Evander Holyfield And Joe Frazier..

Frazier would win

 

Another "top dollar" hypothetical matchup--(I'd fork over 5 bills without blinking for a great seat to this one!!)

My humble take--as much of a warrior as Holyfield was they didn't come any tougher, or with more heart, stamina, and relentless pressure/workrate than FOTC Frazier! I'd give the nod to Joe in a late stoppage after a grueling war. Assuming a 15 round fight Frazier wins by TKO somewhere in the championship rounds.

 

Cooper took that fight on one week's notice. Holyfield was coming out of a full training camp.

 

The famous saying 'never hook with a hooker'

Holyfield wouldn't be able to resist. It would be a barn burner with both guys taking damage. Evander would rip those snappy combinations and perhaps get the edge....early.

Frazier lived inside. His lefthook was on another level in his prime. Like a whip, Ali called it "a damn evil thing". Frazier's commitment to the body would likely swing it his way later.
Holyfield wasn't as strong in his prime as he was post prime mid 90s. Those body punches would affect him. Frazier might stop him late but regardless I think he at least takes the decision.

 

Very close fight but I'll put my money on Frazier. I think Frazier's gas tank is going to be an issue and his ability to truly FIGHT on the inside is an important factor as Holyfield is pretty notorious for getting into wars when it is not needed. I don't think a single punch Holyfield has could change the pace of the fight unlike Frazier where his left hook could suddenly change the fight if it starts to sway more towards Holyfield.

 

Cooper beat Joe Hip in October. It was his 4th fight in 1991. He fought Holyfield in November. Cooper was in shape and ready. Holyfield was training for Tyson, then Damiani after Tyson dropped out.

 

Cooper was in decent shape. He was going through a good stage of his career. He was off drugs most importantly and he was fighting well at that time.
A full training to prepare would have been much better for him.

 

Mike Tyson fanboys refuse to see that. And Holyfield came back to win the second half of that round, even though Cooper landed one or two more bombs.

Holyfield won by TKO in the next round or two after that because the ref had to save Cooper's life.

 

Holyfield by dec .

 

Holyfield has better foundamentals and a much more complete punch arsenal of punches. Frazier is more fluid and better timing. Both men's stamina is the elite of the elite. Holyfield in his cruser and early HW days was throwing about 90 punches a round.

On the outside, Holyfield's jab should land first, which can set up his combinations. On the inside Frazier obviously 1 of the most cultured left hooks in boxing history. But Holyfield's uppercut is an extremely powerful counter to the left hook. And Holyfield's left hook is no joke itself.

Knowing Holyfield, he won't make this easy by boxing smart and he'll exchange and brawl with Frazier. And this would make it a real back and forth fight.

I'd favour Holyfield overall.

 

It'll be a mixture of Holyfield vs Qawi 1 and Holyfield vs Cooper except Frazier gives him even more trouble. Both will take a tremendous amount of damage on the inside throughout. I honestly think it can go either way but slightly favor Frazier to edge it out in an nonstop blood affair. This honestly would have been the Corrales vs Castillo of HW fantasy match ups.

 

The Holyfield that beat Tyson would wreck Frazier. Too strong.

 

And Holyfield from '90-'91 was even better. Super fast, like you couldn't see some of those punches he landed.

I'm surprised some people are saying Frazier was more skilled. How? It was Holyfield that had to fight off the superheavyweight bombers. Wouldn't want to see Frazier against them.

 

The older Holyfield from the Tyson fights would certainly have a better chance than the version that first won the title. He was too light in the ass.
Evander got stronger and also had changed his style to better deal with bigger men. Evander didn't throw as many punches but he sat down on his shots more. He started to fight like a heavyweight rather than a middleweight.

He learned some tricks of his trade especially on inside. Like how to tie up his opponent and walk him where he wanted him. He used his head, his shoulders to create space. Some called it dirty I think its a rough game better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

 

Agreed, however, I never got the feeling that Holyfield's headbutts were accidental. With these two I could see five or six.