How many times would Joe Frazier have gotten back up in his fight against George Foreman if the referee hadn’t stopped the bout? Frazier was incredible. He had already risen six times from the canvas after taking blows from one of the hardest punchers in boxing history all within just two rounds even as Foreman was demolishing him with massive shots. Frazier got up from the sixth knockdown in just two seconds. Could Frazier, with his legendary determination, have survived a few more knockdowns? Or would Foreman eventually land a punch that would have kept “Smokin’ Joe” down for good? It’s important to remember that Frazier was only ever stopped by Ali and Foreman but was never counted out on the canvas.
Joe was a sitting duck. A man can take only so much punishment. I think if the fight had been allowed to continue much longer, Joe would have been cold-cocked and left senseless on the canvas.
If the fight wasn't stopped Joe would have ended up like Apollo Creed in Rocky lV, but instead of Rocky avenging his demise it would have been Muhammad Ali.
I always try to understand the timeline in Rocky. It looks like in the Rocky timeline, Ali didn't exist, but Apollo fought in the Rumble (and won the title off Foreman there).
I’ll frame it by saying I don’t who else could’ve still been standing when the fight was waved off - and that includes considering Ali - if he had to take the very same shots that Joe did - it’s hard to imagine even Ali still being on his feet. It’s sad that a young Marvis Frazier had to see that..Marvis said that he initially thought his dad was playing around when he was getting bounced up and down.
Creed III revealed that the real Rumble in the Jungle existed in the Rocky universe, Apollo probably won the title sometime within 74-76.
