Joe Frazier '70 V Mike Tyson '88

I love Frazier but Tyson is faster, superior defense, a better boxer, more versatile, better jab, better right hand, and hit harder with a seemingly better chin. Tyson within 5 or he holds of for a decision. Also Tyson would be fighting someone with the same height and reach for once, which takes away his usual big disadvantage

 

I would say the same thing about Floyd Patterson or Jack Dempsey. But as for Joe Fraizer his movement toward his opponents and his defensive style look like Tysons. They were certainly different types of fighters, but I believe you could still make the comparison if you look at how he advances toward opponents.

 

He doesn't have to push Joe around. If he was in close Tysons defensive and counter punching abilities would set Joe up in the mid rounds. People argue in favor of Foremans power, but Tyson was definitely the faster and more accurate and he catches Joe flush.

 

Tyson was at his best mid range when it comes to in fighting Frazier is a lot better then Mike who was far to easy to clinch with and hold. If the fight is fought on the inside Joe will win if its at mid range Tyson will take it.

 

No argument there.

Except Tyson would still manage to let off uppercuts in close and I think he could keep Joe at mid range.

 

You think Tyson's style differed much from Patterson's? I don't.

 

Of course, both their styles came from the old master D'Amato.... but having said that, there are significant differences between them. Tyson has much bigger one-punch KO power, he has a great right hand (uppercut, straight, hook) whereas Patterson mainly relied on the left, and of course there is the vast difference in durability between them.

Okay, several of those are as much physical factors as stylistic ones, but the reason i mention them is because they are...... kind of important.

 

Sure, there were big physical differences, but for being so physically different I think their styles were very similar. Sure, Tyson probably had a more varied arsenal, but that's more down to differences in technique than style. Make Floyd 2-3 inches shorter and 30+ lbs heavier and you more or less have Tyson.

 

Ive just logged in and now and saw this thread, whenever i see this matchup here i say the same thing. There is the doubt of the mental strength of Tyson up against a fighter of this style, mentality and level. But provided Tyson will be ok in that area, i see it for Tyson everytime. These are a different type of fighter, one is a pressure fighting swarmer who relies heavily on his great, naturally swinging left hook. The other is a rare breed in that he at times is somewhat of a sharp-shooting combo hitter who looks for and has an eye for the perfect blow rather than smothering. Tyson doesnt just have two great hands, his co-ordination in terms of his combos is brilliant. Both are immensely strong, Frazier stronger by my reckoning, as his style relied more on strength than did Mikes also. Tyson does have a better chin imo, but its not a major factoer here as both are devastating hitters. Anyway, Mike's skillset is brilliant, he's technically more eficient, his footwork is spot on and his defence is good, Frazier in his peak was great at dodging shots, this is so difficult against Mike though, probably moreso than against Ali, as Ali's are them straight shots that Frazier dodged so well in the first bout. Tysons are them combos to body and head.

At any rate, this is a head on collision, i just think Tyson's great attack (and it is so great), gets him a stoppage. Frazier would need to fight the absolute fight of his life to win this, (maybe he can, im not disrespecting this warrior), and he would have to put the iron one on the backfoot and sustain it, we're talking about breaking Tyson down here workmanlike, that is the way to beat him, very very hard when you fight like Frazier and are constantly in his your opponent's face and chest. If anyone has the mindset to do it though it would be him.

 

Excatly and the whole bull**** myth they use about him fading after 5 is only relevant when he quit training and lacked the disipline in his later yrs. When he was in his prime he had punching power in the late rounds too. Ribalta and Biggs fight clearly show that. Rooney had Tyson sparring over 15 rounds to maintain his contioning and power. People need to quit listening to all these so called experts when assesing Tyson's career, cause they paint a lot of myths about Mike by not being objective. We have 2 eyes just like them.

 

Tyson KO 2. Theres few fighters I pick over the prime Smokin Joe, but Tyson is one of them. Frazier WAS suseptible early, and Tyson may well have been the fastest starter ever. The only fighter Frazier fought with a comparable punch to Tyson was Foreman, and we know what happened there.
I see Tysons faster, and more powerful punches getting to Frazier early and finishing him.
Nothing against Frazier, but I'd expect him to struggle against nearly every elite puncher and be in SEVERE danger early of being stopped. And by elite I mean top 40, 50 all time HWs.

That being said, I'd pick Joe to beat every boxer type who ever lived, except a 67 Ali and I go back and forth on even that one. Tysons just a horrible style matchup.

 

I love Frazier but feel the fast starting Tyson may be a terrible match up for the slower starting Frazier ....

 

Tyson wins early.

 

I never saw Tyson look good against a short fighter who crowds him.
Tyson was good against guys who stood there tall like statues, or guys who backed up and dropped their hands when they jabbed. Tyson was devastating exploding upward and with space to spring forward. Slipping past and under jabs and long rights.
But Frazier would smother him.
Tyson had shabby footwork for dealing with those guys with low centre of gravity. Tyson was good at butting upright guys, but vulnerable to guys who came in as low as him - another factor to consider.

Frazier seemed to like guys who were willing to swarm forward and meet him for an infighting exchange.

And in terms of toughness and ability to fight at 100% when under pressure, Frazier was superior to tyson. More heart I reckon.

 

Frazier was never active in the early going and how would you know Tyson would be scared.