Who Would Win If Evander Holyfield Fought Joe Frazier?

[Saddo]

I want to thank all of you for the comments and observations you sent in on last week’s column. I am sure this week’s column will spark some debate.

Also, I would love to get your opinion on the “mythical” fight that is highlighted on one of the video pieces below from The Al Bernstein Boxing Channel.

Take a look at the What If…feature on an Evander Holyfield-Joe Frazier f... Full Boxing Article here...

[match]

I'd go with Frazier by either late round TKO or decision. Bert Cooper dropped Evander and briefly had him in La La land and that was when Evander was at the apex of his career, and Cooper was just a poor man's Frazier. I think it would be action packed with both fighters having their moments but Evander didn't have the brutal power Foreman did to just take Frazier out.

[BIG H]

That's a great match up and very hard to call. I tend to lean towards Frazier, but then I think of the Holyfield that fought Bowe and the first Tyson fight and I'm not so sure

[Saddo]

15 rounder or 12 Al?

i think as great as Holyfields heart and condition is Frazier would wear him down over the fight and maybe win on points in a 12 rounder but would get the stoppage on a 15 rounder.

Totally take your point on the uppercut playing a good role in the fight for Evander against the smaller guy but that would leave him wide open for the best hook in heavyweight history.

Smoking all the way IMO on this Legend Vs Legend encounter

[OumaFan]

I can't watch the video right now.

If you were of similar size then I don't think it was really a great idea to stand in front of either guy and that's what they would both do here making it a pretty obvious war.

I guess you could say it could come down to who would break each other's will but I'm not sure either guy could.

and as much as people talk about Holyfield needing to watch out for Joe's hooks the same could be said for Evander's uppercuts and his step back counter right.

Basically I'm sitting on the fence Well I do think it would be a best of three type thing where one guy wins two but they're all close. I might go against what probably will be the grain and say Evander, a few more options maybe.

[The Fightfan]

It would almost be identical to watching Holyfield's fight with Qawi. The first one anyway. Frazier might be a little too big. Very tough to say. Great question.

[El Kabong]

I think Evander is the better boxer but Frazier was just so damned determined...I think he'd win on points as both were durable heavyweights and although Holyfield may have weighed more, Frazier had the better punch.

[Spicoli]

niiiice.One of those times when Holyfiels is facing a likewise weight,and could even come in with the weight advantage.I think Fraziers best chance would be to draw him into a shoot out but over all Holyfield moved better,I think he punched in combo faster,and I believe had his own somewhat underrated left hook....not a fight ender but he could hurt you badly with it and if he keeps his head and game plan might just take a descision....or even a late TKO,Joe leaps in with harsh left hook and Holyfields counter straight right,while not shot for shot,would be nasty and available to him also. I think Holyfield would hit him more ans turn him.Cooper was squat and clipped Evander badly,but that quick recovery and brutal uppercut-hook onslaught he brougt would be there again here.Great fight.

[bcollins]

Basically I'm sitting on the fence Well I do think it would be a best of three type thing where one guy wins two but they're all close. I might go against what probably will be the grain and say Evander, a few more options maybe.

I agree with this - it's a really tough fight to call. If you put a gun to my head and made me pick, I'd probably go with Frazier, but both men shared a lot of the same intangible qualities.

[Dark Lord Al]

The mobile Holyfield of yesteryear , beats Frazier to a pulp with the jab / cross / upercut , and stops him in 11.

[El Kabong]

Joe Frazier had an iron will he would take punishment to deliver punishment...Holyfield might have been mobile but hell Frazier caught up with ALI more than his fair share of times.

Holyfield didn't have the 1 power punch that guys like Lennox and Tyson had....Frazier had that and he had the motor to be one of the very few fighters to outwork Holyfield

[ICB]

I'd go with Frazier by either late round TKO or decision. Bert Cooper dropped Evander and briefly had him in La La land and that was when Evander was at the apex of his career, and Cooper was just a poor man's Frazier. I think it would be action packed with both fighters having their moments but Evander didn't have the brutal power Foreman did to just take Frazier out.

Yes that is true but also lets not forget Evander Holyfield, had to change opponents twice prior to the Bert Cooper fight. His orignal opponent was Mike Tyson then that Italian boxer i forgot his name who got his nose broken by Ray Mercer.

Which led Evander Holyfield to go a bit stale, i could easily comeback and say Evander Holyfield beat a better version of Joe Frazier in Mike Tyson minus the heart. Yes Mike Tyson wasn't in his peak but neither was Evander Holyfield.

And he had to go through quite alot to beat Mike Tyson, it wasn't like Mike Tyson was that poor it was Evander Holyfield was that good with brilliant tactics.

Its a hard one to call Joe Frazier for certain had more power and more workrate, but Evander Holyfield had the advantage in speed and technique.

But Joe Frazier in the 1st fight against Muhammad Ali was a machine, who looked liked nothing could stop him. I don't think any version of Evander Holyfield at Heavyweight could deny that version of Joe Frazier, just not enough fire power to stop Joe Frazier IMO.

[El Kabong]

I think Joe Frazier is WAAAAAAY better than Tyson...sorry Tyson fans but he never showed half the heart Frazier did!

[Pugilistic]

I would personally pick Frazier to win a hard fought decision over Holyfield.

It would be one hell of a matchup.

[Kel]

Interesting stuff! It's a match-up I never even thought about. I would say although Holyfield fought and beat aggressive fighters like Tyson, Frazier was like the 'Terminator' and never stopped unless you stopped him and I don't think Holyfield could have done that. 12 rounds I think Evander could pull it off if he boxed a very smart fight. 15 Rounds I think Frazier stops him late in the 14th or 15th.