If Joe Frazier had entered the 1967 WBA Tournament how would he have fared?

In Ali's absence Joe was the man no doubt- But I think he may have been too green.

 

By '67 Frazier was entering his prime as a fighter. Patterson would of had no chance. He may not go out in the 1st round like Liston did to him but it probably doesn't go 5.

 

Joe would have emerged the winner of the tournament. His victory over George Chuvalo via 4th round TKO in July, 1967 served notice that he was the man. It was that victory that propelled him to Ring Magazine's No. 1 contender position which he held until he won the undisputed title in 1970 over Jimmy Ellis. In hindsight, of those who did take part in the tourney, a good case could be made that Patterson was the best fighter in it. His decision losses to Jerry Quarry and Jimmy Ellis were unpopular calls and many felt that those could just as easily have been called for Patterson.

I, too, would have found a Frazier-Patterson fight interesting. While I believe Joe would have won in 1967 and any time thereafter, it would nevertheless be an interesting matchup in styles. Someone a while back mentioned that Patterson was not that vulnerable to a left hook as to a right hand, so a fight between the two may have lasted longer than the Liston debacles. I also feel that a Frazier-Patterson title fight in 1972 would have been equally interesting. Floyd had a good year in '72, starting with a win over tough Oscar Bonavena. Joe did not have such a good year, looking off form and poorly conditioned against Daniels and Stander. While I would still pick Joe in '72, that year might have been Floyd's best chance.

 

It was Joe Frazier's manager Yank Durham's exact words when asked if he wanted Joe to fight Muhammad Ali in 1967.

 

He was developed enough to beat Patterson then.

He wasn't in his prime yet but he was rising and would've beaten Patterson via KO.

 

I like many talented posters on this thread believe that Joe Frazier would have won this tournament. He could not knock tough George Chuvalo off of his feet in July 1967, but then again, no one ever did but, Joe gave him a thorough beating to stop him in round 4. Joe would have beaten the likes of Karl Mildenberger, Leotis Martin, Thad Spencer, and would have had a tougher time with Ernie Terrell, because of his size and style. But a fight against Floyd Patterson would indeed prove interesting because of his experience and speed. Joe finally catches up to Floyd, stops him in the 6th round, Frazier is much too brutal.

 

He needed more development to beat Ali perhaps but not the rest of the field. Chuvalo was very impressed with Frazier's head movement and constant motion. George said he wasn't as easy to hit as he looked.
Eddie Futch had quit his job at the post office in Los Angeles to work with Frazier full-time. The Bonevena fight was a red flag. Joe's improvement was rapid and impressive as the rematch showed.

 

So true, in the rematch against Bonavena on Dec 10 1968, the improvement sure showed. Imagine if Joe had fought Ali before the banishment in 1967, do you think it would have been a very big mistake? I myself thought it would have been, Joe would have learned a boxing lesson but it would have slowed down his development.