I think Fraziers chin gets underrated to a certain degree on these forums. Also, Willard barely ever moved his head, but Frazier would constantly bob and weave. Also, Frazier had excellent stamina and most likely wouldnt tire out. Also, Foreman is a bigger puncher than Jack and the comparison to Jack and Foreman isnt really a fair one because Fraziers style was made for George's.
I pick Dempsey because I just can't see Frazier surviving his early onslaught. Foreman never saw the day that he could finish like Jack Dempsey.
Truly a pick 'em fight for me. Both men equally capable of hurting the other and both went the distance or longer than would be expected against certain opposition. Obviously Frazier's best chance would be to grind out a decision or late stoppage, which is very probable. Dempsey's best chance is to bomb early and finish Frazier. I also believe, in contrast to many other respected posters, that Frazier could drop Dempsey, however early, and not let him back in the fight (meaning not neccissarliy finish him then, but not let him back in the fight until a stoppage). Dempsey has the distinction of being in third place in the line of HW champions who were dropped the most times in the ring. Preceeded by Louis (2) and Patterson (1). I could see a decision either way, or more likely, a brutal fight as long as it lasted until a stoppage or KO.
Dempsey would win by a third round TKO. Dempsey was powerful in-fighter with freakish power in both hands. I see Frazier starting fairly slow, but moving forward, while Dempsey comes out like a ****ing wild man. Frazier couldn't stand up to Foreman, and while Dempsey did not hit as hard as Foreman he did hit far more often and with knockout power. Further, if Frazier does knock Dempsey down early he's ruined his chance. Watching the Firpo fight, its in the second round that Dempsey becomes even more terrifying. I remember from somewhere that his brother told reporters after the Willard fight that they had yet to see Dempsey truly fight because he wasn't knocked down during the fight.
Frazier. He looks better on film, and proved he could beat a higher class of fighter than Dempsey. I think he gets the stoppage inside 10 rounds at his peak.
Dempsey could knock him out early or late, but I'd bet on early. Joe just gets hit too much to last 15 against the level of puncher and finisher Dempsey is, even with his warrior's heart. It'd be a hell of a fight if it makes it past the first few rounds, but putting a slow starter in against arguably the best early-round KO artist of all the heavyweight champions is a big factor in my choice.
Dempsey never lost to any come forward fighter. In a head to head 6 inch hitting match, i'd probably favor him over any HW with a couple exceptions.
I hold Bert's opinions in the highest regard of any poster here, but respectfully disagree. Frazier and only Frazier could beat Dempsey in a close-quarters fight. Close but unanimous decision over 15. I agree with Bert on all other accounts re: Ali, Louis, etc. I also think Walcott would have given him absolute fits and probably outpointed the Mauler.
He looked quite a bit in trouble against the crude Firpo. Frazier was in trouble against Bonavena, but Bonavena was better. Honestly, Dempsey mostly fight boxer types. What great forward moving fighter did he beat?
Bonavena was not beter than Firpo, and he blew fight after he had Frazier down twice and backed off. Dempsey hit harder with either hand, took better punch, and moved better around ring when he wanted to.
Based on what? Firpo beating a decrypt Jess Williard? He couldn't even beat an old Willis. Bonavena lost a SD against a top 10 HW in Joe Frazier. And gave Ali one of his toughest fights up until that point in his career, if not the toughest. Not to mention his wins over Folley, Mildenberger, and Chuvalo. There's little evidence to suggest Dempsey took a better punch. Foreman had Frazier bouncing around like a basketball, but Frazier got up every single time from a man that punched with freakish power. Flynn had Dempsey on the canvas for 20 seconds. Dempsey's going to need to be doing a whole lot of moving against Frazier. Except the ring won't be big enough, and Dempsey isn't capable of boxing on the move with his jab. Frazier will win the fight in close quarters with his body-attack, strength, size, lower center of gravity and shorter arms.
Talk about a matchmakers' dream fight. This would certainly be one of the greatest HW battles of all time. Non stop action from the opening bell. One thing is certain...This fight does not go the distance. A knockout is the only way this fight ends. Both men would be on a search and destroy mission. Dempsey liked to end things as quickly as possible so he would be on Joe from the start. Frazier too liked to get close to his man and grind him down as he was an attrition fighter as well. No breathing room here! It's 50/50 in this one. The way I see it is this...If Frazier can survive Jack's early onslaught, then I think he'll grind him down to a late round stoppage. But for the 1st few rounds he'll be in the danger zone. Again that's if he can survive. I can't help but think of the film of Dempsey/Firpo. Actually it's now 60/40 in favor of Jack.
Ted Spoon refutes the common contagion that Jack Dempsey gets winded when the fight passes the halfway mark. Frazier is really up against it with Dempsey's early assault. When we refer back to Ali generously thumping Joe in rounds 1-5 of 'Super-fight' the thought of the trigger-happy Mauler getting friendly with his two-handed attack paints an ugly picture. Frazier would do very well to make it out of this one early, but if he does he is not automatically on some path to redemption. Dempsey was not some bully who became heavy with fatigue and disbelief. If Frazier survives Dempsey's early rush then he has to deal with Dempsey for the rest of the fight; and that means dealing with a fast, powerful, durable fighter every bit as inaugurated in trench warfare as 'Smokin Joe'.
This is a tough quick fought fight and I would be surprised if it went longer than 8rds Dempsey had quick heavy hands and Frazier had the hook, I lean towards Dempsey here but would would not rule a FOTC Frazier to win. The version of Frazier that lost to Foreman and Ali in subsequent battles would lose to a prime Dempsey
I have to go with a prime Jack Dempsey over any version of the GREAT Joe Frazier in a bout of pit bulls. Why ?, Because contrary to some posters Jack Dempsey above the waist was as big as most 215 pounders. He had great deltoid muscular structure, thus accounting for his great two handed destructive in-close power. Frazier needed more punching room for his left-hook to land effectively than Dempsey's two handed blasts from six-inch distance. Folks, just watch the one-two punch he flattened big Luis Angel Firpo in the second round of their famous bout in 1923 ! The punches were thrown so fast that the camera can hardly record it. A BLURR. Also even after his 3 year layoff, though his legs were gone, Dempsey finally caught up with Tunney,and struck Gene with a 6-7 punch barrage right on target, that even in slow motion these blows seem fast. So I think that Dempsey with his much faster hands get's inside Frazier and ko's Joe who I saw whipping Ali, and admire enormously. As I have posted prior , Dempsey when in his prime was a bigger, and earlier edition of Roberto Duran ,in their fast and natural punching destruction.