Joe Frazier turns pro in 1954

I’m with you Frazier is certainly the underdog, but in the way it matters, Liston is not Foreman. He was considerably more measured & that isn’t beneficial here. Frazier has a fighting chance.

 

An uppercut and because Sonny Liston is much larger, he could push the smaller Joe Frazier away much the same way that George Foreman did in January 1973 in Kingston, Jamaica.

 

Remember people Liston is not Foreman, he's not as strong and he couldn't cut ring like Foreman plus Foreman faced fading Frazier but FOTC Frazier vs Liston would be 50/50 fight.

 

Yes, it was early in the fight. And didn't Joe get decked again in their second encounter?

 

Absolutely. The best version of Smokin Joe, 1969-71, gets smoked if he faces prime Sonny. No question it's a prequel to Foreman vs Frazier.

 

Or his jab. Or his left hook. Or his right hand. Or any combination of the above along with his strength. And Joe is going to stand in front of Liston and attack his body? Joe, I'd like you to meet Floyd Patterson.

 

Don't be so sure that Foreman was stronger than prime Liston. The guy had freakish strength.

 

Totally agree.

 

Yes Joe Frazier got decked in the second encounter with George Foreman in Madison Square Garden in June 1976.

 

No, I meant in his second fight with Bonavena.

 

The second fight with 5 state champion Joe Frazier vs Oscar Bonavena was on Dec 10 1968, Joe totally dominated the 15 round rematch.

 

Not really. Sonny in his prime was 6’1” and usually 210 lbs. that’s not “ much “ larger than Frazier at all who was 6’0” 205 lbs. what Liston had was that freakish 84” reach which was rare for a man of 6’1”. Usually you only see that kind of arm length from guys who are 6’7” or taller. But given Frazier’s incredible ability to slip the jab, get inside and come up with a hard left hook I don’t think it’ll hinder him too terribly.

 

IMHO Liston would "find the measure" of Fraser, as would Foreman.
Fraser would beat Patterson, and Johansson, but Williams could also be a problem.

 

Not to be disagreeable but I read that Joe Frazier stood at 5"11, weighed 205 lbs. Liston had a 84 inch reach with that pole like left jab, had 14 inch fists. Liston weighed 218 lbs for the first title bout against Muhammad Ali in Feb 1964.