If Frazier had entered the '67-'68 WBA tournament, would

[yancey]

any of the others have had much chance to stop him?

I think he rolls through the tournament, barring injury.

Which one of the others (Terrell, Martin, Ellis, Patterson, Spencer, Mildenberger, Bonavena, Quarry) would have stood the best chance of pulling the upset against Smokin' Joe?

[raylawpc]

any of the others have had much chance to stop him?

I think he rolls through the tournament, barring injury.

Which one of the others (Terrell, Martin, Ellis, Patterson, Spencer, Mildenberger, Bonavena, Quarry) would have stood the best chance of pulling the upset against Smokin' Joe?

I think he would have won the tournament. Whether he would have "rolled through," depends on how you define the phrase. Yes, he decisively beat Bonavena in '68 and Quarry in '69, but neither was an easy win. If he met one of them, he would have won but I'm not sure he would have "rolled."

The one with the best chance would have been Martin, I think. He could bang a bit (ask Sonny Liston), and I think he was familiar with Joe's style - maybe even sparred with him - since both were from Philly.

[yancey]

any of the others have had much chance to stop him?

I think he rolls through the tournament, barring injury.

Which one of the others (Terrell, Martin, Ellis, Patterson, Spencer, Mildenberger, Bonavena, Quarry) would have stood the best chance of pulling the upset against Smokin' Joe?

I think he would have won the tournament. Whether he would have "rolled through," depends on how you define the phrase. Yes, he decisively beat Bonavena in '68 and Quarry in '69, but neither was an easy win. If he met one of them, he would have won but I'm not sure he would have "rolled."

The one with the best chance would have been Martin, I think. He could bang a bit (ask Sonny Liston), and I think he was familiar with Joe's style - maybe even sparred with him - since both were from Philly.

I thought Martin, too.

As far as the "rolling" bit, sorry, sometimes I'm not so clear. But what I meant was that I see Frazier becoming stronger and more dominant as the tournament progressed. That '67-'68 period was when he was really developing into a buzz saw. I've always maintained he really reached his short peak from about '68 through '70 with the Ellis fight.

btw, I thought Spencer was going to win that tournament after he upset Terrell. It was sort of surprising to see him drop off the radar so soon after losing to Quarry. The fast life caught up to him, I guess.

I had it wrong most of that tournament. I thought/hoped Patterson would beat Quarry, Mildenberger would beat Bonavena, Spencer would beat Quarry, and Quarry would beat Ellis.

[raylawpc]

any of the others have had much chance to stop him?

I think he rolls through the tournament, barring injury.

Which one of the others (Terrell, Martin, Ellis, Patterson, Spencer, Mildenberger, Bonavena, Quarry) would have stood the best chance of pulling the upset against Smokin' Joe?

I think he would have won the tournament. Whether he would have "rolled through," depends on how you define the phrase. Yes, he decisively beat Bonavena in '68 and Quarry in '69, but neither was an easy win. If he met one of them, he would have won but I'm not sure he would have "rolled."

The one with the best chance would have been Martin, I think. He could bang a bit (ask Sonny Liston), and I think he was familiar with Joe's style - maybe even sparred with him - since both were from Philly.

I thought Martin, too.

As far as the "rolling" bit, sorry, sometimes I'm not so clear. But what I meant was that I see Frazier becoming stronger and more dominant as the tournament progressed. That '67-'68 period was when he was really developing into a buzz saw. I've always maintained he really reached his short peak from about '68 through '70 with the Ellis fight.

btw, I thought Spencer was going to win that tournament after he upset Terrell. It was sort of surprising to see him drop off the radar so soon after losing to Quarry. The fast life caught up to him, I guess.

I had it wrong most of that tournament. I thought/hoped Patterson would beat Quarry, Mildenberger would beat Bonavena, Spencer would beat Quarry, and Quarry would beat Ellis.

Yeah, Spencer sure did unravel after that loss. Did he even win another fight after Quarry beat him? I don't think so.

I think Joe's peak lasted through the FOTC. He looked good against Ali and he looked damn good against Foster.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Clearly, he'd win it.

I dont see much threat to that. The way I see it, we saw how the bouts with Bonavena, Quarry & Ellis would go --- just a touch later than we could have, so I throw those three out the window.

Martin, I cant claim to have seen enough of.

Spencer was a good Heavy. That isnt going to be enough against Frazier.

Mildenberger? Please.

Patterson wouldnt have dealt with Frazier in his own prime, let alone in 1968.

Terrell, he has some nice tools and the big size edge, but he wont keep up with Frazier's pace.

Barring Martin who I wont comment on, I cant see anything here to upset Frazier's applecart. Maybe if Liston were invited (maybe), but that aside, there wasnt an active Heavy alive in 1968 who could have beaten Frazier, IMO.

[Crease]

I would have bet on Joe winning the tournament had he been entered in it.

[Adamj1987]

ono one ever really rolled through bonevena he gave most people a tough time he gave frazier a good push

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Frazier was definitely the best HW in the world in late 1967 & 1968.

He would have come out on top for sure.