How dangerous is this fight, for a past best Frazier? Still good enough to take Ali to hell and back, but facing a younger, bigger, lethal hitter. Joe's last stand or amazing comeback?
Frazier should have enough to still take it by this point. Next year is when the tide turns in Cooney’s favor imo.
The battle of the left hookers. Frazier survives an early knockdown and beats up and stops Cooney late. Exciting fight but i think Cooney isn't mentally strong enough to beat Smokin Joe.
Still probably Frazier, he still had enough left at that point, the Ali 3 fight took everything left, but just before that, he was still quality. He’d hack Cooney down to the body, there’s a massive target there since Cooney used the ear muffs, but has such a longer reach, which would mean he can’t effectively block punches as well. Also, the endless stamina of Frazier would wear Cooney down, Cooney didn’t have great stamina anyway. Cooney is obviously dangerous early on, especially with the left uppercut as Frazier ducks.
Frazier as I keep saying in every thread has never really beaten a big punching KO artist so he's a bit of an unknown quantity in that regard. Frazier has a good chin but it's not granite by any means and he can be hurt and not just by Foreman either. Frazier has been decked a few times early in his career and sometimes looked vulnerable in the early rounds. Objectively you would make Frazier the favourite just because he's a greater fighter and more proven. But Cooney would tower over Frazier and he's a fast starter with alot of power to really be dangerous to Frazier early on. So whilst I'd pick Frazier it wouldn't surprise me if Cooney pulled off an upset by catching Frazier early.
1975 Frazier prior to Manila still had enough in the tank to defeat Cooney. (However, I agree that the following year after the war against Ali Joe would lose-he was done by that point.)
It is an interesting match up as Cooney was at his absolute best for Young and Norton and Frazier was faded, small and a slow starter .. if Cooney was ever capable of a semi-big moment that would have been it but I don't know ..
Fraziers kryptonite was size as he was not big compared to the new breed that was emerging in the mid 70s. He only fought two good big fighters Foreman and Ali. Ali was not powerful but still got 2 out of 3. We know what happened against Foreman. He would have been vulnerable against Shavers Lyle Holmes etc. Cooney can’t take punishment like Foreman. I believe Frazier could hurt him. But Cooney had good offensive skills and size and power over Frazier. I think he puts Frazier back on his heels and gets him on the canvas and off his game. Bad goes to worse and Cooney a flawed fighter is able to over power Frazier and stop him.
If you think Frazier loses to Cooney than he isn't an all time great. He can't be. Cooney doesn't beat greats
Yes it's one of those tipping point type fights. Joe, not his best even from a couple of years back, but still dangerous. Cooney,eager to prove himself, but he's not been in a real hard fight yet so.. I'd root for Joe and probably keep my eyes closed in the first couple of rounds.
In 1975 Frazier was past his best and he would be considerably smaller against a fighter with A level power who can badly hurt him. It's nothing to do with Frazier not being a great it's the timing of the match up and the size difference Fraizer has to overcome. Styles make fights non greats have beaten greats plenty of times. Not that I'm saying I'd make Cooney a favourite but against a 1975 Frazier and with the stylistic threat Cooney possess he's a live underdog.
A spot-on analysis, I think. And I would add that Cooney is an extremely dangerous opponent for Joe even in his best years, 1969-71. Joe liked to trade left hooks to the body, but he'd better not try that with Cooney. He could get his ribs broken the way Ron Lyle did. BAD matchup for Joe.
