.......as was originally planned. We all know how the Floyd 'Jumbo' Cummings debacle panned out in 1981 but,as we know,Joe Frazier announced that he was coming back in 1977 and had lined up a fight with Kallie Knoetzee to take place the following year. Frazier caught Hepatitis so the comebasck was off. Supposing that Joe had n't have got Hepatitis,though. How would his comeback have progressed? In my view he may well have got through Knoetzee but he would have lost soon afterwards. Joe's ultimate aim was a fourth fight with Muhammad Ali but although Muhammad had slipped since Manila a couple of years previously,Frazier had probably deteriorated even more than his nemesis had. Ali would have raked up a 3 - 1 score. What have you got?
Joe Frazier was physically and mentally well past his prime following the Thrilla In Manila in Sept 1975. He would have been embarrassed by a prime Larry Holmes.
Very true,Richard. Would have been a sad sight. Such a pity that Joe and Muhammad Ali never called it a day for good following Manilla.
There was also talk of Joe fighting Earnie Shavers and Ron Lyle. Both men would have been risky propositions at that stage in his career
hmmm.... a one handed flatfooted infighter with no jab, coming back after two recent demolitions coming back to face a 6 - 5 Gerry Cooney with an even more potent left hook & Larry Holmes who would likely flatten Joe with right crosses to the head. That's all he needs. NOT a good idea and even worse way to make money
I agree with GoldenHulk. Knoetzee was as solid as a rock in '78. Strong as a bull and wouldn't be moved inside and took and gave a tremendous shot. He had trouble with movers and Smokin' Joe wasn't going to dazzle him with footwork or play Hide and Seek. I think this would have been Kallie's breakthrough fight ala Coetzee mugging Spinks in Monte Carlo and Frazier's sad ending note.
Hopefully if Joe had come back in '78,he would have been deterred from continuing before Cooney would have come into the reckoning.
