Frazier Vs Foreman 2

Unpopular opinion: I've always thought Frazier's performance in this bout was underrated. Lasted longer on his feet than anyone Foreman beat in his first career, along with being the only one to answer the bell for the 5th round without having yet been dropped.

I don't think Frazier ever beats Foreman (matter of fact, I'm not sure I'd favor anyone over a prime Foreman with the exception of Ali) but even though he lost, I think this was a personal win for him all things considered.

 

He lasted three more rounds, but didn't he leave the ring minus several of his teeth?

 

It was not a chin problem at all. Foreman hit Frazier with likely the most flush punches he ever landed due to a variety of reasons, some of them stystical.

Anyone hit like that is going down. The question is who's getting up.

Pugguy, one of the best posters here imo (at worst top two) put it very well here.

 

I respect your opinion but any top fifteen hw could go five rounds with George Foreman if all he intended to do was survive. That's why George Foreman couldn't knock out some of the five journeymen he fought in a 1975 exhibition match inside of the allotted three rounds for each.

 

No. This is a myth and one I'm very surprised to hear still exists.

 

1. Foreman was mentally shot after losing to Ali in Zaire.

2. He was fighting these opponents back to back. The only opponents who went the four round distance (not three) only did so after Foreman dispatched three opponents and expanded even more of his energy on three brutal knock outs. Their is absolutely no indication they could've or would've done that against a fresh Foeman.

3. Ken Norton, a top three heavyweight, couldn't make the five round distance and he was hardly going for a knock out.

It's not as easy as you make it seem. If any top fifteen heavyweight could go five rounds with Foreman if all he intended to do was survive, why wouldn't they try to survive until Foreman gassed and box their way to a UD, or go for a KO? The answer is many tried and only two people were able to do it. The greatest of all time, and Jimmy Young another slickster who fought a post-zaire Foreman who wasn't the same, and didn't take Young seriously.

Foreman's power, along with his ring cutting (best I've ever seen), and killer instinct made it very difficult for opponents who tried to survive.

 

I'll just say, Joe was brave to take that fight!
He knew he was done, he knew it. He was going up against the only man to knock him all over the place.
I very much doubt that Joe ever thought he'd actually win, but he did what he could.

 

He was dropped by Oscar Bonavena, a reasonably hard puncher in his 11th pro fight..... That's it.

 

Good to know ... I'd heard that for years and actually checked the fight story in the New York Daily News via Newspapers.com (again, wise investment for fans of any sport) from 6/16/76 which mentioned it before posting, but I will defer to you that it's been debunked.

 

OK. You asked my opinion.
Neither in the first nor in the second fight did it seem to me that Foreman was going to lose, that Foreman was not in control of the fight, that Foreman was about to lose.
Even if Frazier somehow managed to knock Foreman down, there's no guarantee that the Foreman vs. Lyle scenario wouldn't happen again.

 

Right, I guess Frazier took this fight for the money because I don't recall anyone thinking he had a chance. By the way, he lost every round.

 

It's amazing Big George was only a 8-5 favorite, simply amazing.

 

Joe can go the doctor as much as he wants, but hes not beating Foreman.