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

[JAB5239]

Correct, my bad.



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.

The point is my friend he separated himself from this group to get his shot. I don't think he was the best fighter, but he was a viable contender and both the public and HBO were interested in him.

Here's a question for you guys. Does anybody think Ruiz could have ever beat Tua? I don't.

[JAB5239]

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).

That wasn't a top 10 list, just a list of young up and comers that Tua had beaten to get himself ranked. Now that I think more about it, its pretty impressive. Most guys take the route of trail horses and faded champions. Tua was taking on some of the best up and comers.

[crold1]

That wasn't a top 10 list, just a list of young up and comers that Tua had beaten to get himself ranked. Now that I think more about it, its pretty impressive. Most guys take the route of trail horses and faded champions. Tua was taking on some of the best up and comers.

Tua, IMO, might never have been the same after the Ike war and was definitely a victim of the times. He had been kept well active and in shape but when he landed on his mando he had to sit and he got FAT. He'd made enough to do it. In another era, no dice. It was disheartening to see how he showed up for Lewis after the shape he'd been in earlier in his career. he probably still loses, but he didn't give himself fair shot.

Still baffling he only ever got one title shot of any kind versus all the opportunities so many of the dudes he blasted out got. Freaking Fres Oquendo got more belt shots.

[JAB5239]

Tua, IMO, might never have been the same after the Ike war and was definitely a victim of the times. He had been kept well active and in shape but when he landed on his mando he had to sit and he got FAT. He'd made enough to do it. In another era, no dice. It was disheartening to see how he showed up for Lewis after the shape he'd been in earlier in his career. he probably still loses, but he didn't give himself fair shot.

Still baffling he only ever got one title shot of any kind versus all the opportunities so many of the dudes he blasted out got. Freaking Fres Oquendo got more belt shots.

I pretty much I agree with this. But we both know how it works for fighters like Oquendo and Ruiz. It isn't who you beat, its who you're with.

[gattiwarrior]

unless tua lands a very big bomb then frazier totally outworks and beats tua up.

speed and workrate are the key for frazier in this fight although i cant see him stopping tua in his prime.

[Daddy T]

I actually think prime tua is a bad match up for joe as I see any bigger stronger guy being a bad match up for him. (Liston,Foreman,Tyson) I could see it going one of two ways

1. Tua does a foreman to him
2. Frazier's greater skills and determination result in him wearing Tua down for a late tko or more likely unamous points win