Mike Tyson and Joe Frazier

I would say Tyson’s biggest weakness (besides stamina) was that he was only mostly affective at his medium range. He wasn’t great on the outside and he wasn’t great on the inside (obviously serviceable or he would have never been where he was) but he didn’t have it against fighters great at controlling distance. Holyfield kept the fighting inside and Lewis and Douglas kept him outside. That’s why I think Frazier was the better equipped. You hit the nail on the head though.

 

Two very good posts. I've always picked Frazier here to break Mike down first mentally then physically and stop him.

 

Yes. Frazier is one of the greatest infighters in Heavyweight history whereas Tyson is nowhere near. There’s also the stamina and mental strength differences. Frazier FAR more equipped to beat Ali.

 

It's funny because Tyson fans use frazier as an analogy when its convenient as evidence he'd beat Ali but slam the breaks when it comes to how Tyson would do against Foreman.

This is a pretty spot on comparison. They are very different fighters. Tyson's style was seek and destroy ASAP; a rocket launcher with a limited number of rockets. Frazier was a grenade launcher with dozens and dozens of grenades. One is more powerful than the other, but is less reliable in a long drawn out battle.

 

Mike Tyson had devastating power and speed, but he lacked mental toughness, along with lack of stamina. Mike was used to using the intimidation game, as George Foreman and Sonny Liston used, to gain an edge over their opponents. Tyson a good pressure fighter, was non stop early in a match, but if his opponent started out fast, dragged him into the later rounds, it spelled a struggle for him mentally and physically. Joe Frazier had toughness to him, he was mentally tough, putting up with Muhammad Ali's barbs, and he possessed stamina to go the distance if need be. Joe was a master at pressure phone booth fighting, he would discourage his adversaries in battle, and had heart. Tyson appeared gassed when he defeated Tony TNT Tucker, on August 1 1987, in 15 rounds to win the IBF Heavyweight Title. Frazier was punching non stop in his battle against Oscar Bonavena, on Dec 10 1968, in defending his New York World Heavyweight Title, by unanimous 15 round decision. In prime vs prime, it would be a tough grueling battle, Frazier would have to crowd Mike right off the bat, avoid that fierce power of Tyson, by bobbing and weaving. By doing this Joe drags Mike into the later rounds to secure the victory. Smokin Joe wins this by a late round stoppage. It would be Yank Durham, Eddie Futch vs Cus D Amato, and Kevin Rooney. Joe's brutal left hooks to the body spell the difference in wearing down Iron Mike.

 

Tyson would have blown Frazier away.

 

2 rounds. Tops.

 

Foreman had more stamina issues than Tyson. Frazier wasn't intimidated by Foreman and look what happened. Frazier is basically facing a faster, bigger, stronger version of himself. And that's the bottom line.

 

I always thought of Tyson as a bigger, stronger, more powerful, and more durable Floyd Patterson, than Joe Frazier.

 

That point stand out in my mind, about Tyson starting fast and Frazier having to get warmed up and being more effective and dangerous as he goes on.
To me it's always been the story of a fight between the two.. Maybe.
Joe has to get through at least 4 rounds with him to actually survive. We know he can be hurt early and Tyson was so damn fast those first few rounds. If he does any we're heading In to the second half of the fight then Joe starts reving up and getting mean. Past the eight round and Tyson s really getting in deep.
So I'll go with either Tyson wrsc 2 Frazier.
Or Frazier wrsc 10 Tyson.

 

Frazier and Tyson fought nothing alike just like Qwai ( Braxton) and Frazier fought nothing alike. Two fighters often compared to Frazier even though they fought nothing alike.

 

As much as I liked Joe as a sportsperson rather than Tyson, Mike would beat Frazier in a similar fashion as Foreman did.

 

While I think Frazier is generally underrated and underappreciated, the truth is, Mike is EVERY BIT as bad for him as Foreman, if not worse.

Stamina would only come into play if Joe could take Mike very deep, but it wouldn't happen.

Joe would be walking into the wheelhouse of a bigger, stronger, faster, hard hitting man, and he would get hurt. On top of that, Mike had a better chin and a better defense.

Joe's bombing and weaving style along with his lack of height gives Mike the PERFECT target to execute his right uppercut.

And once Joe gets hurt, theres no surviving, as Mike is right up there as one of the best finishers who ever lived.

It's a horrible matchup for Joe.

Tyson inside of 5.

 

That is entirely possible, I've thought that too at times. But if Mike throws his load and the bell for round 5 is rung Tyson is taking a serious azz whippin.