The hall of fame heavyweights who fought their most significant matches in the 1970's were Ali, Foreman, Frazier and Norton. Of the four, their ring records vs each other read: Ali 5-2*, should be 4-3 if you give Norton the 3rd fight vs Ali Foreman 2-1 Norton 1-3*, should be 2-2 if you give Norton the 3rd fight vs Ali Frazier 1-4. Norton and Frazier never fought each other. Outside of that, all the matches were made between the best four heavyweights of the decade! In my opinion, the best contenders after the hall of fame heavyweights of the 1970's were Lyle, Quarry, Young, and Shavers. Since Ali fought all four of them, we know his record was 4-0. So overall Ali is *9-2, or *8-3. Very impressive. No doubt Ali is the best in his era. But how would Foreman, Norton, and Frazier do vs the best of the rest when the best of the rest was ranked in the top ten? We know Foreman was 1-1 vs Lyle, and Young…Not great. Norton was 2-1 vs Young, Quarry, and Shavers...Pretty good Frazier was 2-0 vs Quarry...good, but not much only vs one person. That said there were quite a few matches that were never made! This content is protected ( 3-2 vs the above fighters ) vs Shavers and Quarry. This content is protected ( 3-4 or 4-3 vs the above fighters ) vs Lyle. This content is protected ( 3-4 vs above fighters ) vs Lyle, Young, and Shavers. Do you see the HOF fighters losing any matches of the ones that were not made? Who ( Foreman, Norton, or Frazier ) has the greatest chance of losing a match? I'm thinking of the six matches that were never made, there will be at least TWO upsets.
"Foreman ( 3-2 vs the above fighters ) vs Shavers and Quarry. Norton ( 3-4 or 4-3 vs the above fighters ) vs Lyle. Frazier ( 3-4 vs above fighters ) vs Lyle, Young, and Shavers" Foreman punches out both Shavers & Quarry, though he might go down once against Shavers. Quarry too small, can be cut. Norton would box carefully against Lyle and win a decision Prime Frazier could lose early against Shavers, but probably stops him late. Joe outguts Lyle in a UD, but could lose a SD to Young if the he didn't get inside enough.
Foreman beats both Shavers and Quarry. Quarry would be the tougher challenge, IMO, but Foreman might have to be pick himself up off of the canvas against Shavers. Frazier vs Shavers and Lyle is quite open. He never beat a puncher of their calibre. I would favour him against both, but not with great certainity. Could well lose one of them. He walks right through Young, though. Young has nothing to keep Joe off with and you can't slip and duck when a guy is on your chest. Young goes the same way Ellis did. Have to favour Lyle over Norton. Norton's record against punchers is just too bad. Would favour Frazier over him as well. Both would press him back, and he wasn't at his best on the back foot.
In the 1970's, here's my rough guess on how the Hall of fame fighter would do. Foreman 70/30 vs Shavers, and 75/25 vs Quarry Norton 60/40 vs Lyle Frazier 50/50 vs Lyle, 90/10 vs Young, and 60/40 vs Shavers. Of the three, I think Frazier is the most likely to have a loss.
Norton has the biggest chance of losing to Lyle, but I don't see Lyle bombing Ken out like others have.Ron would have to win by a close decision.
