Lennox Lewis vs Joe Frazier

I didn't say it counts for nothing, just that it matters less when you go up in size. I'm sure you think that a 6'2 200-207 pound Joe Louis would stop a 7'1 325 pound Valuev while giving up a foot in height and over 100 pounds in weight. But no way in hell could anyone beat a 6'2 200+ pound fighter while giving away a foot in height and 100 pounds in weight, even if said 5'2 100 pound fighter was a master boxer and devastating puncher for his size vs a relatively skilless 200+ pounder.

 

U dont have to profess. I concede you are more knowledgeable than me. I respect that and always ur opinions. I just disagree here. Im a Frazier guy and I believe he breaks his will at some point in a grueling fight.

 

Why ?

What would that tell us about the thread question, how Lewis-Frazier would pan out ?

In 1972, you could have compared Foreman's best points win (Peralta) with Frazier's best points win (Ali).
That had little relevance when they met the following year.

(p.s. Mercer was probably NOT Lewis' best points win)

 

But he wouldn't need to use all that energy up having to keep Lewis off him like he had to against Frazier.

 

Who prey tell was Lewis' best points win? Tucker? Mavrovic?

 

This is a good point. Because this is possibly what the experts did in 1972 and how they made Frazier a favourite going into that fight with Foreman.

But what the experts did not have then was the hindsight we have now. We had to see it to believe it but let's say the reason they got it so horribly wrong was nobody accounted for the fact Frazier had gone backwards since the Ali fight. It was his last important win. There had been a reason why the soft opponents had been selected since.

In a fantasy fight we can imagine Joe of the Ali night and use that one. Back then that fight already happened. You needed for it to happen to use it but the happening itself is what ruined Frazuer.

 

He wouldn't? What would he do dance all night? If he was capable of doing that he would have done it against Frazier!

 

My point is Valuev was successful solely because of his size. Therefore a fighter can become world champion based on nothing but that.He needs the luck to be fighting in a poor/indifferent era , but its proven to be possible eg Valuev & Carnera

 

That is your prerogative .You are placing a small 205lbs guy against a 245lbs guy who in my opinion hits harder and has two handed power and better boxing skill and predicting a win based on the possibility that he will break the bigger man's will.When have you ever seen a potetntial crack in Lewis' will?


Frazier has one option here ,he has to close the range and fight inside, in doing so he must weather the punches that will be hitting him before he even gets in range and it won't be Ali's jab and right cross bouncing of him raising lumps on his face, it will be Lewis's considerably heavier artillery.Once inside Frazier will find himself neutralized by being clinched by a man 40lbs heavier and considerably stronger.Added to this is the fact that Lewis was quite adept at close range and his uppercut the answer for the short bobber and weaver was a really potent weapon.When I match H2H I look at what both men bring to the table,Frazier brings intensity desire,heart decent but not overwhelming one handed power and real guts.That will not be enough because Lewis trumps him in every department except courage and no one has proven that Frazier is superior in that area. This being the case I must pick Lewis and I do so with real conviction.

 

No he'd stay in the middle of the ring like he did for parts of the Foreman fight and pick him off at will.

 

Nope after the first round he retreated to the ropes,unlees the closed circuit fight I saw at Leics Sq was a phoney?

 

He stood in the middle of ring plenty of times, he picked Foreman off against the ropes as well.

 

In the mix would be Tucker, Mavrovic, Tua, and Holyfield.

The Mercer fight was a good fight but not his best points win. In fact, there was some controversy around the decision itself and Mercer was far from a Holyfield.

It's a matter of opinion, but I don't think too many would pick Mercer.





And to save making two posts, I don't think any version of smokin' Joe has much of a chance against a prime Foreman. His style was all wrong for a fighter of Foreman's power and chin.

He might get lucky about once in twenty attempts, but IMO, the 1971 Frazier doesn't do much better than the Jamaica version against the grill man.