Is this fight a mismatch? A legendary fighter against a part time heavyweight? Or does Sander's pose an early danger against the Smoke?
Fair enough mate, I'd be interested to see if anyone does think it could be a tough fight for Joe tho. Sanders could hit we know that, maybe that's not enough here, but it could at least surprise Joe.
There's a lesser chance that Sanders could fizzle one down the pipe early doors while Frazier is still warming up/adjusting to getting around the southpaw angle, and not let Joe off the hook, but each time he does that and misses or misjudges it, or stands square on wailing away with his chin up as he was prone to doing.......he'd be in trouble imo once Frazier rolls/bobs underneath and quickly transitions. He wasn't Foreman, not in terms of raw power or mean intent, nor the approach of manipulating and bullying back smaller fighters, shortening uppercuts etc even if his straight left was faster and he generally looked a bit less ungainly. Even if his chin stood up to Frazier in the early rounds, he'd eventually get worn down and stopped imo.
I think this is a HORRIBLE fight for Frazier. Sanders was as big and had as long a reach as Foreman did and imo was a more dangerous puncher do to his freakish hand speed and southpaw stance. I think Sanders clips an overly aggressive Frazier, hurts him badly, then swarms him until the ref stops it or Joe goes all the way out.
Joe Frazier would stop Corrie Sanders in my opinion. His fast upper body movement and ability to slip punches to get inside would give him plenty of opportunities to work the body and head of Sanders. And for as good as the sniper was, he lacked stamina. With that said it might take several rounds for Joe to break him down, during which Corrie might land some meaningful punches. But at the end of the day the greater man wins.
I do see your point, and the hook is not the best weapon against a southpaw, but its also a great fighter with some of the best stamina against a hot-and-cold fighter with some of the worst. So I could see Frazier weathering the storm and running away with it.
This content is protected Frazier breaks Sanders late. Bert Cooper isn't half the boxer Frazier was and that fight was competitive until the stoppage, Frazier got up from Foreman 6 times he'd survive a scare from Sanders
Next clip I post is Frazier stopping somebody easily and I will cite it as evidence that Sanders beats him
Sanders didn't hook until he had a guy groggy. His best punch was a left straight that was longer, faster and more accurate than anything Frazier had.