If Charles, at his heavyweight best had challenged Joe Frazier in Kingston, Jamaica what would the result have been? Frazier, fighting a classy, gutsy guy not called Foreman, does he retain or lose his title?
Imo Frazier wasn't at his best at that point, combined with the fact that Charles gave a better version of Frazier in Marciano hell, I'd pick either by an SD, or perhaps they fight to a draw. Might depend on what the judges want to see that night.
I reckon Charles takes it in a close fight myself. Frazier doesn't get destroyed but ends up getting hit more than ever before. He'd still have Charles under pressure but Ezzard takes it well and gets the win.
I think Frazier had a lot more left than is generally considered,after George he went on to beat Bugner,Quarry ,and Ellis ,and give Ali life and death. He beats Charles imo, probably by dec,or late tko.
Frazier ko's Ezzard, Charles doesn't have the frame to keep Joe off him. Joe starts smokin after about 4 or 5 and stops Charles in the 10-12 range
This may be a perfect time for a decent, above average fighter, like Charles to beat Frazier tho. Joe, takin time out from training to play in his band etc. And perhaps taking Ezz very lightly. He wouldn't have the capacity to ko Joe in 2! I can't see many at all doing that tbh, but maybe take enough rounds from Joe untll he warmed up, to get a decision over him. Danger in this match-up as well tho is Charles being the warrior that he is. That won't end well against smoke. But your right mcvey, in that Joe wasn't finished atp by a long shot, and he was still lethal, if just not a little slower on the trigger.
You should do! I do love Frazier as well though. The more I've thought about it, the more I happen to think Charles has a live chance. Charles managed to shut down Louis's, Moore's & Marciano's left hooks, now Joe is obviously a different kettle of fish but a prime Charles was ridiculously light on his feet and his tendancy to move to his left would help diminish Joe's hook, and set up his right hand, and it worked against some of the greatest fighters in history, I think it'd work here too. Frazier's workrate and bullishness, as well as his uncannily unsophisticated way of cutting of the ring, would cause massive issues for Charles, and along with Ezz's love for infighting would give Frazier ample opportunities to take rounds, Frazier was strong enough to bull Charles around, but Charles was strong enough to hold his own against Marciano, so who knows? Maybe Charles could hold Frazier long enough to score himself. I'm still taking Joe via competitive decision, but I can see Charles working out Joe's offence and winning via competitive decision himself.
Frazier is all wrong for Ezzard in my opinion. Ez lacks the foot speed, punching power and size to handle Frazier who like Marciano and Tyson was always a really bad fighter to face for a small heavyweight. Its a very hard task to fight an attacking swarmer who can punch when he outweighs you by twenty pounds. I dunno how Lachbuster makes the statement that Marciano was superior to Frazier considering Joe was much faster than Rocky ( both foot and hand speed ) ,was 20 pounds heavier than the Rock and that Frazier had 5 fights with Ali and Foreman who were far superior heavyweights to anyone Marciano fought. I would argue that a prime Quarry was as good at heavyweight as Walcott, Charles and Moore. Jerry was nowhere near as good a fighter as those three but in my opinion the version Frazier fought in 1969 was as good a heavyweight as Rocky fought. Cheers All.
This fight could be similar to Frazier blasting out Bob Foster, Bob was as hard a hitter who ever lived at 175 and he drilled Joe with his vaunted left hook, Joe only paused before destroying Bob. Ezzard who's probably better technically would have the same problem, discouraging a harder punching heavier man who's the greatest pressure fighter in heavyweight history.
When I first saw the title I was like "Who the hell is Kingston Frazier??" But Charles may have won some type of decision. There's reason to believe that he could have troubled the best Frazier.