According to the book Sparring with Smokin' Joe, Holmes gave Marvis a title shot as a favor to his father who wanted it since Larry and Joe were friends and sparring partners. Joe wanted it at least before Holmes considered cashing out which was as early as 83/84 and also because Holmes was obviously considered to be the real champion at the time.
Boney M Smith would’ve been champion in the 70s it’s a known fact haven’t you heard the Bob Dylan song?
I thought he was a very talented boxer. He simply wasn’t ready to fight Holmes even though the pay day was something he and his father couldn’t turn down. And Tyson was just all wrong for him. But he got some good wins and showed he had potential. At least he retired with a good record and in good health
I think that Marvis Frazier was pushed too fast and too soon, the expectations of Marvis were set too high by Marvis's father Joe Frazier, an all time great. I really believe that Joe expected too much out of his offspring, wanted to mold him in his own image, sometimes as father's we do have a tendency to expect our young to be as we were. I really believe that Marvis was fighting only as a tribute to his great father, who was Marvis's trainer. Marvis was talented but lacked the drive and skill of his famous father. Maybe Joe should have sought the assistance of his former long time trainer Eddie Futch for guidance for his son's career.
I think, when you realise all the world level guys wound up with a belt in that period, you cannot rule out Marvis either. Lose to Larry, beat the other guy. That’s how it was for Weaver, Witherspoon, Berbick and Smith. look at who contested for a title in the 1980s. Coetzee, Dokes, Tate and Tubbs. They only wound up with a belt because they were not fighting Holmes. Had David Bey beat Page one fight later he would have been champ too. But that WBA strap, was like pass the parcel.
He could have gotten a belt perhaps. He probably would have missed the $1 million dollars he got for those losses. He earned that the hard way.
George Benton was the logical choice since he was the one originally working with Marvis while Joe was on tour with his band, and credited for Marvis's success as an amateur. Joe pushed out him out however by the time of Marvis's pro debut. There was no way Joe would want Futch after what happened in Manila. Joe has even said that he's not the type to ever throw in the towel as a response to the Holmes fight due to his warrior mentality and likely as contempt for Futch.
He would’ve ended up with the same win and loss column, maybe worse, if he tried to be a boxer mover.