What were his intentions? Did he target Larry Holmes or WBA champion Mike Weaver? What can you say about his fight vs Cummings? Were there talks about Frazier's possible next fight after that draw?
His performance against Cummings was such that there was no talk of him fighting anyone better aftewards. KO had a nice article on the fight and opined that he should have stayed in the pasture.
I concur that the drawn verdict was a gift to Joe. Within one month we had the sad spectacle of Joe and Muhammad Ali struggling against Cummings and Trevor Berbick. Two men whom they'd have easily handled in their pomp.
Remember Joe was originally going to comeback in 77 or 78 against Knoetze and pulled out with hepatitus. I don't think he'd have been any better in that one and worse---facing a big hitter. I was glad it didn't happen but thought Joe would have found a way to beat Jumbo convincingly. That's why he was brought in & he just did not cooperate.
Cummins could hit I remember him hitting Bruno hard .Frank was completely gone Terry lawless had to lead him back to the corner jumbo ran out of puff before he could end it . bonecrusher must have studied this fight.
This sums it up. The draw I think was a gift to Joe, and a fine way for him to exit. Even his left hook had evaporated. When a swarmer type loses his power and steam, it's over. If the Judges gave this fight to Frazier, he'd get a bigger fight, and likely retire a knockout loser.
I'd never seen Frazier come into the ring yelling at an opponent like that. That was totally out of character & was a sign he didn't have much left. Similar to how fading Tyson talked crazy to try to psyche his opponents & project his old fearsome aura.
Cummings did nothing to Frazier except stagger him badly numerous times. Quite amazing that Joe even had lost his left hook. Nothing in this fight indicates he had a great hook. All the power. Speed and timing were gone.
Joe shouldn`t have comeback. Eddie Futch wanted no part of it. I don`t think Joe was that serious about really coming back and doing anything meaningful. He came into the fight at 230lbs. That was nowhere near Frazier`s prime fighting weight which was around 205-15lbs. There was no snap on his punches even when he connected on Cummings. It was a frustrating fight to watch because it was so easy to picture what Joe would have done to him even a few years before.
I don't think Frazier was capable of getting into shape. It was necessary only to convince Joe that he was done. He and Ali should have squared off instead they were both shot and unwilling to give it up.