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Former heavyweight champion of the world Joe Frazier defeated one of the
all-time-greatest fighters during his career, but hypothetically pitting himself against legends of the past and present is something he deems unfair. However, Smokin’ Joe insists he would have had no problem with likes of Mike Tyson and Rocky Marciano.
The 66-year-old Philadelphian reigned as heavyweight champion of the world from 1970 until 1973, during which time he became the first person to defeat Muhammad Ali. Frazier was known as a heavy-hitter and notorious for his ability to unleash sustained attacks to the body and his left hook which could send the best to the canvas.
Years later the boxing world would get a glimpse of this style again when Mike Tyson appeared on the scene. Inevitably comparisons were made between Frazier and Iron Mike, whose devastating knockout ability led him to become the youngest heavyweight champion of the world and he would ho on to become one of the most controversial boxers in the sport’s history.
Frazier feels Tyson received more credit than he deserved and when asked how a fight between the two would have gone, he replied: “There’s no way he can touch me.”
Each generation brings with it a new calibre of boxer as training and fitness techniques improve. Such developments mean boxers today are faster, stronger, and fitter than their predecessors. With that in mind, Frazier believes unbeaten heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano would be no match for him.
“I don’t think I would have any problem in facing Mr Marciano…and all these great guys of their time,” said Frazier, who is reluctant to tread on the legacies of his own idols. “Marciano, Joe Louis they were great guys but you got a better time now.
“Men are faster, smarter and a little more slicker. So that wouldn’t be right. Back in their time you could match them up that way, but you can’t match them up with me and them. That wouldn’t be fair to the guys back then because times are different.”
JOE FRAZIER:
Frazier may have lost the battle with Ali but he won the war
Joe Frazier sings boxing version of 'My Way'
During his career Frazier won 32 fights, 27 of which he finished by knockout. Only two fighters were able to beat the South Carolina-born fighter; fierce rival Ali and the heavy-handed knockout king George Foreman. Frazier met Foreman in the ring twice and twice was knocked out, although it took several knockdowns before Frazier would stop getting back up.
The first fight in Jamaica in 1973 saw Foreman fly out of the traps, throwing and landing huge blows on the shorter Frazier. The fight ended in the second round after Frazier had been floored six times. The pair faced each other once again in a rematch three years later in New York and Foreman’s strength was still too much for Frazier, who lost after a second knock-down in the fifth round.
Frazier continued: “Mike [Tyson], I wouldn’t have no trouble with Michael. I would never have no trouble with [Ken] Norton, Larry [Holmes]. I had trouble with the big guy, Foreman.
“Maybe if we go back and train today I think I would take him this time because I’m in shape a bit more than him, but he’s a good guy.”
Asked what went wrong in the fights against Foreman, the first of which was Frazier’s first loss, he answered: “What went wrong? I think I put my name on the contract, that’s what went wrong.
“The first time he stopped me in the first [actually the second] round, the second time he stopped me in the seventh [fifth] round, so if I had moved a little more, a little faster, I would have probably came out victorious. But when he started throwing bombs at me it shook me out and I’m going to work, I’m going to beat him up. But that way didn’t work.
“But as of now you look back, he’s a good guy, a good man, and I’m happy for him because I think he can beat the average guy today if he gets back to it.”
Asked if he could fight anyone in the sport, past or present, Frazer replied: “I wish I was in along with Mike Tyson. I don’t think he would have been able to stand up with me.”
Joe Frazier is currently working on a Limited Edition Photo portfolio – for more information visit Joe Frazier Photos. You can also follow Joe Frazier on Twitter and Facebook.
Former heavyweight champion of the world Joe Frazier defeated one of the
all-time-greatest fighters during his career, but hypothetically pitting himself against legends of the past and present is something he deems unfair. However, Smokin’ Joe insists he would have had no problem with likes of Mike Tyson and Rocky Marciano.
The 66-year-old Philadelphian reigned as heavyweight champion of the world from 1970 until 1973, during which time he became the first person to defeat Muhammad Ali. Frazier was known as a heavy-hitter and notorious for his ability to unleash sustained attacks to the body and his left hook which could send the best to the canvas.
Years later the boxing world would get a glimpse of this style again when Mike Tyson appeared on the scene. Inevitably comparisons were made between Frazier and Iron Mike, whose devastating knockout ability led him to become the youngest heavyweight champion of the world and he would ho on to become one of the most controversial boxers in the sport’s history.
Frazier feels Tyson received more credit than he deserved and when asked how a fight between the two would have gone, he replied: “There’s no way he can touch me.”
Each generation brings with it a new calibre of boxer as training and fitness techniques improve. Such developments mean boxers today are faster, stronger, and fitter than their predecessors. With that in mind, Frazier believes unbeaten heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano would be no match for him.
“I don’t think I would have any problem in facing Mr Marciano…and all these great guys of their time,” said Frazier, who is reluctant to tread on the legacies of his own idols. “Marciano, Joe Louis they were great guys but you got a better time now.
“Men are faster, smarter and a little more slicker. So that wouldn’t be right. Back in their time you could match them up that way, but you can’t match them up with me and them. That wouldn’t be fair to the guys back then because times are different.”
JOE FRAZIER:
Frazier may have lost the battle with Ali but he won the war
Joe Frazier sings boxing version of 'My Way'
During his career Frazier won 32 fights, 27 of which he finished by knockout. Only two fighters were able to beat the South Carolina-born fighter; fierce rival Ali and the heavy-handed knockout king George Foreman. Frazier met Foreman in the ring twice and twice was knocked out, although it took several knockdowns before Frazier would stop getting back up.
The first fight in Jamaica in 1973 saw Foreman fly out of the traps, throwing and landing huge blows on the shorter Frazier. The fight ended in the second round after Frazier had been floored six times. The pair faced each other once again in a rematch three years later in New York and Foreman’s strength was still too much for Frazier, who lost after a second knock-down in the fifth round.
Frazier continued: “Mike [Tyson], I wouldn’t have no trouble with Michael. I would never have no trouble with [Ken] Norton, Larry [Holmes]. I had trouble with the big guy, Foreman.
“Maybe if we go back and train today I think I would take him this time because I’m in shape a bit more than him, but he’s a good guy.”
Asked what went wrong in the fights against Foreman, the first of which was Frazier’s first loss, he answered: “What went wrong? I think I put my name on the contract, that’s what went wrong.
“The first time he stopped me in the first [actually the second] round, the second time he stopped me in the seventh [fifth] round, so if I had moved a little more, a little faster, I would have probably came out victorious. But when he started throwing bombs at me it shook me out and I’m going to work, I’m going to beat him up. But that way didn’t work.
“But as of now you look back, he’s a good guy, a good man, and I’m happy for him because I think he can beat the average guy today if he gets back to it.”
Asked if he could fight anyone in the sport, past or present, Frazer replied: “I wish I was in along with Mike Tyson. I don’t think he would have been able to stand up with me.”
Joe Frazier is currently working on a Limited Edition Photo portfolio – for more information visit Joe Frazier Photos. You can also follow Joe Frazier on Twitter and Facebook.
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