Jim Jeffries v Joe Frazier 15rds

That is not a problem in itself. Even small heavies don’t simply crumble when they get hit. You need power to KO the guys at the top of the division, whatever size they are.

What makes Jeffries hard to rate as a puncher for me, is his style. Early in his career he fought reactively, allowed his opponents to lead, and broke them down gradually with a body attack. He became more aggressive later in his career, but still functioned as an attrition puncher. There is also some suggestion that he generally carried his opponents for a couple of rounds, to ensure a good show for the customers.

All this leaves some room for interpretation about where his power sits.

 

HE,

Ali's ability to recover from a punch was much greater than Frazier's. Comparing the two just doesn't make sense. If you want to compare common opponents, Ali hurt Frazier far more than Norton..and Norton gets labeled with the glass jaw. Ali also hurt Bonevena more than Frazier did. Frazier's hook bounced off Foreman, but Ali hurt Foreman. Frazier's power might be over rated, but that is a different thread!

Frazier as I stated above had a suspect chin, and its right there on film to see vs lesser level punchers who hardly landed much at all.

So he could be hurt, stunned or floored by medium level hitters. Frazier also had great fighting heart to get up, but let's not confuse that with being able to take it.

The larger heavies Jeffries fought did not last as long as the shorter more mobile ones. Look it up, its true. Frazier's was under 6 feet ( I heard some say he was closer to 5'10" ), and only 10-15 pounds or so heavier than most of Jeffries title opponents. I think Frazier's best weight was around 205.

How hard did Jeffries hit? Tex Rickard who saw them both said Jeffries hit harder then Jack Dempsey. There are numerous testimonials on Jeffries hitting power.

Regarding Frazier's blind eye, that came from Ferdie Pacheco, and he's not the most credible person out there. Lots of fighters have poor vision, but do just fine in the ring. For example Holmes had thick glasses. Frazier was not blind in one eye.

 

I posted the fight report, Jeffries fighting with a broken thumb, floored Armstrong and had him hurt at the end, but could not finish him before the 10 rounds.



Goddard was down multiple times. As I said, Jeffries who was not always eager to end it early floored every man in fought in every fight, except for
this 1910 comeback fight with Johnson.



Side topic. A good chin can be found at 180-185 or 230. Sometimes guys at 180-185 can take a better punch than a 230 pound person. Its an individual case that should not be classified by weight alone.


Side opinion, chins don't improve much at all weight gain. Holyfield and Marciano at 185-190 took good punch. So did Dempsey.