Joe Frazier vs Harry Wills/Sam Langford/Jack Johson

Taking each match in turn:

Frazier vs Johnson
From a technical standpoint Johnson is on a different plane to Frazier but stylisticaly Frazier is arguably his nemesis. Johnsons only career loss anywhere close to his prime came against Marvin Hart, a pressure fighter who apears to have been similar to Frazier in many respects. We can argue about the validity of the decision but even by the most charitable interpretation for Johnson it was a close fight.

On the other hand it must be noted that Johnson was extremely effective at neutralising offensive fighters including pressure fighters. Those that failed to press the fight with suficient vigour were always dominated. My hunch is that Frazier would press the fight suficiently to throw Johnson off his rythm and win the day. In a series of three they probaly loose one apeice.

Frazier vs Langford
Superficialy this pair might apear to have stylistic similarities but in terms of how they aproached a fight they were poles apart. While Frazier was an all out pressure fighter Langford was a counterpuncher who made tactical use of pressure when it served his purpouse. While Frazier broke his oponents down with an acumulation of punches, Langford was a blink and you will miss it type finisher. While Frazier only had a forward gear Langford had many others.

I would favour Langford to win this fight because I think that he would find ways to make Fraziers style work against him. Langford would start by circling his oponent, wait for Frazier to come in and then counter him with deadly effect. Frazier would force the fight and the fireworks would fly but Langford would be a little bit more smart and measured and would start to break Frazier down. The fight would probably end with either a TKO win for Langford or a decision win. In a series of three Frazier would likley take one.

Frazier vs Wills
This one is quite hard to call. Wills seems to have been verry adept at neutralising pressure fighters based on his series with Langford and McVea. He also seems to have been an under-rated puncher who might have punished Frazier coming in. On the other hand it is not entirely clear from what we know that these characteristics translate into those required to beat a pressure fighter of Frazier's intensity. It might be smart to leave this one open except to suggest that in a series of three they would probably both win one.

Frazier vs McVea (bonus ball)
I thought that this might be an interesting one to throw in. Superficialy this pair look similar. They are both 5' 11'' with murderous left hooks. In terms of aproach they are verry different. While Frazier forced the fight McVea thended to hold his distance and counterpunch, even backing up somtimes. Despite this less agressive approach MCve employed a bob and weave defence not disimilar to Frazier. McVea was much less intensive in his workrate but was probably the heavier handed of the pair. While they are the same height McVea had a 78'' wingspan giving him a 5'' reach advantage over Frazier.

So what am I getting at?

McVea might have been a stylistic nightmare for Frazier in many ways. While I am not saying that he would beat him it would certainly be interesting to see how it might unfold.

 

Best guess

Frazier is 2-1 vs. Wills
Frazier is 1-2 vs Langford
Frazier is 2-1 vs. Johnson.

Total 5-4.

 

He knocks out Langford, maybe early, Frazier would treat Langford like a rag doll and I doubt Sam takes Fraziers power, Wills poses a few problems but Frazier swarms him and breaks him down, Johnson is the toughest fight but he doesnt work at a high enough intensity or hit hard enough to keep Frazier off him. Wills/Johnson are Ali types but nowhere near as good

LMAO at these idiots picking the midget to beat Frazier

Frazier 3-0 and possibly 3 KOs

 

Langford had an all time chin. Look at his matches with Mcvey, Wills, and others. I think Langford had a stretch of 100+ fight with no stoppages. I'm too lazy too look it up and count now, but for sure his chin was a good one.

Frazier wasn't a one or two punch guy for the most part, he wore guys down with determination, stamina, and a never ending hook.

Not only was Langford more durable than Frazier, he was stronger, and perhaps even hit harder.

 

Great match ups ...

Frazier outworks Johnson . While Jack excelled against Frazier types there was only one Frazier and I feel he would outwork Jack. The ref seklection would have a huge impact.

Langford by KO ... bad match up for Joe.

Frazier by decision over Wills ...

 

That is about how I would call it.

 

Bollox he never faced a puncher in the league of Frazier let alone a Foreman who would have poleaxed him. And he never faced anyone as strong/fast relentless as Frazier.

I bet you lot would all pick Spinks over Tyson if the Jinx fought in the early 1900s

 

Tell us how Foreman/Liston/Frazier/Holmes aren't in the league of Jeffries again Janitor (and yes you said that)

 

I sid that some people would argue that.

Tracy Callis obviously thinks this for example.

 

Langford alomst certainly met oponents who were stronger and harder hitting than Frazier.

It is not beyond the realms of reason that some of his oponents might have hit harder than Foreman.

 

None of those men have enough to hold off Smoking Joe...Frazier's pressure get to all of them by KO< I think Wills would be earlier than Johnson and Langford would go out on his sheild in a battle of the wills

 

Hmmmm..... I'm just too much of a Jack Johnson jocksniffer to go against the dude from Texas........

Even though the script bites the rod in "The Great White Hope" from '70 with James Earl Jones, I still love and watch the flick / video at least 2X a year over a beer or two in certain evenings........ Hollywood NEEDS to refresh that story with a new movie.......

MR.BILL

 

I agree hat hollywood should revisit that story but I would like to see a less fictionalised version.

The protagonist should be called Jack Johnson and the film should plumb the darkest depths of the story.

 

And Frazier cops a bum rap yet again.