Joe Frazier .vs. Mike Tyson

Pre FOTC Frazier needed exactly six punches to floor Dave Zyglewicz 12 seconds into round one. Manuel Ramos woke him up with a ripping right uppercut 55 seconds into Joe's first title defense, but before that opening round was over, only the ropes saved Ramos from a knockdown or fall out of the ring, courtesy of a Frazier hook. Ramos delivered plenty of other fine right and left uppercuts to no avail during this brief and torrid skirmish.

In his first match with Jerry Quarry, Joe launched over 65 punches in round one, a fact overshadowed by Jerry's 93 punches during that three minute tempest.

"Frazier couldn't win when forced to back up." Oh yeah? Try telling that to Ron Stander.

Joe Frazier was not the fastest of starters, but he was certainly no Duane Bobick in that department either. Yank Durham and Eddie Futch would make sure he was properly prepared for Tyson's quick opening attack.

Tyson's head movement would not protect him from Joe's bodyshots. Mike could be every bit as surprised at Frazier's underrated footwork and mobility as Stander was.

Mike psyched out a lot of his opponents. Nobody did this to Frazier, who actually got back into the ring with a prime Foreman a second time. Tyson wouldn't even enter the ring with an aged George.

Foreman used his height and reach advantages to neutralize Frazier, advantages Tyson would not have shared.

Bonavena gave Frazier 25 rounds of hell. I'm not convinced that Mike could have beaten Ringo, or even last the 15 round distance with the Argentinian.

Young George Foreman was one of a kind, against a past prime Frazier.

Ellis, a vastly underestimated puncher, started off very fast in his 1970 title unification bout with Joe, but to no avail, even with 209 pounds behind those winging right hands of his.

Joe Frazier KO 11 Mike Tyson

 

I watched frazier vs ali 1 the other week and frazier is RELENTLESS!

A lot of Tyson's opponents were already beaten before they got to the ring
by the fear factor

Joe wouldn't be

prime frazier vs prime tyson FRAZIER BY UD

 

Ron Stander - what a joke - he aint no Tyson. Foreman was slow and ponderous incomparison with Tyson.

 

Foreman destroyed Frazier because of Foreman's size. Tyson wouldn't have that advantage..

I would rate Frazier vs Tyson about even. If Tyson gets early and it might very well happen then Tyson wins. Maybe first round or two.

If Frazier is able to push it to the latter rounds then Frazier wins.

 

I agree with this but it's true the other way around too. Joe's head movement isn't going to protect him from Tyson's punches either. I actually have a hard time saying that myself seeing how well Joe slipped Ali's punches (whose hands were faster than Tyson's). However, Ali & Tyson were different kind of punchers whose punches had different aims / effects / strategy.

Tyson's "reliance" on this is grossly exaggerated. Even if you weren't afraid of Tyson and "punched back" - chances are you'd get beaten. Holy & Douglas did a lot more than just "not be afraid and fight back". A lot more! They outaneuvered Tyson. Only people to do it (Lewis fight doesn't really count). Razor Ruddock wasn't afraid of Tyson and punched back but he was dominated in one sided fights. Before you discount Razor, he did have good recuperative powers and a big punch for 12 rounds.

I'm not 100% convinced of reasons why Tyson avoided George. True, Tyson defnitely knew (and was right) that an old Foreman was bad news. But I honestly don't think that was the only reason. In Tyson's case, it was a lose - lose situation with a big risk. You can't blame the guy if he avoided it - he had nothing to win. Additionally, this has NO relevance to Tyson vs Frazier. It would be relevant on Foreman vs Tyson however. The thing is, Tyson is not 100% rational. Some of his actions & thinking cannot be explained with 100% calculated rationale. For example, why did Tyson *let* himself get backed up by McNeeley? There's no rational reason. You can just call it whim. Tyson had some fear for Foreman but who wouldn't? I don't think that is a sole, "conclusive" reason. There's an irrational, whimsical aspect to it too.

True. But it doesn't nullify the fact that Frazier didn't have the style of fighters known to beat Tyson. Frazier fought very differently from Douglas & Holy. One was a brawler whereas the other two were boxers. Big difference here!

Complete nonsense. It'd be a re-run of Tyson vs Ruddock. Tyson is a far more accomplished and proven fighter than Ringo. Smart money (and this is a rare instance), is on Tyson here in a big fight. Ringo hasn't proven himself enough to say Tyson couldn't "last with him". Let's not overrate the 70s journeyman fighters. I know Ringo was a good fighter but this is vs Mike Tyson we're talking not some other journeyman. Tyson may not be a top 5 ATG or even a top 10 but he is an ATG nevertheless. Ringo is not. Don't forget that.

ABSOLUTELY! This is why people need to understand that Frazier vs Foreman is relevant to one and only one fight: Frazier vs Foreman. Tyson is not goind to do the same thing as Foreman. Not even close.

Completely irrelevant. Tyson brings something different to the table then these two journeymen. You may say the other way around too (Frazier is far superior to anyone Tyson ever beat) but Frazier doesn't bring something all too different in terms of style - he just brings a LOT more of it (a mile deep) in terms of heart, conditioning, etc.

I could see that. It's a fair prediction although I'd be tempted to edit that to a "TKO".

 

Joe Frazier's forward motion would plague Tyson's positioning. With a skip and jump to the side, Tyson would find the angles then remember his numeric-combo drills in the gym. Against the power-wary, retreating target this was ideal, but we're talking about Joe Frazier.

Frazier's style does not lend for Tyson to piece together his weapon of choice, and he needed that little pause of composure before commitment, as do many punchers.

Now Frazier will be forced to cop some huge digs, but that's not the end of the world because he was all heart - he'd still be getting knocked down by Foreman if they had not stopped the fight. It was those long arms and that merciless pushing that ensured Frazier's demise. Frazier would eat into Tyson's lack of game in that department and turn the proposed demolition into a battle of intestinal fortitude...and when Frazier began to cool Mike down he would soldier onto victory by way of late stoppage.

 

Frazier would frustrate Tyson and then Tyson would bite a little piece of Frazier's ear.

 

I agree, people don't realize what kind of fighter Bonavena was. He took Ali the distance winning more than a couple of rounds and almost finished that fight on his feet if the ref didn't let Ali hover over him after he kept getting up.

I think Tyson has the potential to KO Bonavena in the middle rounds with his power and fast hands, but I highly doubt that it would be a cakewalk for Tyson as most would imply. Bonavena was a tough contender that could take a shot and dish out punishment as well.