Foreman vs Frazier revisited.

You have something here. Fleisher and the Ring mag didn't have Ali in their top ten at the time of his death in 1972, and later Ring top tens took time to elevate Ali into its not number 1 slot. It was after the 3rd Frazier bout if I remember correctly that they replaced Louis there with him.

 

The thing about Howard and boxing (and all the sports he covered) was that he researched and had information for the viewer that has often lacked in those covering them. He took his job seriously and spent the time to know the backgrounds. He was loved by some (I thought he was the best) and much hated by others but as a journalist did his studying.

 

I do appreciate you bringing up Quarry when he was doing commentary in the WWS days, he really was good. I remember Duran was fighting once and Jerry said he was sure glad he wasn't a heavyweight! I have heard Kenny also and he came across as a very gracious and good man. Still Howard was the best to me and people either loved or hated him as a commentator.

I think you might give fighters a little too much credit though, hahaha, I've never known one who didn't have an absolute they know the answer and who would win in any given situation. Were a very opinionated bunch.

 

Howard did his homework, I liked the Lyle interview outdoors. I think he learned a lot from talking to top fighters and trainers. He could call a fight though. People with all the scientific knowledge might not be great at calling a fight. I believe Norton commentated at Lyle Ali or Foreman Lyle. Norton was a scholar and a gentleman. On a sidenote I love Foreman's line at the end of Bowe/Gonzalez "Where there's smoke, there's more smoke"

 

Quarry was a pretty good commentator, so was Norton. I grew up with Cosell, love him or hate him, I loved him as a commentator. What he might have lacked in 'total' boxing insight was IMO overcome by a love for the sport, a sport he covered for many years. Howard's ringside insights when I was young were memorable. His "down goes Fraza! down goes Fraza!" is all-time lexicon. Lastly, I remember Howard at the 1976 Olympics before an Olympic bout: "OK, let's look at the judges here, one Rumanian, one Soviet, and one Englishman. This doesn't bode well for the young American all things considered!" I loved Howard's commentary.

 

Did you ever hear Quarry's impersonation of Ali?
Great stuff.
It's on YouTube somewhere.

 

Great post!

 

I wish I had heard the Lyle interview, maybe I can find it on the net somewhere? I heard Ken do the commentary for the Ali-Shavers bout and especially liked how he covered the last round when Ali had Earnie bouncing off the ropes!

 

Smokin' Joe was pretty circumspect about his losses to Foreman, basically saying he was to big and strong. Often you learn more more about the greats in their defeats. Knowing what a force Foreman was in hindsight it is no surprise that he knocked Smokin' Joe 6 times but that anyone could get up 6 times!

Cosell has a warm place in my heart because he was part of the soundtrack of some greatest fights from one boxing's golden ages. However, especially in his later years he committed, perhaps even perfected, one of the cardinal sins of broadcasting, making it about him and not the fighters in the ring.

 

Good posting and good points all.

 

foreman weighed just 3 pounds over frazier in the first fight and frazier was 1/2 pound heavier in the second fight , again... The weight means ****... Foreman was simply naturaly bigge rin frame, he was naturally stronger and more powerfull and it was all frazier never would have beaten foreman despite some dreamers frazier fans are trying to insinuate that frazier 70 woulD have won it simply i s not truth... The same beating always.. Period

 

well said!! (but i would not say 68-69 ali, i would say 64-67 )