Joe Frazier '70 Vs Lennox Lewis '97

Although any outcome is possible in a head to head fantasy matchup, my inclination is to pick Lennox Lewis to beat Joe Frazier.

From a stylistic standpoint, I really don't see Frazier having any tools that would prove to be a threat. His best attribute was the left hook - not a particularly useful weopon against Lennox Lewis, as men like Razor Ruddock, Tommy Morrison and a number of others have discovered. Additionally, Lewis would likely have been the largest opponent that Frazier ever faced, standing 6 inches taller and weighing probably 30-35 Lbs heavier ( assuming we're talking about prime weight perameters ).

Some might argue that Lewis simply couldn't deal with the pressure that Frazier would constantly put on him, like the kind that he demonstrated against Muhammad Ali. Frankly however, I'm not so sure that Lewis would have to deal with Frazier's persisitance for a duration of 12 -15 rounds. If Joe rushed in, Lewis would certainly have the ability to tie him and neutralize his attacks. He would also have tremendous power in the right hand, which would ware on Joe over the long haul, along with a far better than average jab to keep him at bay.

Frazier was quite possibly a better fighter from a P4P standpoint, but for both stylistic and physical reasons, I think he is outmatched here...

 

Lewis by KO 1 minute and 36.8 seconds into the 7th round.

 

Smokin´ Joe KO 12RD

 

So The Joe Frazier that fought Foster and Ellis vs the Lewis that fought McCall (2nd fight), Akinwande and Golota.

I may be slightly biased but I always saw Lewis as a fighter who had many ways to win a fight and could figure out any fighter he faced, when he was taking them seriously that is. He'd have Steward in his corner too, a master tactician. I'm not nearly as familiar with Frazier as I am with Lewis, having seen all of the latter's pro fights and only several Frazier fights. I see no aspect of Frazier's style that Lewis has not already faced, though not in the same unique package that Joe brought to the ring, of course. Frazier has to hope that Lewis is drawn into a war and/or gets careless for it's the only way I can see Smokin' Joe winning the fight. Certainly if the Lewis that fought McCall or Rahman in their first fights turns up it's a Smokin' Joe KO all the way.

I don't see that sloppy version of Lewis turning up for a fight against an ATG like Joe Frazier. Therefore, the most likely scenario for me is Lewis timing Frazier with the jab as he attempts to come inside and then throwing that booming uppercut when he gets in range. I don't think many fighters can take that too often and the fight might resemble a higher quality Lewis vs Fortune bout.

Lewis TKO 6.

 

Really? I may be in the minority as I've noticed in this thread but I don't think Lennox could deal with the Joe Frazier circa 1967 - 1970. Lennox has never faced a fighter that brings the type of wear-down pressure that Frazier is known for. There's a rediculously huge different between the pressure that a faded Mike Tyson tried to put on Lewis, and the pressure that a prime Frazier would put on Lewis.

Some have mentioned Joe's left hook is useless against Lewis which I think is absurb. Frazier would land that left hook to the body first and foremost before going to the head. Also, Joe had an underappreciated right hand which he used more effectively against Ali in the FOTC rematch and against Quarry and Bugner.

Frazier would finish Lewis and KO him before the late rounds, unlike Shannon Briggs, Frank Bruno and Evander Holyfield, all of whom had Lennox hurt early in their fights. It amazes me that people aren't giving Frazier any credit for his career and boxing skills. If Hasim Rahman and Oliver McCall can KO Lennox Lewis, why wouldn't Frazier, who's got miles more skills and boxing ability than both Rahman and McCall.

I'll agree that it might be hard for some to pick Frazier beating Lennox Lewis because he mirror's George Foreman's size and has devastating right hand power as well. Anyone who remembers that fight saw Frazier getting manhandled and shoved around the ring illegally by Foreman. Anyone who thinks Mercante did an amazing job in that fight doesn't know the rules of the sport. Pushing, shoving, and grabbing the opponents shoulders is not boxing and Foreman was lucky he wasn't penalized because any other ref would have stopped that all together.

 

Frazier gets plenty of credit for his career and skills.

As for the "If Rahman and McCall can.....", you know just as well as i do that doesn't fly.

And Frazier having miles more skills and boxing ability than Rahman and McCall? They are different fighters. However, both have better jabs and right hands than Frazier. Plus Frazier can only fight one way and does most of his damage with one hand. Anyone who has read my posts knows i think very highly of Frazier, but a versatile boxer he was not. Every good fighter he fought, landed a truckload of punches early on.

 

Lewis would win by KO around the 5th

 

Anyone who uses the Rahman/McCall logic is a ****ing idiot.

 

Unfortunately, you'll often find that 'logic' used by Lewis detractors to justify their opinions, ignoring the circumstances surrounding both fights and ignoring the fact that a sloppy version of Lewis would not turn up to fight Ali, Foreman, Frazier et al.

 

Frazier kills lewis to the body wins TKO 12 th rd

 

Yeah, against journeymen like Oliver McCall and Hassim Rahman. Do you really think he'd show up either unfocused or out of shape against Smokin' Joe Frazier??

Overly cautious by what standards? Lewis dominated the first Holyfield fight by not allowing his opponent too many opportunities. He decided to be more 'exciting' in the 2nd fight (and to ensure that there wasn't a repeat of the 'draw') and it was much closer - what was the point? He could have been more decisive in the Tyson fight but again he dominated. Lewis being cautious against Frazier might not be the worst strategy IMO. Lewis has proven several times that he can dominate short-armed punchers (like Joe Frazier) but imposing his own physical advantages on the other guy.

 

Lewis is kicking arse here. He has the tools needed in this one.

 

I agree that this a stylistic nightmare for Joe given the physical advantages that Lewis brings. However, Joe had overcome bigger Men before. Ellis, Mathis, not to mention Ali. So size, although an issue, isn't as great an issue as Joe has demonstrated. As to Lennox being overly cautious in his approach to certain fighters I think that this is key. Although Lewis held all of the cards in the first Holyfield bout he refused to pull the trigger and got jobbed because of it. In the second bout he fought more aggressively and won. In the Tyson bout he was facing a Man who was shot and again wouldn't pull the trigger although Steward was cursing him to do so. Not to say Lennox didn't have heart, he did. But if he did this against a prime Frazier, not giving 100%, or perhaps not being aggressive enough and press his advantages, not trying to back Frazier up or stop him in his tracks, he would be in for a long night.