Im looking for context behind this bout, was it simply a stylistic mismatch? Was Fraizer washed at that time? What happened?
Frazier's defence was not taylor made to contrast the devastating uppercuts of young Foreman. More or less the same happened to Tyson when faced Lewis who bombed him with accurate uppercuts for all fight.
Frazier wasn’t washed but he wasn’t the man he was in ‘71. Even if he was he probably still couldn’t have overcame that stylistic mismatch
Stylistic mismatch plus Frazier didn't have the chin to take Foremans power. With his style, he would have needed a cast iron mandible and Frazier had a good heavyweight chin. But his chin was more of the endurance type of good chin made for taking punishment from decent heavyweight punchers (like Muhammad Ali) over the long haul rather than taking single shots from ATG punchers. That's why I think even a guy like Razor Ruddock would have been dangerous for Frazier.
Just go back and watch the fight, he manhandled Frazier with his hands and arms and pushed and pulled and tired him out, then ragdolled Joe with the sheer power of his punches.
The key to that fight was a master game plan by Foremans camp. George constantly pushing Joe off balance never let him get his feet set in range. Corners r not given enough credit in this sport.
It had sfa to do with his chin. Foreman hit Frazier with the most solid shots he'd ever landed on an opponent, due to a number of factors including Frazier rolling right into Foreman's punches, not coming into the fight in the best of shape, his inability to roll with the punches to take some of the steam off of them, and the stylistic clash. 99% of heavyweights hit like that are going down. He also lasted a lot longer in the rematch (against an admittedly inferior and less powerful Foreman) and took some solid shots before succumbing.
The former,like the Light Brigade Frazier rode straight for the guns,and suffered the inevitable result.
Sure it had to do with his chin along with his style. Try as I might, I can't see Mercer or Holyfield or Holmes being immediately bounced around the ring like a basketball even after getting hit with the same shots. Can you? Muhammad Ali needed an iron chin to take the punishment he did from Foreman, otherwise, he ends up like Frazier, Norton and friends.
Considering Holmes was dropped by the likes of Renaldo ****ing Snipes, yes I could see Holmes being bounced around the ring like a basketball if he took those shots. Obviously though Holmes fought far different to Frazier, and is better suited stylistically against Foreman ensuring he won't be in a position to take nearly as much punishment against Foreman. Pugguy puts it best here.
Holmes could recover extremely fast. Shavers got him but Holmes stopped him. Holmes could recover extremely quick. But Holmes aside, no way Ali, Holyfield, Mercer or McCall would be bounced around the ring like Frazier was. Even taking the same shots.