Jack Johnson vs Joe Frazier

Johnson did not hold. He controlled. It’s a HUGE difference. Johnson inside is doing so many subtle moves and THIS is why inside fighters can’t do anything with him.

Ali is incomparable to Johnson. Ali had no inside game. Johnson the best inside defensive fighter ever to live.

Joe would bob and weave get in close and be unable to do anything with Johnson. His offense inside would be completely shut down.

You people need to watch Johnson and what he is doing when opponents get close. It’s one of the most highly skilled aspects of Johnsons game the manner he controls and shuts down a sluggers offense. There is no reason why he could not do the same vs Frazier especially that the only punch Johnson would need to be concerned about is his hook.

 

Johnson isn't going to manhandle Joe like he did hophead Ketchel or Tiny Burns. Give me a break.

Put down the Kool-Aid and use the thinking parts between your ears.

 

He doesn't have to pick up Frazier like he did Ketchel to be masterful on the inside.

 

I pick Frazier but it's certainly a fight I'd like to see. Johnson was a boxing master.

 

The idea that Johnson only feasted on short ,small guys is completely erroneous.
As is the premise promulgated by Johnson's chief hater, Mendoza that Johnson couldn't hit hard.Sam McVey was stopped 5 times in over a hundred fights, twice by Langford, once by Wills when he was 34 ,once by Jeannette after 49rds, and nearly two and half hours of fighting,when his eyes were closed totally shut.
The only other time was when Johnson ko'd him in their third fight. Johnson also floored him multiple times as he did Jeannette.
Mendoza has stated several times in previous posts that McVey wasn't the bravest of fighters.When you consider his marathon fight with Jeannette in Paris with both men being floored several times in nearly 2 1/2 hours of slugging, and McVey only calling a halt when he could no longer see we can clearly appreciate the absurdity of this claim.
Johnson called him the toughest man he ever fought.
I'm not making a pick, just attempting to present some factors that might otherwise be overlooked.It's perfectly understandable that posters would pick Frazier over a fighter whose best days were over a century ago,maybe its the correct pick,but Johnson wasn't some hype job, he was forged in the fire and used to adversity.
This might be a real tough fight for both men.

 

Ali couldnt fight inside.Never punched to the body , totally different fighter.

 

Frazier has little chance to win here. His style plays right into Johnson’s game. Inside he will be unable to mount any offense while at distance Johnson would pepper him with combinations. Like most of Johnson’s bouts it would turn into a monotonous affair. Frazier getting in close easily as that’s where Johnson wants him. Joe, like all of Johnsons opponents, would be unable to do anything in close. Johnson continuously raking Joe with uppercuts. Round after round.

 

We know that Johnson could handle bigger ,heavier men, what is rather an unknown is how he copes with Frazier's frentic work rate?

 

Ali was good on the inside against Foreman.

 

He didnt throw many punches inside ,he covered up and waited for Foreman to take a breather,not a good idea against Frazier, as he found to his cost

 

No he was not unless you believe laying on the ropes and holding is a good inside game. The blows Ali hit Foreman with we’re long blows not inside as Foreman stepped forward.

 

Frazier would slowly grind him down for mine.

 

Very reasonable analysis. Who really knows?

I don't like Jack's relatively pedestrian pace that he liked to work at serving him well here against a relentless swarmer like Joe but Johnson did face a myriad of styles (although Frazier was quite unique stylistically) and generally adapted and triumphed.

It's an interesting match up for sure and totally different from the Ali one. Ali couldn't fight inside and Johnson was great there, as was Frazier. The workrate and late rounds power of Joe is the difference here in my view.

 

Frazier had nothing left after the FOTC...he left everything he had in the ring that night in 1971. A FOTC Frazier walks thru Johnson!!!

 

It's certainly a plausible scenario.