I favor Dempsey here. Im thinking Joe goes right in - Dempsey had fast hands and hit very hard and was a fast starter - just a matter of styles- however both were greats and Frazier may have beaten Tunney because of the come forward pressure - all great fighters different strengths and weaknesses
To me, bigger could mean taller, heavier, or both. I would say taller and heavier, rather than taller and bigger.
I don't see Dempsey pushing Joe anywhere. Frazier is heavier and a few inches shorter which gives him a lower center of gravity. He is stockier in his upper body and legs, and heavier in his limbs. I agree neither guy is defensive. It will be head to head all the way, and I don't think reach will make any difference. If anything the fight will be at such close quarters that shorter arms might even be an advantage.
I doubt that it will go 15, which is the distance I would think it would be scheduled. I'm not sure about Dempsey's stamina. Tunney would have kayoed him in either of their fights if the distance was 15. Granted Dempsey was 31 or so when he fought Tunney, but the only example we have of Dempsey going 15 is the Gibbons fight and Gibbons was 30 pounds lighter than Frazier would be. So Jack was never tested in a distance fight against a man like Frazier.
You're right about Dempsey's stamina. Dempsey was tough though, maybe he could manage to go 15 anyway?
A couple of guys have said Frazier wasn't defensive.. Its fair to say some people don't know what they are talking about. This content is protected This content is protected Simple fact is Dempsey never faced anybody remotely close to Frazier throughout his career. Those picking Jack do so because they want him to win , not because they believe he can win. There's nothing more to it than that.
Dempsey probably starts faster and probably puts Frazier down in the first. But then Frazier would start smoking and get to work. Frazier has way more muscle mass being the stockier heavier man. Frazier's workrate and infighting is better than Dempseys because Dempsey doesn't get the leverage Frazier does inside. His body attack and constant brutal left hooks would break and KO Dempsey in about 6 rounds Having said this Dempsey is the same weight as Bob Foster and Frazier went through Foster like a knife through butter
This is a grueling war of attrition and outside of maybe Marciano, I don't think I'd pick anyone to beat Frazier in one of those. Dempsey starts fast and would absolutely hurt Frazier early, but he lacks the Foreman-esque strength required to do what Big George did. I think Frazier gets up off the canvas once of twice to cling on and survive before he can start Smokin'. Once he does, he wears Jack down and ends up stopping him around 11. Something similar would happen vs Tyson.
