Foreman-Frazier in 1969

Frazier would win by mid round stoppage.

 

Frazier would have to fight a retreating battle against Foreman. Could he ever win against an opponent as physically powerful as Big George? Liston could have kept Foreman at the end of his jab, and Louis would have kept himself between Foreman's arms, but there is no way Frazier could have neutralized George's immense strength. To me, the great irony of Manila is that Frazier would have completed 15 rounds against the mythical Ali of '68-'69. Likewise, a peak Frazier might not have done as well against Foreman as the shot version did in '76.

If Joe could somehow get the contest into the championship rounds, he might be fine, but reaching that point would be another matter. I also don't think George would have needed to expend a particularly large amount of energy pushing Joe around. Frazier would have needed to get Foreman when he was very, very raw and unrefined, to have a realistic chance.

While I believe Frazier would have defeated more of history's other HW champions than Foreman, head-to-head it's just a bad matchup for Smoke, who may have needed to be able to advance more than any other great HW champ.

 

Both Tyson and Frazier need to be fighting off the front foot to be anywhere near their best. This is a rather dangerous occupation vs Big George. Factor in his great chin, yes great, and things get grim. There was a reason Cus stated no swarmer in history beats George.

 

At such a stage, Ted Spoon would imagine the real problem would be in Foreman’s mental toughness.

Frazier's more fresh, Foreman's less matured, so a more balanced fight would ensue.

When it goes further than 2-3-4 and 5 rounds, which is probably would, could Foreman put the finishing touches to his good moments? Doubt it. A peak Foreman, juiced up on nervous energy had to nail a bemused Frazier to the canvas in order to win.

Frazier would likely take over as Foreman got tired and turn the tide, showing the difference in circumstance.

 

Well,

given that Foreman was making his pro debut in 1969, and accumulated maybe a dozen pro fights that year, I'd have to go with Frazier, who was winning the title about that time. Not long after, however I'd have to go with George everytime. Bad styles matchup for Frazier.

 

Frazier was over confident after the win over Ali, and did not look powerfull or in shape against Foreman in their first fight. He would have beaten a young Forman in 69 and I believe a peak Frazier would be too Busy for a peak Foreman. Frazier just fought him at the wrong time (both fights).

 

Street fights to Job Corps to '68 Olympics.

In 1969, George wasn't ready.....but Moore, Saddler and others fine tuned the natural power, so by post 1971, as George said, "It is like magic, I hit them and they go down".

 

When did Cus say that ?

 

When he was talking to Tyson.

 

Agree with this post.

First of all, take nothing away from George Foreman's wins against Frazier in 1973 and 1976. Those are two of the greatest wins a heavyweight fighter could have on his resume. He destroyed one of two men that clearly beat Ali. Foreman fought Frazier in the textbook fashion to beat him by keeping him away at arms length.

With that being said, I believe 1967 - FOTC Joe Frazier would KO Foreman inside 10 rounds. Frazier was far from the prime shape that he showed against Ali in 71 and even got himself in much better shape for the Ali rematch in 74 when Foreman was champion. In fact, Eddie Futch said that Frazier barely trained for George, partied too much and was looking past Foreman for a big rematch against Ali. He even went as far to call off the sparring sessions with Ken Norton, because Frazier was getting handled easily by Norton in those sessions where normally it was the other way around. Frazier has nobody to blame but himself for his attitude in training against Foreman, but I believe a prime for prime Foreman vs Frazier matchup would have been a different fight with a different ending altogether.

Too much emphasis is placed on Joe's first performance against George in 73, and also forgotten is the fact that Mercante wasn't doing his job properly during that fight. George's tactics were big time illegal and he should have been penalized for his continuous pushing, shoving, and grabbing of Frazier's shoulders. Any other referee most likely would have warned Foreman but it probably wouldn't have mattered if Frazier was at or near his prime fighting weight of 205.5 lbs. Foreman would have eventually tired from Joe's pressure and pace.

 

Thanx much!

Joe Frazier gets very little love on this forum whether you agree or not. My main point is that nobody should ever discredit Foreman's wins against Frazier but Joe should get more respect in terms of the fighter that he was from 1967 - FOTC. That version of Frazier was one of the greatest heavyweight champions and would give every heavyweight in history a rough, tough fight.

 

Lol this clown pick frazier 71 over prime foreman so i will not take him seriously

 

why did you bump a thread from 2008 swagdelfedeel?