BoxRec

These 2 great heavyweights never met in the ring, but what would have happened if they had?

Well Joe Frazier was the pressure come forward fighter with a brutal left hook and heart and chin to spare, the fact he kept getting up from Foremans bombs showed what a tough man he was.

His only Career losses are to Foreman and Ali, however he did win in the first fight with Ali, once again showing his mental and physical toughness.

Larry Holmes had more of slow burning career, finally picking up his world title in 79 after a classical duel with Ken Norton.

He was a master boxer with a ramrod jab, which few could beat, he worked opponants down, and always did enought to secure the win. Also blessed with a granite chin and heart, even when on the verge of defeat (i.e. Shaver II) he always got up and usually won.

His career continued after his stint as world champion, with point losses to Holyfield and mccall, however these showed how much class and skill the man had.

He was stopped only once to the young and seemingly invincable Iron mike.

So on to the fight..

well considering the chin and heart of both these fighers, i cant see a stoppage in this one, i think Frazier's slow starts could be vital here, he could lose vital early rounds, with Holmes using the jab to fend off the constant pressure from Joe.

I personally think it would be a classic, with Holmes the winner on points over 15 rounds.

Thoughts anyone?

This would definately be a classic... this is a fight which I ve though about a lot over the years.... it would be a kind of alternative version of the Ali vs Frazier fights. I could see this being a series of fights.... I d give the edge to Holmes but can see Frazier scoring a knockdown or two.... Holmes would have the speed and skill to out-box a peak Frazier early and finish stronger.... Holmes had probably the best Jab I ve seen of any Heavyweight and Frazier's face would be a mess by the late rounds... but the fight would be close.... Holmes on points.... but I can see Frazier perhaps taking a controversial decision in a first fight and then Holmes winning a rematch....and a third match.

Prime Frazier was in many ways similar to prime Tyson, maybe with a tad less speed and KO power, but with a lot more mental toughness. I have a tough time seeing Joe get past that Holmes jab, but he managed to get in repeatedly vs. Ali (who had a halfway-decent jab himself, and similar build as Holmes) and was not deterred by anything less than monster shots or huge accumulations of punches (as in Manila, but it should be noted that neither he nor ali were young anymore by then, especially in terms of ring years.) I agree, it would have been a 15-round classic.

In a related vein, what do you guys think would happen if prime Foreman fought prime Holmes?

Eric the Viking wrote:
In a related vein, what do you guys think would happen if prime Foreman fought prime Holmes?

Larry Holmes always wanted to face George, all though-out his career.

George was never interested in fighting Larry, and for good reason.

Foreman, as he showed in the young fight, failed to deal with a master boxer. Holmes would have used speed and his jab to daze the ponderously slow foreman.

Holmes chin would be able to take the shots he recieved from foreman, however i could not imagine many touching him.

Holmes would win a lopsided points decision over 12 or 15 rounds, or could even get a late KO as Foremans stamina at his best was aweful for a top level fighter.

Point or TKO i would see foreman being sent to the canvas during the proceedings.

Holmes vs Foreman would be another classic... I see Holmes winning by points or late stoppage over a prime Foreman. I actually think that the older Foreman had better stamina and was a craftier fighter.... but Holmes would still beat him.

Holmes-Frazier: As tough as Joe was, I just can't picture him getting past that Holmes jab. Frazier might put some hurt on Holmes, but we saw Holmes pull himself through some very hairy situations. A puffy-eyed Frazier loses UD.

Holmes-Foreman: OK, let's say George takes only a year off after the loss to Young instead of becoming a Bible-toting housewares salesman. A couple of tune-ups (maybe Shavers? Think about that!) and Holmes faces Foreman in late 79 or early 80. Outcome: Holmes would outbox and outjab slower George. I think Foreman would fight more carefully and strategically after the hard lessons learned in his losses to Ali and Young, but still wouldn't be able to keep the jab out of his face. Holmes by late KO or UD.

On first thought, I see Holmes outboxing Frazier and winning a decision...but if Frazier fights the way he did on 3/8/71...relentlessly coming in and taking jabs & combinations just to deliver one good left hook...and doing it successfully...then Holmes could be in for a long night...Holmes was dropped by lesser fighters (Renaldo Snipes shook him up big time in the 7th in '81) and if Frazier caught him with the big hook, Larry would be in trouble...this actually would be a very interesting fight...and Frazier (at his best) wasn't the easiest guy to jab, bobbing up and down like he did...I'd still tend to pick Holmes but I wouldn't bet the house on this one.....

Holmes vs. Foreman is a fight I've thought about just because they should have fought in their respective primes, being the same age...I think Foreman would have had an excellent chance against Holmes...Foreman may have a bad rap on him when he's thought of as a guy who had trouble against 'boxers' like Ali and Young...Ali didn't really 'outbox' Foreman...he got George to burn himself out...Ali certainly didn't rush to sign up for a rematch with George, and with damn good reason...he got by him once, might not be as lucky the second time around. If Foreman could pace himself against Holmes, he has a 50/50 chance...but I'd still make Holmes the favorite by the narrowest of margins.

Larry by close decision.

Both fighters may have hit the canvas.

I have Larry at no 2 in the All time list.

I think Holmes would win a verdict against Frazier.

Holmes - Foreman is far more difficult to predict. In the 80's Holmes would have won for sure. Foreman was done after the Ali fight.
Holmes (version: 1980) vs. Foreman (version: before the Ali fight) would be unpredictable in my opinion.