Prime Joe Frazier vs. Prime Larry Holmes.

For the sake of making a pick on the polls I went with “ Holmes by decision. “ but in truth this really is extremely close and I think it could go either way. While Larry had one of the best left jabs of all time, Joe Frazier was a master at slipping the jab. He had upper body movement that was nonstop along with fast hands and ripping power. Holmes had a powerful uppercut and a solid chin to go with his jab. Both could go fifteen round when needed. It would be a bloody affair. I’m guessing if they fought 2 or 3 times we’d see mixed outcomes

 

I dont like this matchup for Frazier . .I think Larry has a sharp enough jab to outpoint Joe from the outside, and maybe land an uppercut or 2.. and has the chin and tie up to reset and continue to outpoint ... No KO here .. Holmes close UD

 

Frazier bullies Holmes and wins a close but clear decision

 

We saw the type of punishment Frazier was willing to and could push through in the FOTC.

Which of Holmes’ actual opponents came closest to the type of body punishment that we can reasonably expect Joe to put to Larry?

It’s not a direct H2H comparison but I still take FOTC Ali over prime Holmes and I would take the Frazier of that fight over Larry also. Not easy for Joe but I think he can slip enough and take enough to get inside and pound out a UD - with the less likely possibility of stopping Larry in the very later rounds - 14 or 15.

 

Holmes struggled enough with the Mike Weavers, Renaldo Snipes, a past it Ken Norton, and some other mediocre opposition in his prime but he's beating Frazier?

When Holmes was asked, how a fighter would beat him "Turn into Joe Frazier".

Holmes simply wasn't as good as even FOTC Ali. He had an excellent jab but he couldn't change directions like Ali did which he'd need to do against a bobbing and weaving Frazier unless, he wants to get tired from missing and countered. Holmes also wasn't quite as quick, or skilled with his footwork.

Holmes had a good uppercut, but it's the worst punch to throw against a hooker because it leaves you open to their best weapon. It's not like Holmes was immune to this, because that's exactly what happened when Shavers damn near took his head off.

Holmes also had a very dangerous tendency to try to fight his way out of trouble, when hurt, and/or cornered against the ropes. He does that against Frazier? Good luck Larry.

 

I got Smokin' Joe in this one by late stoppage.

 

You beat me to it.

Regarding the bolded, I said the exact same thing in my next post (before seeing yours'). Great minds think alike.

 

Smokin' Joe actually gets floored by the Holmes uppercut and looks really bad the first five or six rounds. Once the middle rounds come, Joe barely lets up enough for Holmes to win a round. Even with the knockdown, the verdict is unanimous and clear UD 15 for the Smokin' One.

I don't think there'd be a kd or ko of Larry because, though Joe had a very respectable right (probably not too far in terms of power to Norton's), it really wasn't enough to pole axe Larry.

 

That they do

Besides who we choose, I think it would make for a nice style mesh that would see a very entertaining fight - perhaps somewhat of an ATG classic in its own right.

As you indicated, though not necessarily in his best interests, when Larry gets seriously buzzed, he’ll try to return equal and opposite fire - that would make for some very nice exchanges - but exchanges that you and I at least think would see Larry coming off second best.

Another 2 fights for the trilogy and best of 3? Would Larry even want that? Lol.

 

I'll take Frazier on activity.

 

As I have always said, Joe Frazier reminds me of a fierce locomotive going full blast down the tracks, that can't be stopped. Larry Holmes had the lateral movement, left jab and head movement. But some forget that Joe liked to bob and weave, making his opponent miss, then working the torso of his adversary. Larry did not have the knockdown power of prime George Foreman and Larry was vulnerable to the body like most boxers are. I do think that Larry builds an early lead only to see it dwindle as it did in the WBC title winning fight against Ken Norton in June 1978. Only this time, Frazier begins to abuse the body and head of the tiring Larry Holmes to pick up a close decision after 15 rounds, Joe's left hook to the body and head are the big factors in victory.

 

That's about it in a nutshell. I've voted stoppage thinking he has a chance of wearing Holmes down really late but a decision may well be more likely. When i look at that late rounds pressure he still exhibited against ali tho, wow that's tough to survive.

 

All the good answers are taken so far!
Yeah activity, style match up, Holmes not being the same/as good as Ali, the jab not the most effective weapon against a transcendent hooker...

This is an ATG match up that I have always been confident to call.

 

I love and hate this match up. Two of my favourite s.
Best of best?
I'm gonna go with Joe grinding out a close decision. But this fight near kills both men.