Great fight, but I honestly think Frazier would be a little to aggressive for his own good. He didn't mind a fire fight and I think he'd feel like he had something to prove here. I see him running into a huge right hand, and it would be downhill from there imo
The idea that Marciano was more powerful than Frazier may be a mistaken assumption. They both could get you out of there but it also depends on who their hitting. The same punches that took out Ezzard Charles wouldn't take out Muhammad Ali. We have those Ali/Frazier fights burned into our brains as boxing fans but remember Joe Frazier hit Ali with punches that would knock out almost anyone. Ali was almost supernatural with his ability to take punishment to the body as well as the head. Ali stated that Joe had him out on his feet at times in all their fights including the second one. Ali had a great ability to recover and survive those moments. Frazier did hit George Foreman with a couple of decent shots in their fight and couldn't move him but then again Rock didn't face anyone like Big George. Would Don Cockell go 9 rounds with Joe Frazier? Does LaStarza go 10+? Late 30s version of Archie Moore goes 9? Not saying Rocky couldn't punch but it may be something to think about.
Frazier never stopped or even knocked down any professional opponent with his right hand. All he had was that hook. Huge huge disability entering a fight with an ATG fighter who had ko power in both fists.
What disadvantage? Frazier could spit on Harry Kid Mathews and knock him down. That is my point. Joe was always a two handed fighter. Frazier`s right hand was a solid punch and it was part of his arsenal but basically to set up his left. It was effective.
Wrong. He had little coordination between his left and right side. He leaned upon his left hook 90% of the time. He is the definition of a one armed fighter. Marciano knocked them out with both fists. Nobody called Marciano a one armed hwt.
Frazier looked legendary in his fights with Ali. Outside of those fights he looked about half of that. Lacked consistency.
I think Marciano was a better inside fighter and has a higher boxing IQ. A Frazier win is certainly possible but I think Marciano could survive tougher moments better than Frazier. One of the all-time great fantasy fights.
He look astonishing against Foster. I'd say this is his best performance outside Ali, and he looks brilliant.
As to the thread, if i'm making a pick where two fighters are of a similar class and one is both bigger and faster, I almost always pick that guy. When the two fighters have very similar styles, the difference can be magnified. I'd feel very relaxed about picking Frazier here for that reason.
Against ATG talent significant defects are exploited upon. Frazier lacking coordination between his left and right side vs a man with two fisted power and coordination does not bode well for Frazier.
I'd narrowly favor Frazier for reasons stated previously by some. He has probably the greatest left hook ever (not hardest, greatest) and an underrated right hand to the body. He also has the size here and keeps smokin' late. Rocky has some underrated skills and hits hard with every punch he ever puts out there. Both have the heart of a lion. Each would be unlike the other had ever faced. Points to Frazier having master strategist Eddie Futch in his corner too.
I'd add the Ellis 1 and Quarry 1 fights to that list as well. He gave up the first rounds in both fights but those aside he dominated and in the case of Ellis brutalized, two very good fighters at close to their absolute peaks. Frazier's aggression, accuracy, pressure, inside and outside game and power were absolutely elite in these fights. Frazier from 69-71 was one of the most formidable heavyweights you would see in my view. It was only a small window but Frazier during this specific time was literally as good as it gets.
If an offense relies 90% of the time upon one very specific punch great fighters in their prime have a way of nullifying its performance. That's especially true of a left hook.
