-417, 443, 450, 4. Slater, James. “Ali To Foreman: Please Come Back And Beat Ken Norton For Me.” Boxing News 24/7. (boxing247.com). June 16, 2016
- Brunt, Stephen. “Facing Ali: 15 Fighters, 15 Stories.” Lyons Press. Guilford, Connecticut. (2002). P. 286 6. Eskenazi, Gerald. “Ali, Despite Millions Won, Faces Toughest Fight Balancing Budget.” The New York Times. (nytimes.com). March 25, 1978.
- Anderson, Dave. “Ali Beats Shavers On Decision.” The New York Times. (nytimes.com). September 30. 1977
- Putnam, Pat. “Once More To The Well: Muhammad Ali Left Them Roaring, But One Day Soon The Champ Will Reach Down And Come Up Empty.” Sports Illustrated. (vault.si.com). October 10, 1977
