Why is Joe Frazier a slow starter?

I always thought his slowness was odd as fighters with that bobbing and weaving style are usually fast starters. I guess it took him some time to find his rhythm and the appropriate range. That wasn't always the case though (e.g. Bob Foster) it was largely dependent on the style of the opponent he was fighting.

 

I think Joe Frazier was one of these guys who liked to take his time feel out his opponent. See how they’re going to start. Observe their stances and attacks. Also he was a guy who worked heavily off of slipping the jab to create openings

 

There is a huge difference between starting slowly and taking your time. One of the things that you teach a fighter is how to build a fight. You put in your work round by round and build it to a finish.

 

You have to roll, add a filter and light up before the smoking starts.

 

Was Smoke truly such a slow starter?
There are some who disagree and I think they make a compelling case:

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/joe-frazier-was-a-slow-starter-myth.555748/

IMO it all depends.
Joe was kinda a slow starter according to the situation.
If he was facing a dangerous opponent he would go methodical the first few rounds, just feeling out and waiting for his opponent to burn some stamina.
But if he felt his opponent was kinda weak, then he would start smoking right away from the 1rst round.

Since Joe's marquees fights were versus Ali, where he went smoking slow and steady, then it is how we better remember him.

 

His change of pace in later rounds was accentuated via his own exceptional stamina and tiring body beaten opponents.

 

I was going to mention something like this. Frazier was usually pretty slow out of the gate, by which I mean the first round. The idea that he was sluggish for three or four is quite overstated.

 

Relative to how he smoked later in the fight, I guess Joe might be seen to be have been a slow starter.

However, no other fighters ultimately got smoking as much as Joe did. A true force of nature.

But I think any delay might’ve been more down to the style he adopted and the incremental steps required before gaining full momentum. He was also likely syncing himself to the opponent at hand and maybe it took the receipt of a few hits first to really trigger Joe’s aggression (lol)

Foreman observed that after one particular round, when Quarry had really it put it to Joe, Frazier returned to his corner as if quivering from the enjoyment and excitement of the slugfest.

I also agree that the duration it took Joe to build to a full head of steam is exaggerated - but against fast starting punchers - the small delay could cause some problems as we saw during Joe’s career.

 

Attrition rhythm fighters shine as the fight goes on, but Frazier had numerous fast-paced stoppages. I agree that him being slow is something of a myth.

 

In 32 wins
Frazier has
5 ,1 rd wins
5 ,2 rd wins
4,3rd wins
5,4rd wins

 

I could also see a part way explanation for Joes case was with the “speed ball” analogy Futch used. He needed to find his rhythm with his “random” and hopeful sort of head movement.

 

Late round fighters catch their 2nd wind and suddenly become a whole different boxer. It may be a biological thing. Frazier built up his rhythm and momentum slowly, and once he got into a comfortable pace he was all over you like white on rice firing on all cylinders.

Sometimes he did start quickly and had the early stoppages to prove it.

 

Agree. He was an endurance fighter who wore down his opponents