Foreman KO Norton (Alternate angle)

Thank you for the source.
Norton and Futch said that Frazier was unfocused, not shot.
Basically they are blaming his hubris.

Interesting nonetheless, and does show that he wasn't himself.

 

He was unfocused, not shot.

"Futch was worried about Frazier’s focus for the first Foreman bout.

“I remember one day, Joe was sitting near the swimming pool in an expensive suit. There were some people in the pool and they were telling Joe to come in and join them, but he had no swimming suit. Instead of sending some one to get him some trunks, Joe asked for a pair of scissors. He cut off the legs of these expensive suit pants and got into the pool.

“I brought Ken Norton in to spar with Frazier. I had sent Norton to work with Frazier about three years before, when Norton was still young and inexperienced. Ken was perfect to work with Joe, he had the size and the speed. I told Yank that if Ken wasn’t able to hold his own against Joe to send him back. After the first two days, I called Yank and asked him how Norton had done. I heard what Yank had to say. Then, I told Norton to call me, so that I could hear two sides to the same story. When he told me essentially the same thing, I allowed him to stay in Philadelphia and work with Joe.

“In Jamaica, I put Ken into spar with Joe and I was surprised at what I saw. It was very even. On the second day, I had him spar with Joe. Again, the same thing. By the third day, I see the same thing. I called Ken aside and said, ‘There’s something going on in the ring that I can’t fathom. What is going on?’ Norton told me, ‘He seems to have lost his drive.’ I gave Norton the rest of the time off."

 

“A few days before the fight, both camps were called to a press conference. It really wasn’t a press conference, but it was a gathering for the fight promotion. Both camps arrived at the same time and were walking up the steps when I saw something that I have never seen before or since. Joe started in on George Foreman verbally, telling him that he was a punk and who did he think he was to think he could take away his title. It was the only time I ever saw Joe Frazier attack someone in this way. George just glared at Joe. I’ve never seen more anger in a man’s eyes than I saw then from Foreman. When he came out in the first round, that anger exploded.


“I wasn’t surprised at what happened in the fight. Joe Frazier was half-prepared. When he was prepared, I could tell him what to do in the ring and he’d do it. George wouldn’t let him do anything.

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“The closer the fight got, the harder I was on Joe. Joe was party-hopping. A few nights before the fight, Joe asked me if he could go out and check a party. He told me he’d be back in 10 minutes. I said alright. Well, after 15 minutes, he wasn’t back. I drove over to the club where Joe said he would be. When I went to check on him, there was Joe on stage, singing with his group, The Knockouts. Joe stained his sport shirt with sweat. I was so angry that I went up on stage, grabbed the microphone and hit him on the head with it. I got him out of there.”

 

Yeah I can see how that would take something out of him. I just don't think it was conclusive. And I thought it would be helpful to see if there was any information out there to better help weigh the likelihood of that theory.

I mean he did have 2 really tough fights with Ali after. But this stuff isn't never really black or white anyway.