Joe Frazier '71 vs. Larry Holmes '82

71 Frazier wins a close decision over 82 Holmes. 1978-1980 Holmes has a good chance of winning

 

You make some good points, but you must also remember that there are also departments where Holmes was superior to Ali: he had better fundamentals and technique, better jab, a bit more punching power, he wasn't as susceptible to the left hook. Also, Holmes will fight more composed, unlike Ali, who had a personal grudge with Frazier.
This will be a very even match. I'm leaning more towards a Holmes decision.

 

Surprised Joe is so far ahead in the poll, although I agree that he is stylistically a difficult fight for Holmes, I would give the edge to Holmes to win enough of the early to middle rounds to just take it, a 9-6 8-7 type win

 

Joe Frazier isn’t mike weaver abs would make Larry use his legs more then weaver did !!!! Joe Frazier 15 rd dec no problem !

 

If we were talking about the 1978-1980 Holmes I would agree. I think by 1982 he was slowing down just enough for Frazier to outwork him

 

A lot of Fraizers success against Ali came from tells in how Ali threw punches, Joe knew and was taught how to make Ali throw the punches he could counter consistently and Joe could maintain the required pressure to pull of a 15 round fight. Larry Holmes however had a better defence for the left hook and the type of fighter Joe was, Larry was more textbook, less prone to being backed up and maintained a position to punch consistently whilst being very mobile and less exposed then the Muhamad of the FOTC.

I think Larry would take it in a UD.

 

Gil Clancy taught Oscar Bonavena that to beat Muhammad Ali, you have to make him the aggressor, let him throw first. It was working up to the 15th round against the post peak Ali on the night of Dec 7 1970 in Madison Square Garden, Ali unloaded his left hook on Oscar to produce 3 knockdowns before referee Mark Conn ended it for Ali.

 

Great post.

 

Thanks a bunch. :}

 

Ali's entire style was about answering, not asking questions Oscar did very well In my eyes it was the highlight of his career outcome be damned.

 

Superb thread this. I voted for Holmes but some of these posts have got me thinking.
My reasons for picking Larry were that he was a fine ring General, especially between 80 - 82 when he had become more secure in his own distinct talents. He had been in the shadow of some great Heavyweights on his way up.
For me, the key to Holmes winning is that, by this stage, he had perfected a lead right hand. There is virtually no defence in Boxing to an accurate and powerful right lead.
The middle rounds would be tough for Larry but by 82 he had become used to that. Holmes had come through that scenario against Norton, Shavers and Cooney and it would certainly be horrible against Frazier, Joe's head stuck in his chest and big hooks going body - head.
I think Joe empties his tank walking Holmes down and working him over and Larry pulls away in the 13th, 14th and last rounds to stick and move his way to a decision in a fight people will talk about in whispered tones.

 

Frazier outworks Larry for a decision.

 

I remember Howard Cosell saying that Muhammad Ali looked terrible like in his title bout against Karl Mildenberger in Sept 1966.

 

I will have to rewatch it.

 

Very interesting discussion on comparisons between Ali and Holmes. Made a thread on this topic a while back.