This is a fascinating match-up as both fighters were motivated to win for reasons far beyond mere glory in the squared circle. Frazier has been mocked, ridiculed and abused for being an Uncle Tom paper champion who had never defeated the true heavyweight king. Douglas had just lost his mother and was overwhelmed with emotion and an irrepressible desire to prove his worth to the world. Who wins?!
I like Buster version of Cindrella story, but peak Joe Frazier is a different obstacle to overcome than unmotivated and undertrained Tyson. Frazier stops him in late rounds.
James Buster Douglas did win an unlikely victory stopping Mike Tyson in 1990 to win the title. Douglas followed a perfect blueprint on how to defeat Tyson. Joe Frazier was unstoppable in 1971, very relentless, a train that was unstoppable. Joe was well prepared by his management team of Yank Durham and Eddie Futch. Those two would have had Joe in perfect peak condition. Frazier would have taken jabs from Douglas, but at some point, Buster would have taken very brutal left hooks to the body, slipping under the jabs. Joe would have at times caught Buster with his vicious left hooks. It would have resembled the title winning fight against Jimmy Ellis in Feb 1970. Joe runs over Douglas in round 8, as Buster does not have the power to prevent Joe from smoking.
Frazier by late round tko or decision. Frazier may not have the right hand power of Tyson, nor does he have Tyson's handspeed, nor does he even have Tyson's footspeed. However, Frazier has better stamina than Tyson and actually got stronger as the fight progressed. Frazier cut off the ring very well despite not being a fast footed fighter. Cutting off the ring is a unique skill and Joe had it in spades. Frazier will wear him down with left hooks to the body and the head. Douglas will be competitive but ultimately loses a late round tko or decision. Frazier is a movers worst nightmare. Not too many guys who didn't possess awesome power could beat him. To be fair, Douglas could hit hard but not in the league of Foreman. IMO Frazier beats all the great movers- Tunney, Charles, Walcott, even vs Holmes, i would make Frazier a favourite. Only Ali is favoured over Frazier and even those fights were competitive. To beat Frazier, you have to outgun him, aka Foreman, or Louis, Tyson, Lewis, etc.
Frazier by late ko. Behind on points and his face busted up, finally nails his man with his beautiful hook.
