FOTC Joe Frazier vs. George Foreman (of Sunshine Showdown)

I don't think he was declined to be totally honest.

And I don't ever envision Frazier beating Foreman.

We know what happens when Frazier comes straight at George, so first time out Foreman always smashes him.

Now if we get a prime Frazier, and put him in a rematch with George that's a bit more interesting because I thought he showed a good game plan in the rematch, he just wasnt good enough to pull it off.

 

Lol

 

How did you come to this conclusion?

 

I think stylistically this would always be a troublesome match for Joe Frazier. Could he have given a better account of himself in 1971 than he did in 1973 ? Perhaps. To what extent though I’m not sure.

 

Frazier did indeed land a couple of hard shots in the rematch but just like in the first fight they were shrugged off. In the rematch he was too worried about moving laterally and backwards (that was his plan after all) and surviving George early to land too much of significance. You are hardly going to land your signature booming punches on the move when you are a swarmer. Regardless across two fights he landed a few flush punches and Foreman shrugged them off with ease. He would never win fighting his normal style with Foreman no matter what version we talk. Based on just how few punches Foreman took to bring a very sudden halt to the rematch i highly doubt any version fighting any style is going to have much success either.

Frazier was a 3'1/2 -1 favorite in the first match. Even in the rematch one mob had him fave. Anyone would think he was a walking corpse coming into the initial encounter. Post Foreman 1 he was still beating legit top 10 contenders comfortably even if he'd lost a step or two. He was also taking Ali life and death of course.

Why was Frazier "clearly" not the guy who fought Ali? Because he lost? Because he had basically zero effectiveness? Ali and Foreman were chalk and cheese. Frazier was around his greatest fighting boxers and as we saw was lost against an ATG puncher aggressor in George. Foreman was a stylistic nightmare where as Ali was a great he could go life and death with.

I'm not convinced FOTC Frazier would have beaten an Ali with a couple more fights under his belt post exile and i would certainly take a pre-exile Ali in what would always be hard fights against Joe.

Foreman is terrible for Joe. Frazier showed enormous heart, as always, just by chasing another fight with him.

 

Well firstly he would never have used it in a first up fight for obvious reasons but assuming he did he'd probably last a bit longer. I say probably because by the time of the rematch George was pacing himself more which imo didn't necessarily make him a better fighter at that time. Maybe he would have got there if he didn't retire. The unbeaten incarnation may well ave cornered the moving Frazier and went all out.

Again, look at how few punches it took Foreman to abruptly end the rematch. On the flip side Frazier struggled to make an impact on Foreman even when he did land flush. It's a mountain too high for mine, absolutely.

 

You're a moron or a troll. I have provided ample evidence that Frazier had clearly declined after FOTC, confirmed by numerous observers prior to facing Foreman. Instead of refuting it, you keep trotting out the same and almost robotic "'73 Frazier was the same Frazier who was as FOTC Frazier lolz"

Yeah, I've already said Foreman would've defeated Frazier prime for prime. You seem to be arguing with yourself here.

 

Excellent post John. Though I can't agree, Frazier was the same after FOTC. His defenses against Daniels and Stander prior to facing Foreman are telling imo. I think it goes without saying nobody would ever be the same after partaking in a Battle as physically demanding as TFOTC.

 

Awesome post, Swag. Thanks my friend.

 

No problem my man! I was going to shoot you a PM a few backs but forgot. How are you and your family dealing with Covid? Is everything all right?

 

It's not only how good Foreman is but how their styles mesh.