Is there anything that Ellis could have done to beat Frazier?

Borrow Foreman's power.

 

Well for one thing he could have stayed more active prior to meeting Frazier. Seventeen months out of the ring is not the best way to go into a title fight. Also I would work to alter his defense to better defend against the left hook then either counter and or upper cut on the inside.

 

No. Nothing. Frazier was just plain better at that stage of each others careers.

 

If James Ellis had Billions of Dollars at his disposal and was willing to spend it all on trying for a W on his record against Joe Frazier, he has a better chance.

#1. Try to buy off Frazier and his people, to dive for him. (This probably wouldn't fly, but it's worth a shot with a Billion Dollars or 2.)
#2. Find the World's best Pullover mask maker, with money no object. Then pay prime Ali to go in with a James Ellis mask. (Doubtful flyer.)
#3. Pay kidnappers to kidnap Frazier and his team. Pay again to get actors who look like said kidnap victims, and have the 1 playing Frazier to go down immediately from the Ellis version of the Anchor punch. (Again, unlikely to get off the ground.)

So, no, I cant think of a way for James to win this.

 

no, too small

 

Try to use the irritating strategy Ali used in the second fight perhaps? Jab Fraziers head off, then smother him as soon as he gets close. This won't work forever of course as Ellis lacks Ali's hand speed and size, but it should buy some time for the early rounds as sometimes Frazier could be a slow starter and Ellis did have a decent reach. Constant shifty, jittery movement to keep Frazier wary and vary the timing and speed on the jab, don't just spam the same linear punch. Use methodical lateral movement and frame Frazier, pivoting at 45 degree angles when he's at mid range.

Fraziers is left hook happy and likes to double up on the body before throwing a sizzling hook upstairs. One way to try and neutralize this is to tuck your chin and have a tight guard with the right arm keeping it close. Keep the arm vertical and the fist near the chin and the elbow at the hip. As for the left arm, if Frazier can skip the jab throw a left uppercut to give him something to think about. But never, ever throw left hooks or try to trade. The uppercut doesn't even need to land flush, even if it's blocked it did its job to stop Frazier momentarily and use that as an opportunity to frame off of Frazier and push away to circle to the left away from the path of the hook.

Option 2: right straight counter. I once fought a deadly left hook specialist who could throw nasty hooks without even setting them up with a jab. My coach had me throwing right hand leads right down the middle whenever he tried to throw them. Sure enough it worked and he got more and more frustrated as I kept either trading or beating him to the punch. A straight shot will almost inevitably land first if a guy is coming right at you throwing a curving punch like a hook. This is what Ellis should do occasionally as he is employing the jab, frame, smother strategy to mess up Frazier rhythm and slow down his offense.

Ellis would need to work on his cardio, timing, and defense. It's pointless to try to go for a KO in this matchup, he will need tons of energy and would need to have absolutely perfect execution for this plan to work. At any moment Frazier could turn up the heat and overwhelm him so he needs to constantly sap Frazier of his energy bit by bit while racking up points by being busier than Frazier at long range and slowing down the action with ugly spoiling tactics at close range. Ellis would also need to keep his ego in check and avoid slugging, clinch for a whole minute if necessary if Frazier manages to rock him or knock him down. Damn the points, just let the round go until the cobwebs are cleared and get right back to the game plan.

Even with all that, I'd still only give Ellis maybe a 40% chance to go the distance and maybe a 25-30% chance to take a very close decision or draw. The latter rounds from 9 onwards would be brutal as Frazier would be completely warmed up and finding his rhythm attacking relentlessly. Ellis would be running on fumes towards the end struggling just to survive and would doubtlessly lose the last couple of rounds as he would be doing everything in his power to remain upright and not get steamrolled. Ellis only chance would be to hopefully have done enough early and in the middle rounds to make a case for himself due to ring general ship and a higher number of blows landed.

 

Maybe a Terrell tactic of hit and hold. Kind of like Ali Frazier 2. But still he couldn’t make his chin take Frazier’s shots for 15…but it’s his best chance

 

Jimmy Ellis was much too small to effectively employ the jab and grab technique against Frazier.

 

This is a great analyses.

It does presuppose all the greatest advice & strategy on one side, if Frazier gets as great advice & executes it as effectively, presumably Ellis' chance of vicory goes down to the single digits?

 

When I watched Ellis vs Quarry recently, Ellis did actually look like Ali at times.

He fought a very cautious fight, but nullified Quarry for most of the fight. Staying outside with his jab and right hand. And not engaging in a toe to toe battle. Ellis's handspeed especially with right hand was quite impressive aswell.

Ellis definitely has the skill to fight Frazier on the outside, but he'd need to learn Ali's clinching. And fight the kind of fight Ali did in the 2nd meeting with Frazier. Staying on the outside and frustrating a tie up Frazier on inside.

The big question is whether Ellis has the strength do that, considering Ellis moved up from lower weight classes. And can he tie up and keep a bull like Frazier under control.

 

Stick loads of that special substance, that ended up in Ali's eyes, on Ellis s gloves.

But they'd have to put it on after every round cos Joe's still coming out.!!!

 

Force Frazier to fight him at 160lbs.

 

Didn't frazier have Eddie Futch? What could I possibly come up with to increase his chances that Futch didn't already think of? Frazier went 2-0 against Ellis brutally stopping him both times so I don't think he needs much advice.