Sparring Stories

First topic message reminder :

Hey everyone. A friend of mine sent me on this report from a guy who has sparred with some of the top heavyweights and thought I would share it with you guys. It gives a good viewpoint of the kind of power that these heavyweights have.

Riddicks power wasnt memorable to me. It probably got better as he got older, cause he never even remotely buzzed me in either of our contests.

Lennox hit like a Frak tank. He cowed me; I won the first round, and he literally broke my spirit and took my soul with a right uppercut and straight right hand in the 2nd. I tried to stay away, and forgot to punch. He never got me quite as good again, but I will never forget those two punches. When we sparred years later, he hit very hard. Distinctly unpleasant to be hit by the man.

David Tua was unpleasant. I can't see myself getting stopped by him early, as he never really staggers me, but every shot hurt, and he'd bang. Every other guy I ever sparred would box when I got aggressive, but David would stand his ground and give. I'd get these horrible headaches after sparring with him, and Dave told me once that whenever he knew I was on the dance card, he'd drink extra water for his brain. Nice guy. Hit like a wrecking ball. David Tua hit hard enough to knock my headgear clean around my face. Dude had a pretty limited style, but that left was quick as a cobra when he was sharp, and boy did it have bite. Having sparred them both, Wladimir would school Tua and probably turn out his lights. He just lacks almost any sort of refinement to his violence. Granted, I don't really either unless I'm really, really on that day, but the best heavyweights I've sparred handled me a lot easier than David did.
Feels kinda bad critiquing the dude, though. He's a fun guy, super hospitable and friendly, hit like a truck and put me through plenty of painful paces. I only hope our careers and lives don't end up with me required to face him with 12's and no mask. I can't afford the surgery.

Evander Holyfield was a machine gun. He put me on my butt first round we ever sparred with a 7 or 8 punch volley. He just punched well; He'd move around and when he let them go, they hit, hard and fast and in large numbers. He was the weakest of the group since Bowe, but probably the most dangerous. He never found me difficult to find, and turned me into a bobble head more than once.

George Foreman was tricky. His jab was absolutely numbing-Ive never felt a jab like that, where your whole face would feel like it got novacained after he hit you with it. He'd also throw light punches primarily, almost pitty pat, till he had the opening, and then he'd wallop you. His punches had the most force; They didn't hurt any worse than Tua or Lewis, but I remember how badly they'd screw with my balance. His shots moved me. He also broke my nose with a straight right.

Wladimir Klitschko hit me by far the hardest, though. I couldn't get past the jab, and his right hands hit like thunder. They reminded me of Lewis', but they were quicker and sharper. Wladimir staggered me regularly in sparring. There are literally whole rounds I don't remember. He also knocked me out with a left hook. Not down, out. Only time in my life I've seen canvas and not been able to stand up by 10 seconds.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:

Soldier_Of_Fortune wrote:What nugget of a mod deleted my JabMachine post.

I had one deleted...Never mind you can still have pops at me....I'll let you!!

Before I had my jabby post deleted by herr onetwo of the ss, I was wondering why you hadn't beaten me to it truss!

At least its ok to discuss that they existed.... For now

I've not enjoyed some wum for a while....

Time for another affair....Any Meg Ryan lookalikes always welcome

Floyd is my favourite active fighter but I still hate the fact that him and Pac has never fought. I blame both camps equally.

Rather you then me

She hasn't got a Liverpool accent though which is a big plus..

AdamT wrote:

DAVE667 wrote:He's dull but effective but the word to take away and digest (for me at least) is "dull"

Some are content to sit and watch his glorified sparring sessions but it's gone long past the stage where I will bother to tune in to one of his fights

Mayweather??

I was referring to WLAD...Mayweather is also guilty of it on occasion but has (either by accident or design) given us a some entertaining fights. Mayweather has also showcased his variety of punches...mind you, so has Wlad, it's just that his is significantly smaller

Did I mention that I'd had toast for breakfast?

You know you love it Truss.....

You touch me in all the right places.....

As long as it on the back of the head with a lead pipe.....

Do you woo all the ladies with your thick Alabama accent?

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Could anyone imagine what a Frazier would do with a slug that let's his hands go..

Down goes Frazier down goes Frazier down goes Frazier?

kingraf wrote:

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Could anyone imagine what a Frazier would do with a slug that let's his hands go..

Down goes Frazier down goes Frazier down goes Frazier?

WLAD WOULD HAVE TO THROW HOOKS AND UPPERCUTS FOR THAT TO HAPPEN

DAVE667 wrote:

kingraf wrote:

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Could anyone imagine what a Frazier would do with a slug that let's his hands go..

Down goes Frazier down goes Frazier down goes Frazier?

WLAD WOULD HAVE TO THROW HOOKS AND UPPERCUTS FOR THAT TO HAPPEN

Would you pick Frazier to beat Wlad??

Has anyone actually figured out who the sparring partner is? I had a look on the original post and gleaned the following info:

He's 6ft 4in tall, has fought both Bowe (twice) and Lewis in the amateurs and hails from New York. I know it's not much to go on but somebody must have an idea.

AdamT wrote:

DAVE667 wrote:

kingraf wrote:

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Could anyone imagine what a Frazier would do with a slug that let's his hands go..

Down goes Frazier down goes Frazier down goes Frazier?

WLAD WOULD HAVE TO THROW HOOKS AND UPPERCUTS FOR THAT TO HAPPEN

Would you pick Frazier to beat Wlad??

With his bob and weave style coupled with Wlad's inability to throw anything other than the jab and straight right, if Frazier bullies his way inside, he has a chance to explode the left on Wlad's chin. Tough ask for Joe but not impossible however, the main point of my previous post was to imply that I don't feel Wlad would annihilate Frazier in the same way Foreman did despite their physical similarities.

As big as his is, Wlad doesn't possess the fearsome aura that Foreman had and Frazier was no respecter of reputation anyway. Wlad would undoubtedly tie him up and shove him around as opposed KO-ing him anyway

DAVE667 wrote:

AdamT wrote:

DAVE667 wrote:

kingraf wrote:

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Could anyone imagine what a Frazier would do with a slug that let's his hands go..

Down goes Frazier down goes Frazier down goes Frazier?

WLAD WOULD HAVE TO THROW HOOKS AND UPPERCUTS FOR THAT TO HAPPEN

Would you pick Frazier to beat Wlad??

With his bob and weave style coupled with Wlad's inability to throw anything other than the jab and straight right, if Frazier bullies his way inside, he has a chance to explode the left on Wlad's chin. Tough ask for Joe but not impossible however, the main point of my previous post was to imply that I don't feel Wlad would annihilate Frazier in the same way Foreman did despite their physical similarities.

As big as his is, Wlad doesn't possess the fearsome aura that Foreman had and Frazier was no respecter of reputation anyway. Wlad would undoubtedly tie him up and shove him around as opposed KO-ing him anyway

Fair points, hard to disagree. I definitely find Wlad boring to watch, he is certainly not on top of my youtube search for old fights. In saying that, he still has an outstanding record on paper (obviously the competition has been absolute dire).

Frazier would murder Klitschko

catchweight wrote:Frazier would murder Klitschko

Better fighter but giving up a lot size. Frazier could knock him out but I could see Wlad using similar tatics that Lennox used against Tyson. Grab Frazier when in close and use the jab to try and wear Joe down. Joe's head movement is tricky but Wlad has faster hands than given credit for.

Not saying Frazier definitely loses but it is a tough fight for him.

Klitschko cant fight on the inside at all. He panics when hes put under attack and tries to hang on for dear life. Frazier was brilliant and slipping jabs and getting on the inside and could give hell when he got there. I cant see how the one dimensional, tentative and fragile Klitschko could cope with Frazier.

catchweight wrote:Klitschko cant fight on the inside at all. He panics when hes put under attack and tries to hang on for dear life. Frazier was brilliant and slipping jabs and getting on the inside and could give hell when he got there. I cant see how the one dimensional, tentative and fragile Klitschko could cope with Frazier.

Maybe. How do you think Frazier stacks up against Big brother??

A win for Frazier although a tougher nights work than with the Klitschko the younger

Who are these 250lbs fighters that Frazier beat that leads people to these conclusions? I mean I even boxrecced!

kingraf wrote:Who are these 250lbs fighters that Frazier beat that leads people to these conclusions? I mean I even boxrecced!

I agree but it seems to be Blasphemy to suggest the brothers beat any smaller past fighters. Im sure iron jawed 6'7 Vitali struggles with wee Joe.

I dont think that 250lb heavyweights equate to being the best. I think the optimum size of a heavyweight is much smaller.

Otherwise I guess Valuev would have smashed the sh1t out of the Klitschkos.

Where are these 250 pounders Ali,Johnson,Holmes beat ??

So let's make Wlad number number 1 of alltine

Let's make Corrie Sanders 2...

catchweight wrote:I dont think that 250lb heavyweights equate to being the best. I think the optimum size of a heavyweight is much smaller.

Otherwise I guess Valuev would have smashed the sh1t out of the Klitschkos.

They may not, but the argument is Frazier bullies his way through Wlad or Vitali. Even discounting the moments he was picking his jaw off the floor, he didn't look like he could bully his way through a 217lbs Foreman. He only just about had parity with a soft 230lbs Ali. I don't even like Wlad, but It's complete supposition to think that Frazier driving back 6'0 200lbs fighters means he'll outmuscle Klitschko.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Where are these 250 pounders Ali,Johnson,Holmes beat ??

So let's make Wlad number number 1 of alltine

Let's make Corrie Sanders 2...

Sorry I forgot you think Frazier knocks Vitali in two...

Its a boxing match, not a wrestling contest. Fraziers fists would do the damage.

Frazier doesn't have to bully his way in...Side to side head movement and once the left lands it's over......

Easy fight

It's possible that a guy like Wlad could beat Frazier if you take in to account how Ali basically beat a slightly waning Joe by grabbing, mauling and subduing him in the clinches in their second fight. If Frazier found 215 lb on his back hard to deal with, imagine 250. Frazier could also be a slow starter, so there's a chance that Wlad's right cross could have Joe on queer street if he saw an opening and took advantage of it....Which would be pretty unlinke him!

But I reckon most tend to imagine these hypotheticals with both men at their best, and safe to say (for me, at least!) that we've never seen any version of Wladimir that could hang with Frazier at his best. Wlad's quick and has good footwork for a man of his size but if a 29-year-old Ali can't catch Frazier coming in regularly enough to discourage him, or dance away / step round his attacks, then I cannae see how Wladimir does it. Ali produced some absolute moments of magic in the Fight of the Century but was still almost stopped in the championship rounds, put on the seat of his pants in the fifteenth and outlasted, too. Wlad's nowhere near as durable as Ali.

If Wladimir had an inside game which consisted of anything other than grabbing and leaning on his opponent (ie an uppercut, which Frazier was really vulnerable to) then he might have more of a sniff here, but I think Frazier would just be too quick, tenacious and unrelenting for him to deal with. Wlad doesn't take big risks early in fights and that's probably his only chance against a peak Frazier.

Vitali might be a different kettle of fish, mind.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Frazier doesn't have to bully his way in...Side to side head movement and once the left lands it's over......

Easy fight

Those career knockdowns were slips then were they? I mean remarkable how that defence had him on his haunches so many times.

kingraf wrote:

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Frazier doesn't have to bully his way in...Side to side head movement and once the left lands it's over......

Easy fight

Those career knockdowns were slips then were they? I mean remarkable how that defence had him on his haunches so many times.

Not an easy fight by any stretch but Wlad's punches are pretty text book (and limited to the straight right) whereas Foreman was whipping in unorthodox shots which were perfect for the crouching style of Frazier.

If Klitschko caught Frazier flush with one of his big right hands he would probably win the fight but he hardly ever throws them unless he feels in total control and his opponent is there or the taking. That just aint happening with Frazier. His bobbing and weaving attacks would have Klitschkos feet and and jab all over the place.

Tend to agree Dave, whilst Wlad is wildly effective at what he does he has never really shown he has an uppercut in his locker, which is surely an absolute must against a crouching target such as Frazier. Like you say not an easy fight, as Wlad is going to turn up in shape, and if he is cautious against the likes of Charr him turning up in a suit of armour is not impossible against Joe, but you'd have to go with Frazier. Just think he is better at getting close than anyone Wlad has had to face thus far and if he lands he can take Wlad out.

Rowley wrote:Tend to agree Dave, whilst Wlad is wildly effective at what he does he has never really shown he has an uppercut in his locker, which is surely an absolute must against a crouching target such as Frazier. Like you say not an easy fight, as Wlad is going to turn up in shape, and if he is cautious against the likes of Charr him turning up in a suit of armour is not impossible against Joe, but you'd have to go with Frazier. Just think he is better at getting close than anyone Wlad has had to face thus far and if he lands he can take Wlad out.

I have no qualms with a person who has Frazier winning (I don't), but I think it's patently unfair to point out that Klitschko has never faced a bobber of Frazier's class, and yet being able to wade in against 6'0 cruiserweights seems to be sufficient evidence for why Frazier would win. Hypotheticals obviously aren't an exact science, but this is one eyed to the extreme.

I dont think this guy ever sparred with Haye so I wonder how Hayes power would compare?

"Haye hit really hard, he got annoyed with me because he kept having to pick my teeth out of his glove and I was diagnosed with a different mental illness after each round we sparred."

Or some such fiction

I would have said Hayes power is quite similar to Klitschkos but not as high as Tyson or Lewis for example

hayemaker wrote:I would have said Hayes power is quite similar to Klitschkos but not as high as Tyson or Lewis for example

Possibly Vitali but I imagine Wlad hits harder than Haye. Tyson and Lewis definitely hit harder.

Its hard to know for sure. Vitali Klitschko couldnt get close to knocking out Derek Chisora. Haye went in there and just brutally knocked him out. He also came close to knocking out the gigantic Valuev which no other boxer has come close to doing so pretty safe to say he has devastating power. Especially for a such a small heavyweight.

Vitali was old when he fought Chisora.

Also I'm sure Tyson hit much harder and he was small too