Joe Frazier V Chris Bryd -Would Byrd befuddle the "Smoke"?

Young for sure. Foreman could get him out early, but I don't have much faith in young Foreman's energy management if the fight makes it past 5.

Frazier, on the other hand...slow starter, but Byrd doesn't hit hard enough to capitalize on it, and Joe's got an exceptional gas tank. Chris could last the distance, but I have a hard time seeing him scoring enough to offset Joe's volume and eye-catching shots.

The one X- factor is that an orthodox left hook isn't quite the money punch on a southpaw the way a lead right is, which could neutralize Joe's best punch to an extent. Byrd was much more vulnerable to straight shots than hooks taking his career as a whole.

Id still make Frazier the favorite there, though. Just not as one sided as most others seem to. I've seen bigger upsets, but it would be an upset.

 

Who gives byrd much chance in this fight definitely has no clue about boxing

 

Good point about the left hook v the rightie,but I've seen it work [Cooper v Mildenberger,] Joe wins this with pressure though ,imo

 

Agreed. Joe's pressure, volume, and a huge gas tank make him a clear favorite for me, too, even with the point on stances.

 

Tfights great show!
I think Byrd should have nicknamed himself the darkhorse or the spoiler. He won fights nobody gave him a chance to even compete, Vitali, weird way to quit, but a win is a win.
Phil Jackson had some pretty good fights at 34-2 only losses to Ruddock & Lewis, Byrd was too slippery @ 13-0!
Fres Oqeundo who was considered a rising HW losing only to Tua. I was surprised Byrd beat both Fres & Tua.

And Jimmy Thunder another KO artist, just couldn't hang with Byrd- Just can't say enough about a fighter who came out of the olympics at 165 turning HW let alone winning the coverted prize.

 

While I'm not going so far as to pick Byrd, I do think he is being underrated here and that he'd give Frazier a fine run for his money. He had a high workrate and excellent chin and was as slippery as they come. I think Frazier's power would be the difference, but imo it would probably go the distance and Byrd would make him work for the win.

 

One thing to remember is that Chris Byrd was no Jimmy Young...sure he threw more punches, but that's one of the reasons that he periodically got his bell rung...and put on his ass.
I have Joe Frazier as the ultimate nightmare...the poison,...the wolfbane of elusive, defensive boxers....and as much of a fan as I am and was...of Jimmy Young, I have Smokin Joe practically shutting Jimmy out...not stopping him, but keeping under such bombardment that it would have kept the traditionally low output Young constantly busy on defense. Young was an admitted survivalist at heart, and would have been a one sided decision loser....and Byrd, on the other hand, would have been crushed, Jimmy Ellis style, within 5, no more than 6 rounds.

 

Frazier stops him for sure. Byrd won't be able to keep him at range.

 

Byrd would have a better chance vs Foreman. Fraizer is a swarmer that keeps coming. Fraizer seeks him down and destroys him

 

Excellent RC! Excellent. Perfectly explained as usual!

 

Frazier hunted defensive, elusive boxers for sport

 

Smokin Joe was a buzzsaw and would have been a nightmare for Byrd. Frazier relished hammering boxers who lacked power and size . Frazier ko in 9 rds.