Holyfield vs. Frazier

You're probably right Pat, testing was a joke back then.

 

Or it could be it just didn't happen. Where there's smoke, theirs usually a fire, but where's the smoke here? No rumors? No investigative newspaper or magazine stories? No Dr's or trainers coming clean? No corner men or hanger around the gym types telling the story?
If more than 1 person was involved someone would've wanted to tell the story by now. ( Look at America Football and all the stories of steroid abuse from the late 60s through the early 90's) Someone would've come clean by now. Especially if the fighter was well known. Its just human nature.

 

Holyfield early in his heavyweight career could've defeated Frazier IF he could fight a disciplined fight for its entirety.
But what we have too go on is what Holyfield would do based on what he did during his career, not what he was capable of doing.
The minute Frazier landed his 1st left hook, Holyfield would set his feet, and go into brawler mode. He would answer the fire with his own.
This is where he'd lose the fight. He'd go away from using his foot speed and giving angles to meeting the challenge in the trenches.
Holyfield didn't hit as hard as Ali , or his jab wasn't as fast yet Ali couldn't keep Frazier off of him when he became stationary.
Holyfield wouldn't be able to do this either.
Frazier also was better defensively than given credit for. ( Think about how many punches Ali missed while Frazier was directly in front of him)
Frazier's relentless pressure, and Holyfields willingness to meet it head on would turn into the fight of the year ( Century?) But Frazier would began to dominate the last 5-6 rds of the fight. Frazier could also get a couple knock downs of Holyfield , but I don’t believe he stops him.... Frazier by UD.

 

Ali was never a big puncher, so Holyfield could more than match him.

 

Yet he hurt multiple durable men like Foreman, Liston, Bonavena, Frazier, Quarry and others.

 

This is a very good post!

While it is possible anyone used anything, there is also no remotely suspicious gain of muscle.
Guys indulged in the previously frowned upon weightlifting & steroids more in the 1980's.

 

I really appreciate it that you said Norton had a good chin. Nearly everbody I talk to says Norton couldn't take a punch.

 

Foreman punched himself out. Anyone could have taken him out by that point.
Liston took a dive.
Bonavena was not a great boxer.
Ali never hurt Frazier with 1 punch, it was an accumulation of countless punches that did the job.
Quarry wasn't a proper HW size wise.

Anyone who knows boxing will tell you Ali wasn't a big puncher. It's more than safe to say that Holyfield could match him in terms of punching power.

 

True, Ali probably had the best endurance to body punches.

True, Holyfield probably didn't have the same body endurance to punches, but his chin was probably better than Ali's.

He didn't really eat up Ali. It's true Frazier beat him in the end, but it was a close match.

 

Based on what? Ali fought a much better roster of Punchers, and was hurt far less often.

 

Holyfield could hit. His best punch being his hook. Ali had more height and range than Evander. Ali's game was that good, fast jab followed by the laser like right hand. Ali could pepper a guy with both hands but he really didnt want to fight in the trenches. He could do it because of who he was.
Holyfield would welcome trench warfare. He had quickness of his own and he would tag Frazier plenty. He would put Joe on his a$$. Joe wouldn't stay down for long. It would be must see tv. The success Evander has early in the fight may not be the Real Deal. It could be fool's gold. Once he goes in there he's not gonna be able to switch back to boxing.
I see Frazier slowly but clearly getting the better of it as the rounds go by. IDK how Holyfield endures those body punches over and over again. Ali was inhuman the way he could absorb punishment to the body. That was with him doing more than its share of holding.
Evander is not going to hold and he's not going to win.

 

He hit them so fast they didn't see the shots coming,and therefore they were more affected by them.Ali's power is underated ,but I think Holyfield maybe hit a bit harder.

 

You might want to read it again.