Mike Tyson vs Joe Frazier (Ring TV Opinion)

As you said, Mike was rusty but Mathis Jr did some great defensive work in there - similar to Joe, though I think Mathis Jr. held a little bit - something Joe wouldn’t do.

Mathis got in nice and tight, head on the shoulder - as Joe would try to do. Tyson did look a bit lost - unrealistically, he threw that signature look to the ref AS IF the ref should separate them when it wasn’t even warranted. Mike wasn’t exactly a fan of relying on himself to fight it out of such up close and personal situations.

If prime Frazier had been in Mathis’ place, not only would he have been potentially avoiding those incoming shots as Mathis did but he would’ve also been making Mike pay far more dearly than Mathis did. The left hook would’ve found a home on more than a few occasions over the first two rounds - how would that version of Mike have dealt with that?

I had laugh to at the commentary team - at one point they mistakenly referred to Mathis as Buster Douglas.

And, by round 2, they were waxing on about how most people felt that the fight wouldn’t go past 1 round - imo, such were the never fail, optimal forecasts for Tyson - realistic analysis and history notwithstanding.

 

Frazier = too tough + too much pressure

 

Wait. You give Frazier the edge in durability? How? Tyson seemed impossible to drop with one good punch. Frazier, well, not so much.

I'll give heart and warrior spirit to Frazier over Tyson by a mile, but in terms of overall durability, I cannot agree.

 

Tyson obliterates Frazier. No need for debate, really. This has been done to death.

 

Eh, Mike was winging single shots against Mathis and wouldn't work on the inside for obvious reasons. His timing was off and his trainers had no clue, something we witnessed throughout his post prison career until Tommy Brooks tried to save the day.

80's Mike doesn't wait till the 3rd round to adapt his footwork and positioning. And he'd know exactly what Smokin Joe would bring to the table. He'd know what to do to get that much needed leverage against someone with similar height.

 

Sangria, I have to agree with you. It probably has been shown a million times on The Late Late Show. Ha Ha.

 

I think Mike Tyson knocks Joe Frazier out in the first 6 but if it got to the later rounds it would favor Fraizer

 

Tyson was an aggressive, front foot counterpuncher who excelled at high-volume combination punching once he got his man to lead and open himself. Much more akin to Napoles than say Canelo or Zhang. Still, he wanted the man to lead (thought he could unload ferociously to force his opponent into throwing more.)

Peak Frazier is trouble because he collides into Mike with his vastly superior inside game. He smothers, breaks pasture, off-balances, vies for punching space, changes head slots, works meticulously and with diligence.

Tyson is more than capable of firing back with his own formidable firepower, but I don't think he was ever trained with such setting in mind. Looked sloppy and lost in there and it wasn't against inside fighter of Joe's caliber.

Knockdowns very possible. Absolutely trenches, regardless of who takes it.

 

Something nobody mentioned is Tyson himself due to his style is basically left hook proof, even in the fights where he got the **** beaten out of him, it wasnt with the left hook.
The type of elbow up horizontal left hook frazier throws is exactly the type of shot tyson instinctively ducks under in all of his his pad drills and in exchanges.

Its a stylistic nightmare for all of the reasons everyone already mentioned, as well as the punch selection of the two guys. A one dimensional or one hand dominant boxer cant beat tyson, he is too dangerous from too many angles.
Its simply a gun vs a knife fight.

And if you watch early career Mike you'll see that tyson at his best actually immediately stepped around an opponent who tried to crowd him unlike after prison where it took him 3 rounds to figure out vs Mathis.

Its also why i think Tyson does better against foreman than frazier, he was never great on the backfoot, but he could actually box and move laterally and punch off the move, there is atleast some tape of him doing it vs Bonecrusher smith and in a few pre-title fights.

 

Think of it this way...Frazier had a huge heart...Tyson...not so much!!! Very important kiddies...

 

If Frazier could close the distance he could do quite well. Joe could fight very effectively right up against the other fighter. And he could hurt you there. Tyson is unlikely to be pushing him off as effortlessly as Foreman did.
That being said, I believe that Tyson had very dangerous combinations that he could have really hurt Frazier with while he was coming in. And he would start at full throttle. Once he hurts Joe, it’s essentially over as Frazier will get up and get hammered again.
I love Joe Frazier but this is not a match he is well suited for.
Frazier could win, he is too good to be given zero chance but I think Tyson wins, probably quite quickly. If he doesn’t win quickly he still has a good shot despite Joes endurance because Frazier will likely have taken a life changing beating due to his own tenacity, and would not be doing too much smoking in later rounds.
He would have to get on Tysons chest right away and stay away from those devastating mid range combinations.
I want to say I can see it happening but I don’t see it happening. Tyson TKO in less than 3 full rounds is my best guess

 

Frazier KO mid-rounds

 

Kiddies?

You mean you’re old enough to harken back to the days when fighters didn’t rely on auto tune, the allure of scantily clad women or need silly ring walk in costumes to distract from their lack of talent OR their relying on said costumes for a ready excuse after the fact of defeat <sneeze: Deontay Wilder>?

Just messing around RJ, all good fun.