Does anyone believe Fraziers greatness took a hit with his losses to Foreman?

Sure it did. Frazier was expected to beat Foreman quite easily. The fight was considered merely an appetiser for the rematch with Ali, but he was destroyed, naturally this hurt his legacy, particularly since it happened again.

 

True. In fact Foreman despatched Ken Norton even faster than he did Frazier. Norton was smart enough not to try to fight him again. Not so for Frazier.

The smarter guy was Jimmy Young who used his boxing skills to outpoint Foreman. Learning to adjust (as Ali did vs Frazier & against Norton) is the true hallmark of a great boxer. While he failed to make the necessary adjustments, he did make it to the Boxing Hall of Fame. Therefore, he will forevermore remain among the greats.

 

The Frazier that fought Foreman in '76 was war torn and out of shape.

 

Expecting Frazier to beat Foreman second time around is like slating Joe Louis for being unable to beat Marciano. With hindsight, it's just the wrong era to expect something like that. Nobody lasts forevermore.

Maybe Ali and Frazier proved they had both slipped somewhat since FOTC when they dropped fights with untested guys Foreman and Norton? After all, both were fighting outside their 1960s primes.

Perhaps Foreman proved he was the better untested guy when he beat Norton but he totaly blew it against Ali, the man Frazier beat.

Foremans legacy took a bigger hit losing to Ali. It far overwhelms any hit Frazier took having paid his dues the previous era. Losing to Ali was no changing of the guard. It was exposure.

 

No.

It made me respect him more for all the times he kept on getting up. Not many could withstand Foreman's power, so it doesn't degrade Joe at all.

Sluggers > swarmers.

 

I second that... op

 

...So? Answer his question!

 

:good

 

Well....maybe maybe not. Dundee had stated that Liston had linoment possibly on his shoulders which then got into Alis eyes during clinches. Yes he did say he put his finger in alis eye and in his and it stung but that does not mean the substance was on listons gloves.