prime frazier using 1976 style against foreman. if a war tore frazier can make it to round 5 against this foreman, one would have to assume prime frazier with the same style can do better.
The point is Frazier had to fight Foreman as he was when he did. We can't change that. Foreman had the upper hand both times because Joe had already been through Ali, Ellis, Bonavena and Quarry. There wasn't enough elite wins left wins in him after TFOTC. Foreman had the right tools for the job both times they met in real life and both times he had the advantage of strength, size and youth. Both times Frazier was missing an extra dimension to this work that may have helped him. Even a fresh version of Frazier would be only a 50-50 chance to beat George. But that's an extra 30% than he had meeting George when he did. George was a green untested fighter in 1973. He got past Frazier because the time was right but george was ill prepared to keep the title, Ali exposed his limitations. George was still an unfinished work in progress when he won the title..
I'm Frazier maxed out for the moment. Whatever he tries he gets annihilated by George.Just one guy can't accept it.
Peak Frazier with the '76 strategy would have an even chance against 97 year old Foreman just before he took to his deathbed, lol. Now seriously, there is a BIG difference between the many who believe that Frazier would never have any realistic shot, & an opinion like a prime Frazier with the '76 strategy would be 50-50. I think the truth is somewhere in between. Frazier doing everything right with all his skills intact would have a chance, but I do not se it as near 50-50.
The Foreman who fought Frazier in '76 was the most in shape Foreman I've seen since the Ali fight and ever again for that matter. On the other hand, Joe was nowhere near his best shape and really shouldn't have taken the fight. Just too many wars at that point. Just on shape alone, a '71 Frazier using the '76 style should have done better because he would have had the stamina to keep moving. '76 Joe kept stopping along the ropes and then it was a matter of time.
Foreman just had his number. Frazier could chose any style and he would still get knocked out. No short swarmer could beat Foreman.
knowing heavy_handss love for foreman he probably really thinks this and mcvey frazier won the 4th round in fight 2.
I get what you are asking with this thread. The '71 peak Frazier was faster, lighter, had better footwork and head movement, and threw more punches. You take that Frazier, not shopworn, not diminished from the first Ali fight, and give him more of a cautious side-to-side style, and does he do better than he did?... Yes. Does he win? I don't think so. I think he lasts more rounds perhaps but still gets stopped. Foreman was simply too big, with too long of a reach, with way too much power for him, and ultimately he would have caught up with Frazier. Joe had a better chin that people realize, but not good enough for the A+ power that Foreman had. Truth be told, even with a more cautious style in fight II, I still think Foreman owned and brutalized him. All Frazier did was extend the length of the fight, but George administered all of the actual punishing blows throughout that bout. Plus, I simply think Frazier was too game and tough of a guy inside to run and box and grab and do the slick stuff he would need to do to change things around. At least not for an extended period of time. It just wasn't him. He was the type of guy who would rather get KO'd than stink it out.
It would certainly have been more of a contest but I still envisage Foreman prevailing. He would hit Joe too hard and too often. In 1976 George was still in his physical prime. It was just his state of mind that was shaken post Zaire. Once he would have Joe hurt he'd have the confidence to storm in and finish the job any day of the week.
