What if?

[HyacinthusTurnipseed]

Who would win in these match-ups (in their prime)

Carl Froch v Joe Calzaghe
Mike Tyson v Joe Frazier
Marvin Hagler v GGG
Oscar De La Hoya v Ricky Hatton
Vitali Klitschko v Wladimir Klitschko
Chris Eubank v Saul Alverez

Froch, being more unorthodox and more versatile than Kessler, is able to pose Joe more problems than he did. Nevertheless, Joe's higher class and all-round skills tell over the 12 rounds. Calzaghe, competitive but clear decision

Frazier suffers a KD or two early but undiscouraged slowly grinds the fire out of Tyson in what would've been one of the best fights ever. Frazier, KO 7

Hagler likes opponents that are aggressive enough to play into his pocket counter-punching but nobody stays in the pocket with GGG without going through hell. Hagler successfully goes through hell and irreversibly takes over the fight around round 9-10. Hagler, competitive but clear decision over 12 rounds, KO13 over 15 - though what about if Hagler cuts?

Vitali is a more natural fighter than Wlad, and has the chin to take the necessary risks in order to finish this within the first half. Vitali, KO5 - assuming that both are going all out to win and not fighting like brothers.

Both fighters have benefited from somewhat generous judging at home, and would make a fight "close enough" to get the decision in their back yard. In the unlikely event they both agree to a neutral venue (New York? The British public would have to have got behind Eubank on mass to make that possible) Eubank's greater competitive fire just about overcomes Alvarez' better boxing. Eubank, very close decision

[edit:] Oops, forgot about DLH-Hatton. Hatton would've got marmalised at 147 where Oscar was at his best. At 140 Hatton roughness causes DLH problems but not even Mick Williamson can hold Ricky's face together for the whole fight. De La Hoya, KO 8

[jamesmcdonnell]

Who would win in these match-ups (in their prime)

Carl Froch v Joe Calzaghe
Mike Tyson v Joe Frazier
Marvin Hagler v GGG
Oscar De La Hoya v Ricky Hatton
Vitali Klitschko v Wladimir Klitschko
Chris Eubank v Saul Alverez

Calzaghe points..different level, beaten him as easy as Ward did
Tyson mid to late stoppage, would have stopped him like he did Pinklon Thomas
Hagler UD - Too difficult to say as GGG not fought anyway near enough his standard however he seems to have decent chin so expect him to get through the full 12-15 rounds, not enough to beat a prime Hagler though
DLH late stoppage - Another tough fight as both had suspect chins and Hatton always capable of a body shot that type Hopkins delivered. However think DLH was a slightly better all round boxer
Vitali stoppage - Tougher man, catch up with his brother
Eubank points/ late stoppage - Eubank of 90-91 pre Watson injury had nasty streak and great boxing skills. Too big and strong for Alvarez.

DLH had a suspect chin!!!

He ate bombs off a prime Mosley in their first fight, and stood their trading with him - how on earth does DLH have a suspect chin?

Christ, even when completely weight drained, and past his prime, Pacman hit him with everything but the kitchen sink and couldn't KO him.

Oscar had one of the best chins of any fighter in his era.

[TBEwasLangford]

Who would win in these match-ups (in their prime)

Carl Froch v Joe Calzaghe
Mike Tyson v Joe Frazier
Marvin Hagler v GGG
Oscar De La Hoya v Ricky Hatton
Vitali Klitschko v Wladimir Klitschko
Chris Eubank v Saul Alverez

Calzaghe points..different level, beaten him as easy as Ward did
Tyson mid to late stoppage, would have stopped him like he did Pinklon Thomas
Hagler UD - Too difficult to say as GGG not fought anyway near enough his standard however he seems to have decent chin so expect him to get through the full 12-15 rounds, not enough to beat a prime Hagler though
DLH late stoppage - Another tough fight as both had suspect chins and Hatton always capable of a body shot that type Hopkins delivered. However think DLH was a slightly better all round boxer
Vitali stoppage - Tougher man, catch up with his brother
Eubank points/ late stoppage - Eubank of 90-91 pre Watson injury had nasty streak and great boxing skills. Too big and strong for Alvarez.

DLH had a suspect chin!!!

He ate bombs off a prime Mosley in their first fight, and stood their trading with him - how on earth does DLH have a suspect chin?

Christ, even when completely weight drained, and past his prime, Pacman hit him with everything but the kitchen sink and couldn't KO him.

Oscar had one of the best chins of any fighter in his era.

Okay "suspect" wasn't fair but he didn't have one of the best chins of any era

valenzuela
campanella
whitaker
quartey

all knocked him down, so did Hopkins if you include his body punch

Certainly not in MCall, LaPorte, Hagler, Camacho league

[Boxing Writer]

Who would win in these match-ups (in their prime)

Carl Froch v Joe Calzaghe
Mike Tyson v Joe Frazier
Marvin Hagler v GGG
Oscar De La Hoya v Ricky Hatton
Vitali Klitschko v Wladimir Klitschko
Chris Eubank v Saul Alverez

Calzaghe UD
Frazier late TKO
Hagles UD
ODLH mid-round KO
Vitali late TKO
Eubank SD

[Monte Fisto]

Who would win in these match-ups (in their prime)

Carl Froch v Joe Calzaghe
Mike Tyson v Joe Frazier
Marvin Hagler v GGG
Oscar De La Hoya v Ricky Hatton
Vitali Klitschko v Wladimir Klitschko
Chris Eubank v Saul Alverez

calzaghe
frazier
hagler
depends on venue of the fight, but i'll say Oscar
Vitali
Eubank

[Lackeos]

Calzaghe beats Froch. Froch just isn't in the same league as Ward, Hopkins, and Calzaghe.
Tyson crushes Frazier. This is the textbook brawler vs swarmer match-up. Expect the same result as Foreman vs Frazier.
Hagler beats Golovkin. Hagler would have no difficulty with contemporary top middleweights like Pavlik, Martinez, Abraham, Pirog, or Golovkin. Not sure if Hopkins would be able to contain Hagler, but at least that would be in the realm of possibility.
DLH 100% beats Hatton. The height advantage is legit, the reach advantage is absolutely tremendous. I'm assuming that we're talking about a severely past-prime DLH, btw. Because prime DLH would be more than a stone cold lock against Hatton.
Vitali probably narrowly beats Wlad. I used to think Wlad would be the more willing power puncher, and would land more power punches but fewer jabs. However, after seeing Wlad - Fury, and given that Vitali has size advantages himself, I doubt that Wlad would open up with power punches as much as I had previously thought.
Eubank Sr. vs Alvarez isn't very fair. Throughout the scope of their careers, Eubank Sr. has been about 1, maybe 2 divisions bigger than Alvarez, he's way stronger than anyone Alvarez has fought, and is taller. He stopped Nigel Benn, I think he beats Alvarez.

[fizzjambo]

Who would win in these match-ups (in their prime)

Carl Froch v Joe Calzaghe
Mike Tyson v Joe Frazier
Marvin Hagler v GGG
Oscar De La Hoya v Ricky Hatton
Vitali Klitschko v Wladimir Klitschko
Chris Eubank v Saul Alverez

Calzaghe, too quick, too mobile, and would outwork froch for a comfortable UD12
Tyson KO 4 Frazier - Frazier didn't face many big punchers in his career, he never had to face Lyle or Shavers - when he did face an aggressive murderous puncher in Foreman, he was annihilated twice. Tyson was far quicker than Joe, a very quick starter (Joe was a slow burner) - and hit way harder too. Frazier doesn't even get going.
Hard to say, we've not seen GGG in with anyone good enough to really judge him, so I don't know. Hagler I would have to say on their current resumes.
DLH TKO6 - Hatton cut to ribbons by DLH's jab and straight right and left hook, easy night's work for DLH.
Vitali - probably would have gone easy on his brother, but he was by far the tougher man and more natural fighter, if Wlad hurt him, then Vitali takes him apart inside the distance.
Eubank TKO10 - Eubank was a bigger stronger man than Alvarez, hit a lot harder, and was very cute when he wanted to be. Alvarez would have lacked the fleet of foot to make Eubank pay, and didn't hit hard enough to even come close to halting Eubank. Eubank could be lazy at times, but Alvarez would have been there to hit.

Agree with five of the above, and your reasoning as well, however Frazier TKOs Tyson around 10/11 for me. Tyson was supreme when on top but I don't think he'd have intimidated Frazier and Frazier was a brutal punched in an arguably all time peak division. I loved watching Tyson but at elite level he lost. Tyson could certainly blow anyone away early but Frazier went 44 rounds with Ali - he was a seriously hard man. If it went past four I honestly only see one winner

[jamesmcdonnell]

Who would win in these match-ups (in their prime)

Carl Froch v Joe Calzaghe
Mike Tyson v Joe Frazier
Marvin Hagler v GGG
Oscar De La Hoya v Ricky Hatton
Vitali Klitschko v Wladimir Klitschko
Chris Eubank v Saul Alverez

Calzaghe, too quick, too mobile, and would outwork froch for a comfortable UD12
Tyson KO 4 Frazier - Frazier didn't face many big punchers in his career, he never had to face Lyle or Shavers - when he did face an aggressive murderous puncher in Foreman, he was annihilated twice. Tyson was far quicker than Joe, a very quick starter (Joe was a slow burner) - and hit way harder too. Frazier doesn't even get going.
Hard to say, we've not seen GGG in with anyone good enough to really judge him, so I don't know. Hagler I would have to say on their current resumes.
DLH TKO6 - Hatton cut to ribbons by DLH's jab and straight right and left hook, easy night's work for DLH.
Vitali - probably would have gone easy on his brother, but he was by far the tougher man and more natural fighter, if Wlad hurt him, then Vitali takes him apart inside the distance.
Eubank TKO10 - Eubank was a bigger stronger man than Alvarez, hit a lot harder, and was very cute when he wanted to be. Alvarez would have lacked the fleet of foot to make Eubank pay, and didn't hit hard enough to even come close to halting Eubank. Eubank could be lazy at times, but Alvarez would have been there to hit.

Agree with five of the above, and your reasoning as well, however Frazier TKOs Tyson around 10/11 for me. Tyson was supreme when on top but I don't think he'd have intimidated Frazier and Frazier was a brutal punched in an arguably all time peak division. I loved watching Tyson but at elite level he lost. Tyson could certainly blow anyone away early but Frazier went 44 rounds with Ali - he was a seriously hard man. If it went past four I honestly only see one winner

Tyson was one of a kind in that he had phenomenal speed and power. Frazier was a hard man but ali was not a big puncher in the way tyson was. I agree frazier wins if it goes long, but i dont think frazier would have survived the onslaught. Hed have done what foreman did but even quicker.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Highly unlikely, Joe would back Mike up.

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

--- Translation: Highly likely your tub of goo backs up against either.

I love Joe, but he ain't never beating a prime Tyson any more than tubby Larry. Maybe they have a 20% chance with the Botha/Mcneely Tyson, but never prime to prime.

[fizzjambo]

Calzaghe, too quick, too mobile, and would outwork froch for a comfortable UD12
Tyson KO 4 Frazier - Frazier didn't face many big punchers in his career, he never had to face Lyle or Shavers - when he did face an aggressive murderous puncher in Foreman, he was annihilated twice. Tyson was far quicker than Joe, a very quick starter (Joe was a slow burner) - and hit way harder too. Frazier doesn't even get going.
Hard to say, we've not seen GGG in with anyone good enough to really judge him, so I don't know. Hagler I would have to say on their current resumes.
DLH TKO6 - Hatton cut to ribbons by DLH's jab and straight right and left hook, easy night's work for DLH.
Vitali - probably would have gone easy on his brother, but he was by far the tougher man and more natural fighter, if Wlad hurt him, then Vitali takes him apart inside the distance.
Eubank TKO10 - Eubank was a bigger stronger man than Alvarez, hit a lot harder, and was very cute when he wanted to be. Alvarez would have lacked the fleet of foot to make Eubank pay, and didn't hit hard enough to even come close to halting Eubank. Eubank could be lazy at times, but Alvarez would have been there to hit.

Agree with five of the above, and your reasoning as well, however Frazier TKOs Tyson around 10/11 for me. Tyson was supreme when on top but I don't think he'd have intimidated Frazier and Frazier was a brutal punched in an arguably all time peak division. I loved watching Tyson but at elite level he lost. Tyson could certainly blow anyone away early but Frazier went 44 rounds with Ali - he was a seriously hard man. If it went past four I honestly only see one winner

Tyson was one of a kind in that he had phenomenal speed and power. Frazier was a hard man but ali was not a big puncher in the way tyson was. I agree frazier wins if it goes long, but i dont think frazier would have survived the onslaught. Hed have done what foreman did but even quicker.

I kinda agree but I think Foremans reach and heavy jab played a roll. He was a much bigger man than either Frazier or Tyson and he hurt Frazier with it early. Frazier tried to jump in to negate it, walked into shots and got thrashed. Foreman that night would deal with Tyson for me.

It could go either way but the tipping point for me with Tyson is that he lost every truly huge fight he was in (Lewis, Evander and never fought Bowe). Frazier, for me, wins unless Tyson catches him clean early. I think Frazier beats 6/7 out of 10

[jamesmcdonnell]

Highly unlikely, Joe would back Mike up.

He'd have to eat a lot of shots early on to do that. It's all pure conjecture of course.

[fizzjambo]

Highly unlikely, Joe would back Mike up.

He'd have to eat a lot of shots early on to do that. It's all pure conjecture of course.

It's the kind of fight you can see both men winning and have a pretty good hunch how each would do so.

Tyson is so hard to properly measure as at his very peak he looked an absolute wreaking ball but he only fought fairly average or undersized guys. Post prison he had regressed and never really had a stand out win.

What was Tyson's best win? There isn't really an exceptional one arguably

[jamesmcdonnell]

Highly unlikely, Joe would back Mike up.

He'd have to eat a lot of shots early on to do that. It's all pure conjecture of course.

It's the kind of fight you can see both men winning and have a pretty good hunch how each would do so.

Tyson is so hard to properly measure as at his very peak he looked an absolute wreaking ball but he only fought fairly average or undersized guys. Post prison he had regressed and never really had a stand out win.

What was Tyson's best win? There isn't really an exceptional one arguably

Spinks - let's not forget, Spinks destroyed Cooney and bested Holmes twice. Tyson annihilated him.

Agreed, the level of competition was pretty average, but it was the manner in which he dispatched them that is so impressive.

I think that Tyson is both underrated and overrated. His peak was brief, that's true, but I honestly think that during that peak, he was as good a heavyweight as almost anyone on his night. I honestly believe that for four rounds he gives absolutely anybody hell. I'm still convinced he'd have beaten the pre McCall version of Lewis, he'd have gotten under that jab and detonated a left hook uppercut combination. People give Lewis props for beating Tyson, but he really was a sacrificial lamb that night, he just stood there and took his beating, with little interest in the fight, quite a sad spectacle.

The brevity of his peak means he slips down the ranks of all time great heavyweights, the fact he didn't beat another ATG heavyweight unlike Frazier. If you took Frazier's win over Ali away, his career looks a lot less impressive, there's a lot of big names he never faced that Ali did, and he too had a pretty brief peak.

[fizzjambo]

He'd have to eat a lot of shots early on to do that. It's all pure conjecture of course.

It's the kind of fight you can see both men winning and have a pretty good hunch how each would do so.

Tyson is so hard to properly measure as at his very peak he looked an absolute wreaking ball but he only fought fairly average or undersized guys. Post prison he had regressed and never really had a stand out win.

What was Tyson's best win? There isn't really an exceptional one arguably

Spinks - let's not forget, Spinks destroyed Cooney and bested Holmes twice. Tyson annihilated him.

Agreed, the level of competition was pretty average, but it was the manner in which he dispatched them that is so impressive.

I think that Tyson is both underrated and overrated. His peak was brief, that's true, but I honestly think that during that peak, he was as good a heavyweight as almost anyone on his night. I honestly believe that for four rounds he gives absolutely anybody hell. I'm still convinced he'd have beaten the pre McCall version of Lewis, he'd have gotten under that jab and detonated a left hook uppercut combination. People give Lewis props for beating Tyson, but he really was a sacrificial lamb that night, he just stood there and took his beating, with little interest in the fight, quite a sad spectacle.

The brevity of his peak means he slips down the ranks of all time great heavyweights, the fact he didn't beat another ATG heavyweight unlike Frazier. If you took Frazier's win over Ali away, his career looks a lot less impressive, there's a lot of big names he never faced that Ali did, and he too had a pretty brief peak.

A lot of good points. Spinks was a very good win, and in devastating fashion. However he looked seriously jittery during the ring walks (obviously not Tyson's probelm!) and Cooney was past his best and probably not as good as once touted anyway. Spinks wins over Holmes were excellent though.

I agree that a confident, properly prepared Tyson is a hellish prospect for any heavyweight ever in the first quarter or third of a fight. I also pretty much discount the Lewis win as Tyson was done by then at that level. The big issue with Tyson is metal toughness for me - Holyfield took what he had and just kept coming - Holfield's relentlessness broke Tyson. For me Frazier had that mental toughness and had the tools to beat Tyson. I can see both sides though. It's probably the fight of different generations I'd like to see bar almost any other.

[Davidreed]

Who would win in these match-ups (in their prime)

Carl Froch v Joe Calzaghe
Mike Tyson v Joe Frazier
Marvin Hagler v GGG
Oscar De La Hoya v Ricky Hatton
Vitali Klitschko v Wladimir Klitschko
Chris Eubank v Saul Alverez

Calzaghe UD
Mike Tyson KO
GGG SD
De La Hoya KO
Vitali Klitschko KO
Alvarez UD

Agree

[jamesmcdonnell]

Who would win in these match-ups (in their prime)

Carl Froch v Joe Calzaghe
Mike Tyson v Joe Frazier
Marvin Hagler v GGG
Oscar De La Hoya v Ricky Hatton
Vitali Klitschko v Wladimir Klitschko
Chris Eubank v Saul Alverez

Calzaghe UD
Mike Tyson KO
GGG SD
De La Hoya KO
Vitali Klitschko KO
Alvarez UD

Agree

Amazed how many people are picking Alvarez - based on what. He's not even faced a genuine 160 lb fighter, let alone one who went on to be a title holder at 168.

Eubank would have eaten Cotto for breakfast, he was huge for the weight at 160, and strong as an ox at 168, and could definitely punch. Even on his worst night I'd pick eubank over Canelo.

[sucracristo]

I kinda agree but I think Foremans reach and heavy jab played a roll. He was a much bigger man than either Frazier or Tyson and he hurt Frazier with it early. Frazier tried to jump in to negate it, walked into shots and got thrashed. Foreman that night would deal with Tyson for me.

It could go either way but the tipping point for me with Tyson is that he lost every truly huge fight he was in (Lewis, Evander and never fought Bowe). Frazier, for me, wins unless Tyson catches him clean early. I think Frazier beats 6/7 out of 10

ok, so you rationalize frazier's blow out by foreman because of foreman's size, but then
at the same time knock tyson for losing to 6'5 250lb lewis at 36, well over 10 years
past his peak, as if lewis and holyfield didn't have jabs, and those guys also moved. we
are talking about prime frazier v prime tyson, here. they're basically the same size.
frazier took punches and was willing to trade even in the fights he won. prime tyson
under kevin rooney had great head movement and defense and timing, shifted back
and forth from righty to lefty with each punch and threw fast accurate knock out punches
from both sides in combinations by the numbers, and frazier ate punches in order to land
his own left hook. his defense was a head bob on the way in through the front door. that
is not going to work with tyson. this is a recipe for disaster. this is a blow out. i'm not saying
it would be as bad as tyson-marvis because obviously marvis wasn't joe, but prime tyson
would have mowed through all of joe's best wins except ali and i'm not sure prime joe makes
it through tyson's first 10 title wins without a few losses. i believe marvis would have probably
beaten all joe's best wins except ali, also.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Highly unlikely, Joe would back Mike up.

He'd have to eat a lot of shots early on to do that. It's all pure conjecture of course.

So would Mike, Joe is more equipped to fight through it. Always thought Frazier would be close to a lock against Mike.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Highly unlikely, Joe would back Mike up.

He'd have to eat a lot of shots early on to do that. It's all pure conjecture of course.

So would Mike, Joe is more equipped to fight through it. Always thought Frazier would be close to a lock against Mike.

Tyson was very elusive in his prime, far more so that Frazier.

[fizzjambo]

Calzaghe UD
Mike Tyson KO
GGG SD
De La Hoya KO
Vitali Klitschko KO
Alvarez UD

Agree

Amazed how many people are picking Alvarez - based on what. He's not even faced a genuine 160 lb fighter, let alone one who went on to be a title holder at 168.

Agreed. I'm not a huge fan of Eubank but he was a monster physically at 160. Camelot isn't even a proper middleweight. Of the 6 fights I'd see Eubanks and DLH winning easily

Eubank would have eaten Cotto for breakfast, he was huge for the weight at 160, and strong as an ox at 168, and could definitely punch. Even on his worst night I'd pick eubank over Canelo.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

He'd have to eat a lot of shots early on to do that. It's all pure conjecture of course.

So would Mike, Joe is more equipped to fight through it. Always thought Frazier would be close to a lock against Mike.

Tyson was very elusive in his prime, far more so that Frazier.

Totally disagree. I think mike has a harder time landing than joe would.The only edge I'd give Mike is a slight one in power. Several close categories and Frazier has a massive advantage on the inside, which is where the fight takes place.

[fizzjambo]

He'd have to eat a lot of shots early on to do that. It's all pure conjecture of course.

So would Mike, Joe is more equipped to fight through it. Always thought Frazier would be close to a lock against Mike.

Tyson was very elusive in his prime, far more so that Frazier.

True but Frazier was a bit cuter than people make out, only Foreman ever dealt with him convincingly.

I think everyone really wishes that Tyson hadn't gone off the rails so early, had kept his discipline in the gym and had fought Holifield around the Douglas fight. Only then would we ever really know how good he was and how mentally tough he could be. At his peak he never really had a career defining challenge that all the true greats are marked by

[mpdfc]

Who would win in these match-ups (in their prime)

Carl Froch v Joe Calzaghe
Mike Tyson v Joe Frazier
Marvin Hagler v GGG
Oscar De La Hoya v Ricky Hatton
Vitali Klitschko v Wladimir Klitschko
Chris Eubank v Saul Alverez

Calzaghe on points
Tyson stoppage
Hagler stoppage
DLH on points
Vitali stoppage
Eubank on points

[Rexob]

So would Mike, Joe is more equipped to fight through it. Always thought Frazier would be close to a lock against Mike.

Tyson was very elusive in his prime, far more so that Frazier.

Totally disagree. I think mike has a harder time landing than joe would.The only edge I'd give Mike is a slight one in power. Several close categories and Frazier has a massive advantage on the inside, which is where the fight takes place.

No, Joe was pretty much straight forward bull like and Tyson with quick cute angles coming in with KO power in both hands we would see only one winner Tyson by heavy KO!