Would Joe Frazier Size Have Hindered Him, If He'd Come Along After The 1980s?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Fergy, May 13, 2024.


  1. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member

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    Tyson vs Frazier

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  2. Niels Probst

    Niels Probst Member banned Full Member

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    I liked your post as I am the biggest Joe Frazier fan ever! That said, let us be realistic: No way does Joe beat either of the Klits, they are superior in everything except heart. I don't give Joe much chances vs Lewis and prime Tyson either to be frank. Joe fought big cruiserweights, furthermore, the eastern bloc boxers didn't compete in Frazier's time. Nevertheless, RIP great Joe!
     
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  3. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    And a very good uppercut.
     
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  4. Ioakeim Tzortzakis

    Ioakeim Tzortzakis Active Member Full Member

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    Meh, I'm not all that high on Vitali. He could crack and he was durable, but he was such a stiff and stationary robot. FOTC Frazier is arguably the best example of pressure fighting at Heavyweight available on film, I think he proceeds to grind Vitali to victory more often than not. Chris Byrd kept him honest before the injury, and Vitali was not as up on the scorecards as most say, it was a close fight.

    Lewis might be the worst stylistic match up for Frazier aside from Foreman, so I agree. Tyson probably overwhelms him, but Joe has a possible chance of making it through and beating him, I woudn't bet on it though. And I'm confident that the Eastern European style of Boxing is the exact kind of style that Frazier would thrive against. Relying on jabs and footwork against a swarming bison like Frazier ? Not a good idea. I'm very high on Usyk, and I think he can be competitive with most of the Heavyweight greats, but Frazier chops him down like a damn tree.
     
  5. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yeah, it have got a little bit lost in the shuffle just how relatively successful a small, featherfisted boxer was pressuring Vitaly. You'd not have expected that. Byrd had no iron jaw either. Weird how well he did. Especially compared to Peter, who was a big strong power puncher.
     
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  6. Nighttrain

    Nighttrain 'BOUT IT 'BOUT IT Full Member

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    I don't believe Joe could have finessed the modern medical exams. Of course size makes difference and witnessing Smoke being held for 15 rounds sounds like a waste of a Time Machine.
     
  7. Ioakeim Tzortzakis

    Ioakeim Tzortzakis Active Member Full Member

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    Big and strong was the only thing Peter had going for him, to be fair.
     
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  8. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Vitali struggled with Chris Byrd who was a small Heavyweight.

    Remind me again what's Vitali's best win ? he seems to get vastly overrated due to his losses more so than his stand out wins.
     
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  9. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Peter probably. No, Vitaly's resume is pretty thin. It was more the dominance of the wins.
     
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  10. Niels Probst

    Niels Probst Member banned Full Member

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    You are on spot. There comes a time when size and brute strength matters. Frazier in the more recent times would be a world class cruiser - too small for the giant, athletic superheavyweights of today, hate to say it.
     
  11. Niels Probst

    Niels Probst Member banned Full Member

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    Very good, but I don't agree on the eastern boxers thing - believe me, they are a different breed than the northern european fighters.
     
  12. Hotep Kemba

    Hotep Kemba Member Full Member

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    "Marciano? Don't even want to think about the damage a 183 pounder with two left feet would bring to the modern boxers. He might even be able to overcome his size advantage and beat Inoue? "

    :roflmao: :roflmao::roflmao:
     
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  13. Ioakeim Tzortzakis

    Ioakeim Tzortzakis Active Member Full Member

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    Nah, they're overrated. it's the southern Europeans where it's at. Look at these 2 masters of their craft going at it
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  14. Hotep Kemba

    Hotep Kemba Member Full Member

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    Same height, 15lbs heavier, vastly superior hand speed, foot speed, reaction speed, power, chin, jabbing, counter punching, lateral movement, punch variety and offence in general having Mike Tyson at his peak would be picked over Joe Frazier to do better against larger opponents... Yeah he would. What's the problem here?

    Joe Frazier has a better inside game, which is uselessly nullified in the face of a 30lbs+ weight disadvantage. His stamina and willpower are superior. So his head movement would last all 12 rounds and he wouldn't quit, but as Foreman showed that doesn't really mean anything when you're so physically outmatched.

    You need ATG speed, ATG power, ATG boxing ability, an ATG chin or usually a combination of multiple to compete with people much larger than you, and Frazier had none of these attributes whilst Tyson had a few.
     
    Last edited: May 14, 2024
  15. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Athletic Super Heavyweights you mean like Zhang who is a plodder who gasses after 5 rounds he landed a grand total of 0 punches in round 12 vs Parker.

    Or Joyce who is slow and ponderous ?

    Apart from Usyk and Fury for his size there is no one i would say has stand out athletic attributes.

    Joshua is muscle bound but stiff and certainly not athletic in regards to his style.
     
    Last edited: May 14, 2024