Tyson Vs Frazier

For the record, I do NOT consider Joe Frazier as having a "glass jaw." In fact, I often think that this is an overstated misconception. I do however feel that against the very hardest of punchers, Frazier's chin might prove to be a bit shaky at least. More importantly, I think that his fighting style made him more susceptible to getting hit by the types of punches that big hitters tend to throw, ie. Uppercuts, hooks, overhand rights, etc.... Joe was very, very good at slipping punches such as the jab, right cross, and was a pain in the ass to try and counter due to all that upper body movement.. But when standing at close to midrange, he was wide open for some of the more power generating shots, and this is why I am often hesitant to pick him against some history's more effective sluggers...

 

If I recall ( and I stand to be corrected ), Smith actually picked Tyson to win the fight early.

 

I've been trying to say this. But when you say this to round15 it's underestimating Frazier, and over-weighing the Foreman fight. Was Frazier's chin so much worse for that one fight... and I just don't factor in that one fight. The answer to that question is a little, because he wasn't in peak condition. You said it though. It's a style thing too.

 

Round 15 seems like a nice a guy, and obviously a very loyal fan of Joe Frazier.

I will say however, that after having these kinds of arguments with him before, it certainly seems as though his preference is very biased. He firmly believes that Frazier was "shot" by the Foreman fight, and that if Joe had been 3 years younger, that he might have turned the tables from losing in two rounds, to winning the fight all together.. No amount of disputing him on my part has swayed his opinion on this.. Additionally, he believes that Frazier's prime began in 1966 when he hardly had 12 pro fights and few notable wins, and stops at 1970 before the FOTC, and only at the age of roughly 26...... For the life of me, I have never met anyone who shares this view. Anyone else that I've ever talked to or read about, believed that his first meeting in 1971 against Muhammad Ali was when he was at the peak of his powers. He fought Foreman maybe a year and a half later, and still only at the age of 29.

 

Overestimating the punching power of a prime Foreman in his greatest performance ever? Was Frazier's chin so much worse for that one fight ? Who do you think could have withstood those bombs if they landed ? What jibberish ...

Frazier's prime was 68 - March of 71. It is fair to say he was never again the man he was that night. Age is not relevant when you consider the style ... Frazier fought a brutal style and fought tough men from pretty early in his career ...

Foreman was a stylistic nightmare for Frazier as he would have been for Dempsey, Marciano and likely Tyson ... However there are moe than a few that feel a younger, prime Frazier might have turned the trick. Look how the older, fatter but wiser Fraizer managed to last longer in the rematch ...

 

no way joe could ever win with mike at his best

 

Did Frazier ever see a fighter he didn't think he would beat?

 

Tyson was faster, had a better chin ,more variety of punches ,two handed power and was bigger .That does it for me.

 

Tyson

 

tyson is the definition of a stylistic nightmare for Frazier. Easy Tyson win. And I rank Frazier higher than most.

 

All that is true, but it's his specialty in throwing uppercuts that will really get the job done. Look how Quarry crowded Frazier early. Tyson came out the gate in 6th gear, while Joe needed time to warm up. It's like Robinson's finish in the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.

 

way to fast and great at finding angles
1st drop Joe gets up no problem
2nd he stumbles
last knockdown he tries to get up but cant

 

29 was the age Ali was for FOTC.