How much better would a 100% healthy Joe Frazier have been?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by dayuum, Sep 22, 2013.


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  1. dayuum

    dayuum Active Member Full Member

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    So without the permanent eye and arm injury? Seeing how he was blind in one eye and couldn't fully straighten one of his arms.

    On another note, I just watch Joe Frazier on superstars and damn that was painful to watch. He nearly drowned, was by far the slowest on the track and had the worst weight lifting technique I've ever seen
     
    dayuum, Sep 22, 2013
    dayuum, Sep 22, 2013
    #1
  2. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Well the arm thing helped define his style, so I don't know about writing that off.

    Obviously if his eye is better, he is better, but that got worse as his career went on. I think Bob Foster is about as good as Joe Frazier ever could have been. Given that it's arguably the best display of swarming boxing anywhere on film, that's not bad.
     
    McGrain, Sep 22, 2013
    McGrain, Sep 22, 2013
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  3. HOUDINI

    HOUDINI Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Problem with Frazier....his biggest issue...was he had no right hand. He had poor coordination between left and right hands. It was not until way later in his career that he built some level of a right hand most visible in his bout with Quarry....second encounter.
     
    HOUDINI, Sep 22, 2013
    HOUDINI, Sep 22, 2013
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  4. freelaw

    freelaw Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Hardly any better IMO.

    If it's about the arm - what McGrain said, it might have even helped him somewhat.

    If it's about the eye - it's not like he was half-blind. He wasn't missing his punches because of it and I don't really believe it was to a degree that he didn't see some punches coming. Until his face got swollen, that is. It could have made the difference in the thrilla.
     
    freelaw, Sep 22, 2013
    freelaw, Sep 22, 2013
    #4
  5. john garfield

    john garfield Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    What's that got ta do with Frazier as a fighter, d?...He was a left-hooking beast
     
    john garfield, Sep 22, 2013
    john garfield, Sep 22, 2013
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  6. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Well he did say "on another note", JG.
     
    McGrain, Sep 22, 2013
    McGrain, Sep 22, 2013
    #6
  7. john garfield

    john garfield Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Astute catch, H
     
    john garfield, Sep 22, 2013
    john garfield, Sep 22, 2013
    #7
  8. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Don't forget the ankle injury.Joe had to feel his way in to the ring because he was near blind.Joe at 100% would have beaten the world .
    Strange he was just so -so prior to that?:huh
     
    mcvey, Sep 22, 2013
    mcvey, Sep 22, 2013
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  9. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Pat on the back for Futch!:good
     
    mcvey, Sep 22, 2013
    mcvey, Sep 22, 2013
    #9
  10. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Frazier with 20/20 vision would have been no different, he knew only one way to fight.
     
    mcvey, Sep 22, 2013
    mcvey, Sep 22, 2013
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  11. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    If one eye is punched closed, the quality of the sight in the remaining eye has to be of vital importance surely.
     
    Unforgiven, Sep 22, 2013
    Unforgiven, Sep 22, 2013
    #11
  12. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    EXCUSES. Did Basilio make any after being beaten by Robinson? Your eye is punched closed because someone has been able to do it ,because your defence has not been able to prevent it. END OF.
     
    mcvey, Sep 22, 2013
    mcvey, Sep 22, 2013
    #12
  13. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    :lol: wtf McVey.

    Obviously, inarguably, having two good eyes is better than having one good eye - that's in literally any walk of life :lol: but perhaps especially boxing.
     
    McGrain, Sep 22, 2013
    McGrain, Sep 22, 2013
    #13
  14. Garrus

    Garrus Big Boss 1935-2014 Full Member

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    Hmm... you may have something here.
     
    Garrus, Sep 22, 2013
    Garrus, Sep 22, 2013
    #14
  15. freelaw

    freelaw Boxing Addict Full Member

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    :lol:

    I kinda agree with mcvey though. For example, I believe in boxing you can be short sighted with no negative consequences. You don't need to see anything further than your opponent.

    Your vision can also be fairly blurred because it's not like you need to see details, you just have to see the limbs, the head and how they move.

    I think it's more about instincive feeling of space, reflexes, measuring the distance etc... Sure you can't be blind but above a certain (not very high) level, the quality of your sight doesn't matter much. For a surgeon or sniper - that's where it really matters.
     
    freelaw, Sep 22, 2013
    freelaw, Sep 22, 2013
    #15
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