Riddick Bowe v Joe Frazier

I think Frazier brings to strong of a workrate, presuming that Bowe does not stop him along the way. I see it similar in style to Frazier vs Mathis and Holyfield Vs Bowe although Bowe is vsstly superior to Mathis. Mathis won the first 2 rounds and Joe virtually swept the rest. I do think Joe has some more difficulty in this than against Mathis. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bowe dropped (stopped) him in the first 5 rounds or so, but as the fight heats up I see it turning Joes way.

I would take Frazier on a narrow decision, although Bowe could stop him (I don’t see a Bowe points win?) over 12 rounds. I can’t even envision Bowe as a 15 round fighter and take Joe by KO 14 in that scenario, more of a fatigue accumulation type stoppage than being brutally stopped if that makes sense.

 

Frazier outworks and outsmokes for a close decision

 

Bowe wins a close decision over 15. A big uppercut drops Frazier in the 5th and the 7th but frazier rallies and takes over round 8-12. They have an all out war the last 3 rounds and bowe takes a knee in round 15, helpless against the ropes and unable to do anything to keep frazier off of him and having no stamina left. Bowe is never the same again. He will be peeing blood with broken ribs, a black eye and a swollen jaw. His lack of defense and late round experience nearly costs him the fight.

Despite winning and all the money and views, team Bowe avoids a rematch. I think frazier would demolish him in a best of 3.

 

I could see this outcome. Not my pick but a very plausible outcome

 

You didn't leave me much to say. That's exactly what I was thinking. I'd bet on Frazier, but I wouldn't bet enough money to sorely miss.

 

When you talk about fantasy fight you assume the people are in their best shapes, which means a lot to Bowe and Frazier as their peak was rather short.

There is no way Frazier could take Bowe's punches. Maybe he didn't hit as has as Foreman, but he had better accuracy, speed, and punch variety.

The jab would be problematic for Frazier, Bowe's right hand is easily better tha Bonevena's who floored Frazier twice and came close to stopping Fraizer, and if Joe gets inside to work, Bowe has an excellent uppercut. So essentially Frazier's has to watch out at all ranges. Not easy.

Eddie Futch who worked with them both said Frazier had the worst body of any champion he's worked with, and he meant it as a compliment to Frazier's work ethic.

While Bowe could be floored ( Fraizer would have to get in real close to land his left hook, his one and only punch that mattered ) Bowe wasn't hit often the left hook and has a two weight class size advantage. ( 35 pounds. ) When floored Bowe showed plenty of heart and when in shape his stamina for 12 rounds was greater than Holyfield's who himself hit pretty hard.

Bowe via TKO in six.

 

Joe goes into this with a lot of physical disadvantages.

6 inches in height, 8 inches in reach and around 30 + lbs in weight.

And against most fighters, Joe would be good enough to overcome these handicaps.

But Bowe was world class.

Depends which version of each fighter shows up, but best for best, my money would be on Bowe, very possibly inside the distance.

 

I’d bet a good sum on Bowe to win by tko. He’d nail Frazier with jabs and overhand rights from mid-range and uppercuts in close. Too much man and more skilled to boot.

 

I guess that you think Frazier’s “Best Shape” was against Foreman? Not sure anyone else does but since you do your pick is as good and accurate as your evaluation of Frazier’s prime.

 

I like Frazier. I always felt Bowe deserved to be disqualified against Buster Mathis Jr, in fact it looked like Arthur Mercante did just that, until Larry Hazzard the NJ commissioner stepped in and turned it into a Nc. Anyway I bring this up because Mathis was posing problems for Bowe but didn’t have the offensive game to trouble Bowe. Mathis was very much a bob and weave fighter much like Frazier.
Anyway this is a great matchup and would be a war. Both men could really absorb punishment.

 

Most similiar opponent to Frazier on Bowe's record is Bert Cooper, and Bowe obliterated him.

Most similiar opponent to Bowe on Frazier's record is Foreman, big strong guy with a good jab and uppercut, and Frazier got destroyed.

Bowe most likely takes him out early to mid rounds, and if Frazier somehow survives, Bowe has enough heart and stamina to win a decision.

 

The judges had it 5-5,7-2,6-4.

 

I like a prime Riddick to win this.