Is Big George the only man to drop Frazier?

Yeah, Bugner might've seemed one of the less likely guys to hurt Joe the way he did. However, Bugner had fine skills, fast hands and a very good punch when he committed. Frazier's own forward movement could also compound the effect of a punch if his opponent timed him right.

That was a great 10th round - Joe had actually dropped Bugner with huge left hook earlier in the round - after impact, Bugner froze for a second or two then dropped to a knee. Joe could've easily hit Bugner 2-3 more times as he hung in the air - if he did, Bugner might never have gotten up. But Joe was as classy as a fighter could be - Joe paused to see if the left was sufficient to put Bugner down, after a moment Frazier then went to launch another left but Bugner began falling - and Joe mercifully held back the intended left. I "think" this is a still capture of the actual right cross that nearly put Frazier down:-

https://tinyurl.com/799esdbr

 

That's insane that they used to go by the round system.So someone who knocks his opponent down twice gets the same score as his opponent winning a close round? How would you score the Bonavena-Frazier fight if it was the ten point scoring?

 

I believe Frazier still would’ve won. Bonavena only won one more round after on my card (maybe two).

 

No I am saying the 3 knockdown rule to stop the fight was in effect, & Frazier needed to hold to ensure he stayed upright.
I never scored the fight, & rarely do-because I do not consider my judgement in this regard good enough to make it likely I am accurate.
I listen to credible others reasoning & look at it/look back on the fight.

 

Find it offsetting that Frazier’s chin/durability is questioned when most fighters would’ve been finished by Foreman in the first round.

 

The round system does not work at all. Then again, neither do any of the other scoring systems either. Don't know the answer

 

Considering Joe's style I believe he was a very durable fighter and he took a good punch. He fought his fights in close and swinging away. That is a brutal way to fight.

 

Keep in mind also that Bonavena got a very green Frazier the first time. Joe still outworked him. In their 15-round rematch, Joe won nearly every round and never was hurt, winning in dominant fashion.

 

Still have yet to find a full version of the Bonavena rematch, wanted to see how Joe adjusted.

 

Yeah Fergy, there was that later allegation where the referee Tony Perez prevented the knockdown of Joe Frazier in that fight of Jan 28 1974, there was also some court litigation following Ali's title defense against Chuck Wepner in March 1975, when Ali referred to Perez as a Dirty Ref.

 

Best Heavyweight fight in the UK of the '70's and Bugner's finest hour. I was 6 years old at the time and the hype around that fight was massive. I actually bought the Frazier and Bugner hand puppets with my pocket money. Wish I had them now, I'll bet they'd be worth a fortune.

 

I remember that fight, July 2 1973.

 

I've had it on DVD for years Richard M. When somebody in my local pub knocks Bugner, I lend it to them. No other British Heavyweight up to that point could have given Frazier that fight.

 

Agreed, Joe Bugner showed guts and tenacity that night even after the knockdown, a very tough fighter.