For one night only:Were Ali and Frazier of the FOTC the 2 best Heavyweights?

I wholeheartedly agree. I always place Schmeling in my top 20 heavies of all time. He is sorely underrated. Possessed not a good but a great right hand. Great power, technique, deadly accurate. Had a solid defense, great endurance, great resolve to win. His in fighting is also underrated. He often pity patted on the inside but then would blister a combination as he pulled back.
Fought 5 hall of famers at heavy defeated four of them.
1-1 Louis
1-1 Sharkey (should be 2-0)
1-0 Walker
1-0 Stribling
0-1 Baer
Had he fought Braddock as he rightfully earned he would be the first two time heavy weight champion I am sure of it.

 

Yeah, no way does Schmeling lose to Braddock IMO.

Not in 37, or anytime.

 

I respect your opinion, but I disagree.

In my opinion, Ali from late '73 (Norton II) to late '74 (Rumble in the Jungle) was much better than TFOTC Ali.

And Ali from '67 was quite a bit better than that. ^

Ali would have been even better during 69-70 if there was no layoff (real prime). ^

 

I certainly agree that Ali was better in the period you mention (September 1973-October 1974) than he was in March 1971. Just as fast,sharper,and in better condition.

 

Ali's legs weren't nearly the same and those were one of his primary resources, so no, he was not the second best HW of all time behind Frazier that night.

And Frazier wasn't the best. As an exhibition of will and doggedness it was as as good as any, but skill wise it was good but not top notch. His game plan rested after all on that he was prepared to take two, three punches to land one of his own. He managed it against Ali, since Ali wasn't a heavy puncher and punched himself tired after 4-5 rounds after losing his best years to idleness. Still it was enough for Joe never to be the same again.

That's just not good enough to beat every other HW. How would he fare against contemporary and former fighters like Louis, Liston and Foreman, who would be more than happy to trade punch for punch with Frazier? Not to mention Tyson, Bowe and Lewis?

No chance in hell that he'll beat all of those guys. Quite possibly not any of them.

 

I don't ever see how Frazier could overcome powerhouses like Joe Louis , Sonny Liston , George Foreman .

Those are stylistic nightmares for him .

Hes loses 10 out of 10 times .

I believe even Ron Lyle gets the best of Frazier .

That's no disrespect to smokin Joe . He was a True animal .

 

Good post.