Larry Holmes v Joe Frazier?

Question

both in their prime. Who wins and how?

Answer 1

Me Thinks that Holmes jab would have been too much for Joe and Larry had the skills to hold him off inside, Holmes by  Decision.

Answer 2

Joe Frazier tried to walk through fighters and was willing to take a shot to land a shot.  Obviously it didn't work against George Forman, but Larry didn't hit anywhere near as hard as George.  The question hear is "does the best left hook in heavyweight boxing beat the best jab in boxing?"

Joe wouldn't win a decision, he would have to knock Holmes out to have any hope of a victory.  Frazier's bull loses to Holmes's matador.

Larry Holmes by decison.

Answer 3

Larry is a slightly weaker version of Muhammad Ali so I predict that Joe will win by close unanimous decision and he will knock Holmes down once in the fight ( if Renaldo Snipe can knock Larry down then so can Joe) but Larry can not comes back and TKO Joe like he did Renaldo because Joe had a great chin and he was always very busy. This will be just like the Frazier vs Ali first fight.

Answer 4

holmes jab is the dominant factor, and larry can block most of joe's left hooks with his big arms. he keeps the fight at long range and outpoints frazier over 15 .

Answer 5

Larry Holmes. Frazier was only a problem to Ali

Answer 6

Joe Frazier would win by Knockout.

Answer 7

Wow!  This would have been a great fight.  Larry Holmes is considered to be underatted by many possessing one of the finest jabs in pugilistic history.  He was also a very savvy fighter and smart.  Joe Frazier of course was the first man to beat Ali behind his pressure and with his great left hook.  Holmes would be smart enough to tie Joe up on the inside and keep him at bay with his jab for the most part.  Frazier would win some rounds especially late in the fight and it would be a very close fight with both men nearly at the pont of exhaustion at the end.  I believe that much like the Holmes vs Norton fight was, this too would be very close.  I believe that Holmes takes it by split decision with a clamoring by the boxing public for a rematch.

Answer 8

Interesting match. Could Frazier get past Holmes' snapping telephone pole like left jab? That's the question that has to be answered. Smokin' Joe did beat Ali. Ali was not in fighting trim coming into that fight. He had an easy time with Quarry, the fight being stopped on cuts in round 3. Ali certainly didn't look sharp against Bonavena (the two fights he had before the first fight with Smokin' Joe). So that being said would Holmes lay against the ropes as frequently as Ali did in the first Frazier fight? I say no. I believe Holmes would stuff his left jab in Joe's face, but Holmes would pay a dear price with shots to the body. Having answered that question, it comes down to a question of heart and stamina. Which fighters had more. Both were great champions. Great champions don't lack either trait(to me the answer is a push). I see this fight being fought at the center of the ring meaning it's in Holmes' territory. Holmes would control the pace of the fight with his jab and right cross. Frazier would catch frequent clean shots to the head trying to get inside. Holmes as I mentioned earlier would suffer significant damage to the body. I believe in a war of attrition and with the rounds running out on Smokin' Joe, Holmes guts and I mean guts out a close split decision win.  

Thanks for an intriguing question and one that I had to work through to give you my answer.

Answer 9

I agree with Ron, Holmes's jab would have dictated the fight. It would be similar to the Ali fights but Holmes's jab was even better than Ali's.

I would give Joe a punchers chance, Weaver & Snipes both staggered Holmes. If Frazier landed a left hook like the one he hit Ali with, it might end quickly.

Answer 10

From what I understand, Joe broke Larry's ribs in a sparring session.  The more seasoned Holmes, a Holmes not in "sparring partner mode", would have done better.  LH decision by establishing the jab, moving away from the hook and clinching before Joe could go to work on The Eason Assassin's body.