Yeah that quote is as odds with the one from the first article you posted where Frazier supposedly admits to avoiding Frazier. “I probably would have beaten him but I wouldn’t have been able to deal with the pain on the way to winning.” At least one of them is telling lies. Likely both of them.
During Joe Frazier's reign, Earnie was knocked out by Ron Stander in five. And Earnie's best win during Frazier's reign was a decision over Vicente Rondon, a light heavyweight, by decision, and Vicente was coming off back-to-back KO in 2 losses to Bob Foster and Ron Lyle. Earnie wasn't ranked at all during Frazier's reign, and didn't pop up until Frazier had already lost the title. I've always liked both guys. But Earnie lost to everyone. He wasn't winning against Joe.
It would be hard to pick against Joe Frazier of March 8 1971. That edition of Joe was a runaway locomotive that ran over anyone that stood in his way. Sure he was destroyed by George Foreman on Jan 22 1973, but the 1971 Frazier had not suffered any physical damage that was inflicted on him by a rusty Muhammad Ali, (18 rounds in 43 months). Frazier was completely psyched out for The Fight Of The Century, he had a lot to prove to shake off the shadow of Ali. 1971 comes charging out, bobbing and weaving against Earnie Shavers, just as Jerry Quarry did in Dec 1973, bombarding a power punching Shavers, robbing him of his enormous punching power, connecting with that dedly left hook. Joe takes out Earnie by TKO 5. Against Ron Lyle, Frazier would have to suffocate Ron in the corner, landing heavy artillery body punches while being a bit more careful of Lyle's bombarding right hands. Frazier by TKO 9, much the same way that he stopped Big Buster Mathis on March 4 1968.
Joe Frazier would knock out Shavers and Lyle. I think Lyle would be a tougher fight. He had some boxing skills and he could probably hold off Smoke for awhile. Eventually Joe would grind Ron down into a fine powder. Shavers gets blasted out inside 3.
Both men have puncher's chances, and Lyle has a better chance of winning. Lyle's gone in 9, Shavers in 3 at the very outside.
