The fact that we're all nearly unanimously giving this one to Frazier, against a PEAK Larry Holmes, is saying a lot, giving no more than three or four other heavyweights a chance at beating Frazier. And that's a chance. Nothing certain.
Really, Foreman and Liston are the only two fighters that I would confidently be able to choose over Joe every time in a fight.
I don't think a prime Frazier loses to Foreman as easily as he did. Keep in mind he had clearly defined after TFOTC (to the point where multiple news outlets were proclaiming he was washed up prior to Foreman), he also didn't train much for him, instead opting to sing with his band. He did much better the 2nd time against Foreman, and may have even won a round or so. He was the only victim of Foreman's between Peralta II and Young to answer the bell for the 5th round without having been dropped. As a matter of fact, he was the third opponent period to do so (after Peralta and Scrap Iron) this gets overlooked. I just can't see FOTC Frazier going down easily to anybody. Now would he beat Foreman? Probably not, but I think he gives a much better account of himself.
But Larry barely managed to get by Ken Norton, who by then was on his way out. Larry won the WBC title by a split 15 round decision on June 9 1978.
Joe Fraizer would be a nightmare for Larry Holmes. Look at how good a over the hill Ken Norton performed against Lerry Holmes
I've always scored the Holmes - Norton fight about 10-5 for Holmes, even with the torn left bicep. If I remember, we scored the fight on this board for a Fight of the Week and most of the people who scored the fight had Holmes winning 9-11 rounds.
I give Dempsey a chance, much better than Marciano as I think he was considerably a much better H2H fighter than Marciano, and is better equipped to deal with modern heavies. Even if I personally dislike the man.
This version of Frazier is at his absolute peak and I don't see him losing to Holmes of the Norton fight. Both would wreck havoc upon the other but Frazier would come out on top. He was absolutely relentless that night against Ali.