Joe Frazier would have nightmares: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/...ifYqIOOa8EU3sKzkEl6NePxSykUyFYi3DbWZW8_FYdeIt
The amount of revisionist history disrespect toward Baer is is atrocious Some posters here practically compare him to the neighborhood palooka. Absurd
Dempsey practically had to drag him out to face Louis. If we had the power to make this fight actually happen you would get quiet, log off real quick right before the bell rang.
Is it revisionism? At what point in time was Max considered a head to head great? Baer was a world heavyweight champion but he won that title from Primo Carnera. Frazier beat Ali. This isn't revisionism. It's just facts. Prime Frazier runs through Baer without a problem. It would be a one-sided beatdown. There's no reason to believe otherwise. If power determined everything, Shavers would be one of the greatest head to head fighters that ever lived.
Max had a broken hand, he felt he had no chance. After, he shattered it at the end of the second round, at the bell ,after a vicious combination on Louis, he never stood a chance. Had Max not broken his hand in that fight, I believe he may have won.
Max Baer was Foreman esque in size and power, he pushed people all over the ring. I see him doing the same thing to Joe. It will be a great fight because Joe keeps coming in, but Max is going to hammer him a lot. I think Frazier gets bullied , much like Foreman bullied him. I previous poster mentioned that Max telegraphed his punches and the Joe would pick up on it on start to hammer him. I think this is true as well. But , Max will hammer Joe as well. More I think about it , the more I wish this fight could have happened.
Baer was obviously a strong man who had big right hand power and a good chin. Can someone tell me any other attributes he possessed? I'm prepared to be schooled on this, because I just don't see any. A jab? A feint? Subtle footwork? Punch variety? Apart from the odd burst of 2 handed aggression not much. Apart from getting lucky with a haymaker I don't think he has a chance against Joe Frazier. Joe is too relentless and persistent for Baer, who's output is to say the least pretty conservative.
Max wasn't much. Was he ever even the best heavyweight around? I ask because I know that Frazier was the best for half a dozen years.
After he had beaten Schmeling and Carnera back to back, you would have been on very safe ground saying that he was the best heavyweight in the world! There were those saying that he was a potential great, and that he would be champion for a long time.
Kind of exaggerating his right imo. Doesn’t look that telegraphed to me and he actually gets it out there rather quickly. His defense on the other hand is terrible. I take Frazier in this but Max often is under rated imo
He had underrated ability to create opportunities. He had more than an overhead right. He was lethal body puncher, he was very strong and could push you around (he even did that with Louis once). His punch variety is not bad either. His defense isn't good, which could cost him clear decision loss. Frazier was better than him, but he's not without any chances here. You can't beat Schmeling (arguably better fighter than Frazier) only with good right and a chin. Also, Frazier is not Joe Louis. He wouldn't stop Maxie, at least not with legit KO.
