Did Marvis Frazier have a chance?

It looked like Holmes was saying to Lane "Do want me to hit him again? I will I you want me to BAM (hits him again) Want me to hit him again?"

One of the worst mismatches I ever saw :-(

 

And that Marvis popped right back up to a one knee position at the count of two then rushed right back at Holmes when the fight resumed after "a hard knockdown" - what does that say about his "chin"? Regardless of if Holmes signaled for Lane to step in or not, count how many direct head punches he hit Frazier with in those last 18 seconds and yet Marvis did not go down or stop fighting. Additionally, the Holmes and Tyson losses were not the only fights in which Frazier's toughness was tested; he was floored in the 5th round during his win over Smith and was in trouble against the ropes during the 2nd round in his win over James Tillis.
Marvis Frazier did not have a "glass jaw".
Incidentally,for a very descriptive rendition of the Frazier/Holmes fight and Marvis's comments on this very issue, see the new Marvis Frazier biography, "Meet Marvis Frazier: The Story of the Son of Smokin' Joe". Thank you

 

I should clarify - I don't think Marvis Frazier has a glass jaw. For me, a "glass jaw" is someone who is repeatedly stopped by less than world class opposition, or the rare world class boxer who just has no knockout power whatsoever.

That being said, let's not pretend that a boxer who was knocked out in the first round twice and was in significant trouble in almost a quarter of his fights has a chin as an asset. That's a clear sign that it is a vulnerability. Marvis Frazier had a lot of great assets, chief among them his heart. You hit the nail on the head with that.

His chin isn't one of those assets.

 

Marvis Frazier just did not have it..............

 

Thank you, demigawd, for a very enjoyable exchange. I do think you and I are pretty close to agreeing that Marvis Frazier is a great guy and was a pretty good boxer. Do checkout his biography when you get a chance. It's available on Amazon and at his website (meetmarvisfrazier.com).
Thanks again

 

It's nice when people don't get angry and call each other names, isn't it?

Marvis is one of those guys who I wish had his career managed differently. He needed a different trainer, he needed to be brought along more deliberately. For a 21 fight career, he fought a virtual who's who of early 80s fighters. The era belonged to Tyson, but I think Marvis could have won a title, even had a couple of defences, and made more money and received more respect from fans than he did.

I'll definitely check out his bio. I've seen some interviews, and he comes across as a humble, likable guy. Great Ali impression too, btw.

 

He had a much chance as Frazier's daughter against Laila.

 

Marvis Frazier had 2 chances.
Slim and none

 

Before he got demolished by Tyson I expected him to fight Michael Spinks (Don't know if there were any negotiations for it) as after Holmes he won his next 6 fights. Does anyone think he could've given Spinks trouble.

 

... and pretty good Howard Cosell and Mike Tyson also ... Thanks!

 

They had two intense sparring sessions at Joe Frazier's gym. Could have been a great match! Thank you

 

Now THAT would have been a fight that could have played to his strengths. If they brought him along reasonably, he could have had his first title shot against Spinks after either of the Holmes fights. He would have hit his physical and mental peak right around then.

 

AGREED!:good

 

What people are neglecting to mention, is that Frazier had a good chance of making it as a BOXER or a Boxer-Puncher.

Joe Frazier amended his style to fight like a swarmer (as Joe Frazier fought), and that style simply did not suit Marvis at all.

Irrespective of his 'size', or 'lack of punch' as people like to highlight, his adopted style was all wrong for him, when he should have been fighting more as a boxer, than anything else.

So in answer to your question, yes, he did have a chance.