The Cincinnati Cobra v Smokin' Joe?

Question

I don't think I've seen this matchup before. Ezzard Charles must be one of the most underated fighters in the history of the sport. Starting out at light heavyweight he beat Archie Moore 3 times, once by k.o., and Joey Maxim at lightheavyweight and was voted as Best Lightheavyweight of All Time by Ring Magazine . At heavyweight Ezzard defeated Joe Walcott for the NBO title and confirmed his right to hold the world title by beating Louis the following year.After loing the title to Walcott in their third fight Ezzard gave Rocky Marciano his toghest fight, lasting the full 15 rounds against a ferocious Marciano at his peak, and in the rematch almost stopped Marciano with a TKO and split Marciano's nose before being stopped himself.

Frazier is obviously best known for his 3 fights against Ali, and in my mind for his two losses to Foreman. Whereas the Brockton Blocbuster could drop a blockbuster with either fist Smokin' Joe relied pricipally on his left hook. Both Marciano and Joe .....

Answer 1

With his nose looking like that there is no way by today's standards they would have let Marciano continue, Charles did a number on Rock's face and his  nose was gruesome.  I have seen some bad cuts in my time, and the damage to Marciano's nose in the second Charles fight is up there with the worst of it.  It ranks up there with the famous Rockmon "lump' from the Holyfield fight as one of the most hideous injuries that they ever allowed a fighter to continue fighting with.  Ezzard Charles was one of the greats.  He had hand & foot speed to spare, and in truth one of, if not the best lightheavy's of all time, which strangely enough is why I think Frazier gets the edge.

Joe was by Ezzard Charles standards a slow, plodding slugger, but Joe was a true heavyweight, and his punches had world class power the could have put anyone away.  Joe had a measure of trouble with mobile boxers, but if Joe could beat Ali, odds are good the pressure Joe would have brought to bear would have eventually got to Charles as well.  There are similarities to Joe and Rocky, and in truth Joe matches up well against Marciano as well.  Besides size, the other problem Ezzard Charles would have had against Frazier is that Charles, for all his skill was a fighter, he could have jabbed and ran, clealy he had the physical tools to do it, but he had heart and would have fought Frazier, just like he fought Marciano.  Eventually Joe would have landed enought hard stuff to catch Charles.

Great match up, it would have been close, talent wise these two are about egual, wiht a slight edge going to Charles, but Frazier had Ezzard out guned in the power department and eventually size and power would have been the difference.

Answer 2

Smokin' Joe

Answer 3

frazier would probably have taken this one by late stoppage or decision, but it would have been a tough one for frazier. he would have had to dig deep down to take the man who split marciano's nose.

Answer 4

dntnow