Two of the greatest heavyweights of all time, one of whom happens to be rated as the GOAT by most sensible people and who incidentally lost to Frazier... Not the ref.. And certainly not a guy who doesn't even make top 30.
Douglas would be facing a guy who got stronger and better as the fight progressed - after 5 or 6 rounds Frazier would be hitting him with left hooks at will after Douglas is immobilised by Frazier's body attack. I believe that Douglas had one special night but mental strength/styles is VERY important. Douglas was mentally strong that night and just focused on the boxing he was not intimidated by Tyson. James Tillis outboxed Tyson at stages a few years earlier and went the diatance and showed no fear of Tyson but Douglas had the talent to surpass James Tillis. Frazier would be a much more focused opponent and he had the stamina to beat Ali in rounds 11-15 so I can see him doing the same to Douglas. I see Douglas-Frazier as similar to Jimmy Ellis - Frazier even though Douglas has height that would possibly make him even more vunerable to the left hook. Also so what if Frazier has a tendency to swell? Does that mean he's losing the fight? Do judges use swelling as a criteria when judging rounds?
Why would the extra height make him more vulnerable to the left hook? Judges don't use swelling as a criteria ,but referees do when deciding to stop a fight.
Douglas showed plenty of determination in Tokyo because he wasn't getting hit very often, I feel his heart would fade after a constant pounding from arguably the greatest heavyweight pressure fighter of all time.
I think Jimmy Ellis and Ali looked vulnerable to Fraziers left hook - im not saying an opponents height would make the hook more potent but Douglas wasn't much taller than those two so I see no problem in Frazier connecting with the hook. Frazier was only ever stopped once due to swelling - in the Thrilla in Manilla and thats because his corner pulled him out. Some boxers are more prone to swelling than others, its not a sign of how many punches they have been hit with. Incidentally Frazier did not have a weak chin - aside from the two Foreman fights he was dropped only twice throughout his whole career. They both occured in the 2nd round against Oscar Bonevena in 1966.
Good point and Frazier got up to stop Bruce in the third round Also I keep hearing that buster's height and reach would be too much for him yet Buster was 6ft 3 1/2 inches and had a reach of 83inch Frazier beat Joe Bugner who was 6ft 4inch and had a reach of 82inch
We are talking prime Frazier at his best. That Frazier would knock out Douglas within 12 rounds. At his best he was a wrecking machine. Quick left hook to body and head. Great head movement and not an easy target at all. It's competitive early but after 6 rounds it's all Frazier.
Ali was only ring rusty after he got his ass kicked. If he had won the fight you wouldn`t have heard a word about it.
Bugner was not as good as Douglas , neither as fast, or as mobile and his work rate was not on the same level. Bugner was passive against Frazier , it was only a fight because Frazier forced him to engage to save himself from a stoppage . Douglas took the fight to Tyson and punished him as he came in with quick one twos, controlling the fight at distance with his jab. Bruce had been stopped in one round in his previous fight by Don Koontz.He would be stopped 16 times in his career so no kudos for beating him.:-(
Yes he did I didn't phrase it so well. Bugner was aggressive in the first 2 rounds, but reverted to type after that, boxing on the retreat behind his jab. Sensible tactics since he couldn't match Frazier's firepower. My point is Frazier made Bugner fight . Bugner found Frazier easy to hit ,but not easy to discourage. I feel Douglas was better than Bugner ,with more oomph in his shots. But I haven't picked a winner.
Bugner vs Douglas is a pretty even match on their average performances , Douglas seemed to shut down in some fights and give it away . Bugner would simply to seem well not interested in throwing enough punches to actually win at times . Tokyo Douglas had that bit extra that night to keep his focus and that version beats bugner .
Are you blind, daft, or both? Look at his face after the Bugner fight, or the Bonavena fight. Even Mathis, Quarry, and Ellis 2 busted him up. I don't care less about fanboyism, I, like everyone else, saw what Douglas did to a fighter that destroys ANY version of Frazier in no time at all, and on that basis will stick with the reality, that Frazier has 2 chances, a dog's, and none.