There's no doubt that Joe had the better career and that his place in boxing history is firmly secured. But it difficult to surmount those kinds of physical disadvantages. It is also a fact that Frazier really only had one whay of fighting, i.e., coming forward. And while I do not believe that Vitali would have Kayoed hime (Vitali's power is enormously overrated), he probably could do enough (in his best days) to stop Joe from getting inside while he landed a barrage of punches on the outside.
This is a bit off topic, but I always saw Tyson a vastly superior, younger version of Joe Frashier. He not only hit harder than Joe with both hands and was bigger, but his movement was better. That is why a young Tyson would have absolutely murdered ALi. Okay, it's more than a bit off topic.
Wow, nostalgia in full effect here for some. Vitali crushes Frazier. I like Joe, but he is much smaller, is there to be hit, and has a very simplistic offense. Vitali has averaged as high as 80 punches a round in a fight, so he won't out work Vitali, and Vitali is more than just size, he is very skilled, albeit awkward, and has tremendous power. Sorry, but Joe gets pummeled in this one.
What are you sorry for....offering an opinion? The only thing I disagree with is that Vitali has tremendous power. In my opinion, his power is tremendously overrated. It's been several years before he really blew a guy out. I believe it was Kirk Johnson...which was what? 7 years ago. He's an accumulation guy...he does not have one punch power. Never has.
You have to remember that Frazier is the man who stood up to Ali, fought him three times in real wars. None of the klitschko´s would survive that pressure Joe would put on them. frazier wins this one. The Predator
I'll take the 206Ib 1971 version of Frazier to work his way in with great elusive head-movement, keep up the endless brutal swarming pressure to the body and stop Vitali late with his lethal left hook or at least get a clear UD. Vitali would have to knock Frazier down too many times and that just isn't happening. However Vitali probably beats the 1973 Frazier that fought Foreman, but in a much less spectacular and longer fashion.
Vitali uses his height well and has a variety of punches from either hand. He also has more than enough power to knock down Joe multiple times on the way to a TKO win. Frazier would be punching up, Vitali would be punching down.