Frazier's top 3 performances

I considered the Zyglewicz fight as well. Great quick/short fight. I think of this fight along with Tyson vs Zouski as good performances that kinda get lost.

 

Frazier-Foreman I

 

Screw you Tommy!!!lol

 

Ali I - A display of everything against elite ATG (The GOAT) opposition.

Ellis I - Early smoking, unbelievable shifting and footwork to get in position to set up and fire that left hook. Very polished and sharp performance. Frazier perhaps at his best

Foster - Not the best class of an opponent at HW. But Frazier uses what I like to call every ounce of effective energy in this fight. And his jab is solid, as he actually out-jabs Foster.

Those are his definitive best performances for me.

I think his performance against Quarry was strong, but considering the fight Quarry engaged in early on and some of the shots that Joe got caught with I don't think it was his finest most polished performance. Maybe a great rough and tough and with adversity to break you down type performance. I actually think Quarry II might be better performance considering the context (Not that this version of Frazier is better though, although his right hand was greatly improved at this point).

I've been recently watching his fight with Buster Mathis a bit more closely and I think it's a fairly good steady performance once he warms up. Nothing too out of control, reckless, or eager to end it. Just a good systematic display. His fight with Chuvalo was another earlier one where he should great lateral motion and busted Chuvalo's orbital bone bad.

I rank Joe Frazier #5 among HWs. He has the best title defense in the history of the division, along with one of the finest 15 round performances ever to grace film.

I always love watching Ali-Frazier III. Even though they're both past it both show brilliant moments and a hard-fought grueling war. Joe proved a fighter had one great fight left in him, and his right hand was much improved by this point (I say right hand I meant right to the head, he always had a decent right hook set up to the body).

 

Frazier vs Foster highlights

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rewbK0QmSoE&p=B2DB5BA60F829C88&playnext=1&index=70[/ame]

 

Ali, Foster, and Ellis 1 would be my picks for Frazier's best performances, which should not be confused with his greatest victories.

 

1. Foster

While Joe was the much bigger man, Foster was still an ATG fighter and was made to look like a nobody. He completely destroyed in that fight.

2. Jimmy Ellis

Ellis was number 2 in the world at Heavyweight behind Frazier but the difference in class might as well have been greater. Frazier simply wore Ellis down and stopped him in 5th rounds to become the man of the division.

3. Quarry

Fight of the year in 1969, Frazier won a great battle against the number 3 Heavyweight in the world, stopping him in 7.

 

I forgot how aesthetically pleasing the knockout of Buster Mathis was.

 

I love the way he drops him. He looks so nonchalant doing it.

 

Outside of FOTC it would quite clearly be Ellis, Quarry II and Foster.

He actually put on a better perfomance against Quarry in the rematch. He only started to dominate the first fight after Quarry suffered a cut, but the second was his from start to finish. As one of a select few he managed to floor Quarrry, and was probably the only one to do it with a bodyshot.

 

Apparently he was used a lot as a sparring partner for a lot of the guys in the late 60s early 70s. Ive heard Foreman and shavers both said it but unfortunately i have no point of reference. Im sure someone could help me out here as ive also read it on threads on here. Sorry i cant be of more help

 

:good

 

Apart from the bonnavena fight I agree with evryone who mentions any of his titlefights pre FOTC. Back then frazier was a great fighter. That left hook had a mind of its own. It was pin point and smoke was an expert at creating the opening.

Post FOTC joe was running on empty. the championship resistance had gone. it reduced him to the level of what he remained ater that fight: just a good world class fighter. where as before this he was a truly great champion.

 

his wins prior to 1970 are very under rated... i'd go for quarry

 

and that for qft!