It depends on how we define "fear". I've no reason to doubt that George had nerves going in to the fight...but that's natural. If he had fear, it was controlled, and clearly disappeared once the first bell rang. I would say what George called fear is more likely the traditional pre-fight nerves, which (almost) anyone who has boxed will have experienced... I think it's safe to say that what most people describe as fear, i.e fear that freezes, petrifies and controls you, was NOT experienced by George in Kingston. THAT kind of fear was what was experienced by Patterson & M Spinks against Liston & Tyson respectively...now that is fear!!! Just my $ 0.02...
I think Foreman was probably fearful of Frazier. I mean, Frazier was a tough fighter who had beaten Ali and destroyed many other tough guys. Frazier was a bulldozer, a pit bull, with a mean left hook and a never-say-die mentality. Foreman would have had to have been insane to not fear a guy like Frazier. And besides, fear is a natural human emotion. And when it comes to boxers, it seems rational for boxers to have a healthy level of fear for their opponents. BUt for some reason fear is considered by many people to be some sort of cowardly emotion to have.
He wasn't scared of Frazier imo he was scared of losing.. that was the fear. I don't think George feared any man in the ring.
Foreman isnt a dummy and only a moron would go into the ring with Frazier not a bit worried. Foreman doesnt seem to me to be a liar or a fool.
Foreman does lie a lot, or is just plain out there at times. He said to Lou Duva after the Holyfield fight "he won", and then claims in the autobiography that he was robbed. He said he finally "accepted" the Ali loss, and then in his book he makes a plethora of excuses, including my favorite one, "I was about to knock him out but I got distracted by my friend in the audience who betrayed me by rooting for Ali". He later also reiterated his claim that he was drugged. He said he would have taken out Lewis inside of 2 rounds in his prime, and then Lewis beats a badly faded Tyson, and Foreman goes "Lewis is the greatest heavyweight ever!" I take what he says with a grain of salt. He's a great salesman too so lying or exaggerating comes with the territory.
Some people can do a prety darn good job of looking self-assured, when they are scared on some level. People find the idea of Foreman being intimidated strange in hindsight, but at the time it would have been stranger if he hadn't been!
Have to agree with this. It would have been only natural to be fearful of the heavyweight champ although i think he does over play it, similar to the way he says he was fearful of Norton. Now that i don't believe.
He is so sharp. His left jab never worked better. He is driven by his fear for losing, getting hit by that Frazier lefthook. He knew he could lose - and the level of adranaline was high in his body. Against Ali he was convinced he could not lose. Adranaline low. He is not focussed in the moment - trusting Ali will end up on the floor. I believe Foreman -
Foreman was very young back then and people forget that. He was only 24 in that fight and the Ali fight, a child by todays standards. Shame he retired before he even hit his prime.
Foreman will say anything you want him to say now. As one person stated earlier. This is just as stupid as Foreman saying he ducked Quarry and of course white people will believe that so they can a black guy is afraid of a white guy. Foreman ducked Quarry but fought 3 fighters who beat him in Norton, Frazier and Ali? Funny stuff. Anyway I doubt Foreman feared any boxer.
I agree.. I met Foreman at a book signing a while back and I always thought that "good guy" image was a facade. He was ok at best. Didnt have too much to say especially if you werent buying his book and when the camera was off,he seemed kind of sullen. As for the Frazier fight, I think he was like a bully but a little scared. Anyone not scared of that left hook bomb Frazier threw had a death wish.lol