Imagine a prime (99-00) Tua against a prime (69-73) Joe Frazier, who would win?

[them_apples]

Just a different class of fighter. We know Tua doesn't like it to the body and Frazier had the best body attack I've ever seen at Heavyweight. People are asking how Frazier would take a Tua left hook to the chin when the real question is how Tua would take a Frazier left hook to the ribs......or several dozen as would be the case

Poet

Yeah Tua would probably wear down and get out worked. But in his prime he was a sturdy mo fugga, He might get either roughed up bad or stopped late. I could see Tua dropping Frazier or wobbling him early though Frazier was a smaller HW who had a ton of heart and was always great shape so he could recover. IMO Tua could **** as good or better than Oscar Bonavena and had more skill. I also gotta say that Tua wouldnt be able to keep up on the inside, he doesnt work as much as Frazier.

[Wild Blue Yonda]

Tua could knock Frazier down. Frazier would knock Tua out (bodywork).

[Wild Blue Yonda]

True. Thing is, a body attack takes several rounds to have an effect, whereas a shot to the chops is instantaneous. If Tua caught Frazier to the head (as might happen if Frazier decided to focus on the body) then he could seriously hurt Frazier, and a prime Tua was vicious at finishing opponents off (in fact to my knowledge there isn't a single fighter who was knocked down by Tua who went on the finish the fight, let alone win it). If he allows Frazier to get shots off to the body, as might also happen, then I could likewise see him wilting in the mid rounds and possibly quitting on his stool. Tua wasn't a total goon though, and he'd probably try to prevent Frazier from seriously hurting him to the body. Whether he'd succeed or not is a different matter...

At the same time, it's fair to say Tua didn't finish anyone who could be classed within a hundred miles of Frazier.

[La_Vibora]

Tua's prime was in the mid to late nineties, not a mediocre period for heavyweights at all. True, his power didn't get him a title, but that was as much down to bad management, poor conditioning and matchmaking as it was to any inherent flaws Tua had (and he had truck loads).

But it's true that the reason I regard Tua so highly in discussions of this type is mostly down to his power. Why? Because it was freaking off the charts! Couple that with one of the best beards of recent times and it's hard not to give him more than a fighting chance against guys whom, on paper, he should get demolished by.

You're right, it was slightly worse than mediocre, but I am not surprise that a Lennox Lewis fan would try to argue otherwise in an effort to legitimize his weak reign.

[JAB5239]

You're right, it was slightly worse than mediocre, but I am not surprise that a Lennox Lewis fan would try to argue otherwise in an effort to legitimize his weak reign.

Can you name 5 better heavyweight era's and back up your opinion?

[RubenSonny]

Can you name 5 better heavyweight era's and back up your opinion?

Thats besides the point, Tua wasn't fighting the best in the division at the time and lost to the best guy he fought in Ibeabuchi (who was good in hindsight).

[JAB5239]

Thats besides the point, Tua wasn't fighting the best in the division at the time and lost to the best guy he fought in Ibeabuchi (who was good in hindsight).

How is it beside the point if someone is calling the era less than mediocre?

Yes Tua lost to Ibeabuchi, but barely. He also beat Ruiz, Wilson, Izon, Maskeav and Rahman. Both Rahman and Maskeav were rated in the top 10 around this time and Ruiz would go on to win a paper title. The rest were highly touted up and comers at the time and many were featured in a Ring or KO magazine cover with a title something like "Tomorrows champions".

[lightsout_finit]

Frazier would break him down.

[Wild Blue Yonda]

How is it beside the point if someone is calling the era less than mediocre?

Yes Tua lost to Ibeabuchi, but barely. He also beat Ruiz, Wilson, Izon, Maskeav and Rahman. Both Rahman and Maskeav were rated in the top 10 around this time and Ruiz would go on to win a paper title. The rest were highly touted up and comers at the time and many were featured in a Ring or KO magazine cover with a title something like "Tomorrows champions".

I do feel compelled to say, though, that that list, though it may've been top-10, is very uninspiring. Rahman especially was just an awful fighter, & even he made Tua his play-thing. Ruiz, Izon, Wilson & Maskaev are pretty forgettable (at least, I wish I could forget Ruiz).

[RubenSonny]

How is it beside the point if someone is calling the era less than mediocre?

Correct, my bad.

Yes Tua lost to Ibeabuchi, but barely. He also beat Ruiz, Wilson, Izon, Maskeav and Rahman. Both Rahman and Maskeav were rated in the top 10 around this time and Ruiz would go on to win a paper title. The rest were highly touted up and comers at the time and many were featured in a Ring or KO magazine cover with a title something like "Tomorrows champions".

Nearly beating a guy who hadn't beaten anyone at that point and was the ne stepping up doesn't look good for Tua. Ruiz wasn't near his best and had proved next to nothing at that point and had quite away to go before he did anything (whatever that was). Maskeav wasn't in the top 10 when Tua fought him and he was an absolutely awful fighter, Rahman only being a bit better, Tuas competition round that time was mediocre at best.