Joe Frazier Circa 1971 V Larry Holmes Circa 1982

Larry Holmes didn't have the same issue as Muhammad Ali did with left hooks, but the way Ken Norton and Mike Weaver were able to walk down Holmes and give him absolute hell. Just makes me think Frazier would do one better and actually stop Holmes late on.

Frazier beat some good credible boxers like Ellis x2, Machen, Doug Jones, Mathis, etc. Maybe there not quite on Holmes's level. But i don't think Frazier really struggled against movers or boxers. He was pretty good at walking them down, infact in his prime it was only Bonavena who gave him trouble not movers or jabbers.

 

Good post mate. Tho Holmes isn't known to be susceptible to left hooks i think any "boxer" that fights Frazier, especially three times is going to get hit with oodles of them as Frazier makes an art form out of landing it. The only way to not get hit with it and hit often is to knock him out early as only Foreman could.

 

Good point about the body. Holmes had a big heart we know but Ali was from another planet when it comes to absorbing body punches. Perhaps one of the reasons Frazier's power is underrated today.
In all three Ali bouts he would have stopped most heavyweights several times with just the body assault. Joe was committed to it and set the table for the late rounds.

I know Larry Holmes would score solid punches and perhaps build a lead. I'm fairly certain Frazier comes on to wear Lawrence out and win on points with the possibility of a late stop. We saw Holmes recover from big punches on several occasions but it's another story to recover after having your body beaten over 10 or 11 rounds. That makes the best of men wilt.
I don't believe Holmes is gonna tame Joe Frazier with his jab. He could land it but no way Joe gonna pull a Tua and be content staying on the outside. Frazier is getting inside no matter what. There would be exchanges, tough exchanges. Sounds like a Joe Frazier fight.

 

Exactly .. have to take Berbick seriously there plus Norton hated Holmes' guts .. No way Ali hit harder ..

 

I love both guys but feel this particular match up over 15 may slightly favor Frazier .. Joe , one of the best P4P heavyweights ever, has become underrated .. he was a monster, a beast, one of the few fighters that match Holmes in heart .. a hell of a match up prime for prime .. by 82 Holmes was 32 and already slightly past his best .. the 71 Frazier wins in 15 ..

 

This would have been a great fight that's for sure.

 

I don’t think Holmes was prone to the left hook, Frazier’s one and only money punch. Or at least Holmes would be wary of it and game plan around it. I like Holmes in this matchup.

 

Holmes takes it. He's bigger and better at everything expect the left hook.

 

This content is protected

 

I could see Larry starting off strong early, and having a slight lead after 12, but Joe's heart was stronger and he would sweep the final 3 rounds for the close ud.

 

I don't think Larry can keep Joe off him for 45 minutes, as a matter of fact I doubt Larry can get through rounds 13-15 without serious damage. The consensus here appears to be that Holmes would build a lead early , then as was his modus operandi Frazier would start to smoke and get to Larry. That is a scenario I agree with.

 

Sorry but Larry would win a UD over Joe. Joe is not gonna hurt Larry and Larry would turn his face into poop with that jab- a jab that’s a lot better than Ali’s jab! Larry speaks highly of Joe from sparring- Larry was young and green and was basically paid to take a beating from Joe. Now throw a prime Larry in there and it’s another story. Joe would not be smokin against Larry

 

Larry by a very hard fought narrow decision