Joe Louis vs. Joe Frazier

I see a beautiful fight. Louis starts out slow measuring his man, Frazier a notoriously slow starter. Louis drops Frazier twice in round 2. Frazier starts to smoke in rounds 4 and 5 and drops Louis with a left hook and dishes out some body punishment. Louis comes back, finds his range and starts unloading all of his offensive arsenal (and he had plenty). The referee is forced to step in and save Frazier's life by the 9th round.

 

I'm not so sure. The Frazier of the first Ali fight was a BAD MAN. I could see your scenario playing out, and if forced to pick, I'd go with Frazier by late stoppage.

HOWEVER, Louis by mid-round stoppage is possible. Frazier got in trouble a lot early-on, and once Louis got guys in trouble, he was easily one of the best finishers of all time.

So, either Louis mid, or Frazier late.

 

Louis had the superior power and he got so much leverage on his punches it was unreal.

If Frazier can ride out that early storm and take it to the deep waters, I think he would have the edge.

 

Yep. Louis early. Frazier late. If Joe doesn't get him otta there by the 5-6th, he's in trouble.

 

I don't see why. Louis was just as effective in the late rounds of a fight as he was in the early rounds. Even an old Louis rallied back late to stop Jersey Joe Walcott in 11 rounds. Frazier was more vulnerable early relative to his opponents, true, but Louis' power would be a problem for Frazier at any stage of the fight.

 

It's not that Louis was less effective late, it's that when Joe started smokin' he was a steamroller. Add to that the body shot toll on Louis. The Frazier who fought Ali in 71 was a phenomenal fighting machine. There's not too many fighters I'd favour over that guy after 5 rounds.

 

Frazier is dangerous all the time but Louis should mainly kick his ass for as long as the fight lasts. He's the much sharper, compact puncher. Frazier will get more busted up than Louis gets broken down as the fight goes on. Anything can happen with that much power in the ring though.

 

Frazier smokes him. Pure power, especially through the uppercut, does for Joe. Louis, fucking excellent though he is, isn't strong enough for the job.

MTF