Joe Frazier tries to clean out 2020 division... (read op)

Good grief, is this a tall order. No pun intended. Zhang, Bakole and Kabayel when Frazier is slipping is just icing on the cake. There's no way he survives this without losses.

His better shot would be to pick his fights very carefully and hope for the best, but to clear out the division...

 

He chops them all down. Size doesn't make a great fighter skill does. Only guy on this list with skill is Usyk and he's missing an inside game completely. Frazier runs him out of the ring.

 

I think that Joe Frazier might beat one of the above fighters in a one off fight, but he couldn't give up that much size every fight and win one after the other. It would drain him and he'd take too much punishment. JF struggled with fat Buster Mathis who was considered huge at the time but in reality was a little over 240 pounds. Most of the people listed are at least 240 pounds and much more dangerous than Mathis.

People always list Manuel Ramos as a "big" fighter that JF fought. Ramos does look big in the video compared to JF, but Ramos weighed 208 for that fight. Matching JF against these people would be like matching Dick Tiger against Bonavena, Quarry, Lyle, Ali, Norton, Foreman, and Frazier in the 70s. Tiger was determined and tough, but he'd be giving up 30-60 pounds each fight, how long could he do that?

 

Yeah he's just way to small to be competitive with modern heavyweights and his style was awful against them got hit way too much. He'd do great if he moved down to cruiserweight or even lightheavyweight but besides occasionally victory if the stars align don't really see him doing well today.

 

Really, honestly, if we had a 5'11", undisputed cruiserweight champion today who fought like Frazier, how many people on this forum would back him to clean out the entire heavyweight division without a loss?

There's your answer.

 

I understand the nostalgic ones, I'm nostalgic too when I remember my ex-girlfriend naked, boxing has evolved in terms of physical strength, Frazier would be tough in any era but I think he's too small to sweep away all the fighters who get in his way...

 

A strong stocky 205 lb man is not moving down to 175. He would be too weak. He is starting at cruiser and eventually moving to heavyweight.

 

No he does not.

He might "look" bigger due to the kind of men he is fighting. But Beterbiev is coming in at 190 lbs or 195 lbs on fight night at most. He isn't rehydrating 30 lbs.

Besides there is no comparison between Beterbiev and Frazier. Frazier has wins over 200 lb + men (Ali, Bugner and Bonavena) while Beterbiev does not.

Frazier was a legit 205 lbs.

Let's ask ourselves this, if a 213 lb Michael Hunter can stop Bakole, why couldn't Frazier?

I think people are really underestimating Frazier. No, i would not expect Frazier to sweep at heavyweight. Wilder, Zhang, Bakole, etc. some big puncher is bound to get him at some point. But none of these guys have the overall ability of Foreman. Wilder does not have the amazing left hand and durability of Foreman. Zhang is too low output and runs out of stamina. Bakole is too inconsistent.

I would not expect Frazier to go undefeated but i would expect his style of body punching to be highly effective ve big men not named Foreman.

 

He may struggle against some of the big punching Heavyweights who have too much physicality.

But funnily enough I've always felt Frazier beats Usyk because an ATG swarmer is a very problematic style for an outboxer with mediocre power.

So whilst Frazier may lose some fights he would be very effective against Usyk who is the best Heavyweight now.