Joe Frazier's Right Hand

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by SwarmingSlugger, Dec 3, 2025.


  1. SwarmingSlugger

    SwarmingSlugger Active Member Full Member

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    We all know Frazier is infamous for his left hook, and he also had a good right hand to the body. However his right cross to the head was mediocre and often non existent. If he had a great right cross with his left hook, surely he would have been even more successful than he was he was and overall better H2H all time.
     
  2. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

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    True.

    I guess it depends on how good it was. If he had a right hand on par with his lefthook then anything is possible. As it was Joe did occasionally land some solid right hands but he wasn't natural throwing it.
     
  3. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

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    Joe's right hand used to actually post on this forum.
     
  4. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

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    Left was too good for it, I guess.
     
  5. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    true. His right to head was average.
     
  6. Ken Ashcroft

    Ken Ashcroft Boxing Addict Full Member

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    The strange thing was Joe was naturally right handed.
     
  7. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    His right to the body and right uppercut were used far more often than most casuals recognize.
     
  8. Marvelous_Iron

    Marvelous_Iron Active Member Full Member

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    I wonder how much of his left hook's infamy is due to flooring Ali
     
  9. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA Full Member

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    Joe was on record saying he found the right cross upstairs an overrated and overutilized punch. You don't end up honing what you don't value and don't train.

    His right downstairs was usually either an uppercut, or a torpedo with a bit of a curve to it.

    If he cared to I'm sure he could have practiced at straighter rights to both head and body and become quite good at it. He just didn't care to, so he didn't get the gym reps in, so under the bright lights he ...wasn't quite good at it.
     
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  10. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA Full Member

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    Nah. That may have sent its reputation into the stratosphere, but the Joe Frazier left hook was an infamous weapon already prior to Ali I, prominently featured against Machen, Chuvalo, Mathis, Bonavena II, Quarry, Ellis and Foster.

    Each team had plenty of book on the other to formulate a game plan. Dundee & Bundini would have been well aware of what a threat Frazier's hook was. It was Ali who insisted upon hooking with him instead of staying disciplined on the jab as he successfully did in the first three rounds.
     
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  11. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

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    Poor Jerry Quarry knew Joe's right more than most. That rematch Frazier landed about a dozen clean ones.
     
  12. KasimirKid

    KasimirKid Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Woulda, coulda, shoulda ...
     
  13. bboyrei

    bboyrei Member Full Member

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    Frazier said on video he only threw his right hand if he knew it would land.
     
  14. JackSilver

    JackSilver Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Hold on. Shouldn’t that be famous instead of infamous? Thought infamous meant something deceiving an not regarding as great or highly regarded?
     
  15. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Yeah, it should be that Frazier is famous for his left hook, not infamous.

    Infamous is being well known for something negative. E.g. Duran is infamous for no mas.
     
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