Larry Holmes (1978) V Joe Frazier (1971)?

Holmes decision, pick em fight. Can see it being on the Norton fight level.

 

At that point I pick Joe, especially if Larry has the injury.

Holmes barely got by Norton in 78. 71 Frazier is a whole new ballgame for Larry to deal with without his best weapon.

A fully fit Holmes might be different but, even then, 71 Joe is a tough ask for anyone in their first title fight.

 

I am really surprised that Joe got an overwhelming vote.

This is one of the greatest heavyweight battles of all time. Joe's style makes the difference though, and I go with Joe SD, maybe even a draw, but that is less likely. Personally, I think Holmes would trouble Frazier more than Ali did due to greater power and aggressiveness early on. The fight would probably be even better than Norton vs. Holmes since Frazier didn't do near as much boxing as Norton did.

@RulesMakeItInteresting, I know your position on the victor on this fight, but how do you think Larry fares?
This is really your thread isn't it? we're talking about your three favorite heavies.

 

I would have to say Larry Holmes for the decision or draw but it won't be easy. Joe Frazier's constant bobbing and weaving is going to frustrate the Assassin because Joe has the greatest defense of all time that a heavyweight ever had. Eventually Joe is going to get into rhythm and start getting hits in but a lot of clinching will happen through-out the fight before Joe can even get a few clean shots. It's going to be a war, let's just say that.

 

The problem is FOTC Frazier. Prime Larry would have fared better than 1971 Ali, but Joe was kryptonite to guys like him. Joe would eat a lot of heavy jabs (probably walk into a couple), and he might even get staggered a few times by the right. Unless Holmes is able to land that uppercut squarely, Joe is not going to be deterred for long.

Joe didn't quite have the right hand to stop Larry, but I see FOTC Joe winning a majority decision despite taking even more punishment than he did against Ali (!).

The Joe who fought after FOTC gets stopped by Holmes in the last rounds.

 

Agreed. Even a downhill Joe Frazier could make this an epic fight.

 

Two of my favorites here. Styles make fights. Edge goes to Frazier

 

Frazier has gone to being one of the most underrated fighters on this board, so it's kinda nice to see him decisively winning a poll against an ATG for once.

 

Yeah, for sure. I honestly think he'll beat everybody but about six people, and he fought one of them.

 

Only people I outright favor over him are, Ali, Liston and Foreman. Louis has a chance to beat him, as does Tyson.

But all of the above, are going to be given hell win or lose.

 

I think Foreman stomps any version and doesn't have much trouble with anything.

I'd pick him over any out-boxer without huge power, including '60s Ali. I don't think there's actually much decline between Ali from the early 70s and the mid 60s.

I pick him over Louis, Holmes, Holyfield, Vitali and several other top heavyweights. I can see him losing to Wlad, but I think Wlad freaks out at Frazier constantly coming.

I think Lewis might look for an uppercut early and possibly even force a stoppage. I can't see Frazier walking onto Lewis' offense for an entire fight. Similar with Liston and other colossal punchers who won't come to him.

I think he gets up off the floor a few times to break Tyson down late under a ruleset which would let him (optimistically blind ref; 15 rounds, etc; ), and I can see him doing similar to Liston. For fear of ruining the thread, Marciano could break him down with a superior chin and power, but I'm 50/50 on that. Frazier could bull him down as the quicker, sharper, bigger man.

Great, great fighter.

 

A prime Joe Frazier of March 8 1971 would have proved too much for Larry Holmes of 1978. Holmes looked dynamite vs Ken Norton on June 9 1978, for the first 8 rounds. But the pressure and the body punching of Norton began to take its toll. Larry started to slow down, forced into exchanges, getting caught with solid blows. Holmes to his credit showed heart, but he took punishment. Joe would have soaked up Larry's left jab, bobbed and weaved his way into punishing his torso with very vicious left hooks. Frazier would have fought like a runaway locomotive, not stopping regardless of the blows thrown by Larry. Joe faced many quick fighters with a good left jab, namely a ring rusty Muhammad Ali and Jimmy Ellis. There would be no stop button for Joe as he would have pounced on Holmes like a shark that smells the blood of his prey. Joe Frazier would have been declared the winner by a unanimous decision. Joe did have the better brains in his corner, Yank Durham and Eddie Futch.

 

who are the others?