Could Frazier defeat Foreman, ever?

When you're getting hit by a tree trunk probably. Foreman was like some of the fighters of today in the lower weights that have a big strength advantage over most of their comp. Besides his excellent jab and power, I didnt see a lot of technical mastery behind his style.

 

Wouldnt make a bit of difference, guys like Frazier & Marciano aint got a prayer vs George Foreman, this is a prime example of styles make fights if there ever was one.

 

Well if he fought the older version of Foreman & fought him the same way Tommy Morrison did. Throw punches & move away. Frazier is slightly simular to Morrison. Compact infighter, with a good left hook. But then again, Morrison against the prime version of George gets bombed out too.

 

Sure. But I wouldn't count on it.

 

Logic and most opinions on this forum say no. Frazier could fight George Foreman 100 times and he'd get knocked out 100 times.

I don't believe this to be entirely true because most, if not all conclusions based on the premise of styles making fights and what actually happened in Jamaica 1973 doesn't give Frazier any measure of respect against Foreman. Very few people honestly picked Foreman to beat Frazier that day in Jamaica.

First of all, like I've said all along when discussing Frazier vs Foreman, the Joe Frazier who showed up to fight Foreman in 1973 was a far cry, conditioning wise, from the heavyweight champion of the late 1960's and the fighter who beat Ali in the FOTC. Yes, Frazier was less than two years removed from the FOTC, so his detractors will always say that there wasn't that much time after the FOTC for Joe to decline as severely as I have said and the few others who have supported this theory with me. People forget that Joe had severe hypertension problems and kept putting off cataract surgery since 1969. The FOTC took alot more out of Joe than probably what people believe, which is kindof a testament to Ali's greatness. Both men took pretty good beatings in that fight even though Frazier was the clear decided winner.

What I do believe is that Joe grossly underestimated Foreman's ability as an athelete and gold medalist, partied too much in Jamaica according to Eddie Futch, thought he'd easily slip George's heavy jab and land the left hook fairly easily and routine. That didn't happen and he paid a very dear price for his treatment of Foreman. Joe didn't respect George and George said he was scared of Joe, which I've heard repeatedly in separate interviews from both.

If Frazier paid George the same respect he gave Ali, one has to consider that he could and more than likely would survive the opening rounds against Foreman, probably after being knocked down once or twice. FOTC conditioned Frazier could make it past round five against Foreman and Joe's chances of winning the fight significantly increase because his best rounds are usually in the middle up to the 12th round. I'm not saying that Joe would win, but he could definitely make this more of a tough battle for George and it's not unrealistic to believe the best version of Frazier could stop Foreman inside 10 rounds. It's not like Foreman beat the best version of Frazier.

 

I really don't see it.

Frazier had good defense, but he certainly wasn't untouchable. Every time I see him getting tagged by Foreman and down he goes.

 

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I would never favor him, but anything is possible.

 

"If a guy has two hands he has a chance"

Jack Dempsey

 

The only fighter who ever backed George up was Sonny Liston (per George).

Frazier said George hits a ton.

Put those two factors together and it is always "dark clouds" for Frazier.

 

[ Joe didn't respect George and George said he was scared of Joe, which I've heard repeatedly in separate interviews from both.

I have heard Foreman say he was "afraid" of Frazier, but I really doubt that. I think George was being nice to Frazier.

Why would Foreman be afraid of Frazier....he was 4 inches taller, 15 natural pounds heavier, had a longer reach, and hit harder.

And he had been programmed by his Trainers to beat up the Frazier type fighters as though they were heavy punching bags.

George told Frazier at ring center "Now I am going to whip you like I'm your Daddy" and Frazier blinked.

Then the heavy leather started to rain down on Frazier and it was over.

 

What round15 said is the only way Joe could beat Foreman. You have to remember Foreman can bomb Frazier out at any time in the fight; which is apart of the reason I wouldn't count on a Joe victory.

 

I think it was unfortunate that Frazier fell out of prime so fast but I still think you need to be a 2 fisted puncher to be Foreman...Frazier only had the hook...a Prime Frazier would have given a better go but you need two hands against Foreman and he was dropped by Ali and Young and Lyle with right hands

 

I think he could have. If he had had a referee who made sure that Foreman didn't push him off, his chances would increase. Frazier would get close to Foreman and try to land his shots, but George would simply shove him away. Frazier had to try and work his way back in, and when he tried, he was vulnerable to Foreman's bombs. I agree with everyone who's said that one of the things he did wrong was coming into both fights too heavy. I think he really believed the best way to fight Foreman was to put on mass, so he would be able to match Foreman's strength. But, no matter how much weight he put on, he would never have been as strong as George. The strategy that Frazier used in their second fight gives him the best chance. Joe didn't win rounds, but by staying away from Foreman, he could extend him into those later rounds. Joe was surviving in that fight, but he finally tried to trade with Foreman, and he had no chance. If he continued running from Foreman for a few more rounds, he may have been able to take advantage of his stamina problems. In a 15 round fight, he may have had a chance.

We'll never know.

 

well theres a limit to that statement