How much did the Fotc take out of smoking Joe?

I think it was more a case of Joe always having been focused on beating Ali to establish his claim and once he did that in such a great fight there werent anymore mountains to climb for him. He got distracted, rich, and lazy.

 

I don't think he'd beat him but he couldn't do worse; better for sure. Maybe better eyesight, and he doesn't have the ton of confidence the FOTC must've given him.

 

I don't think it did, I think it took more out of Ali and Frazier was less motivated after FOTC unless Ali was in the other corner. Frazier was somewhat incomplete as a boxer and would always have nightmares against Foreman. He'd never beat Foreman or an Ali who figured out how to neutralise him inside

 

One question if the man was blind in 1 eye as far back as the 60's how was he able to keep his boxing license??

If you can't pass the pre fight physical you can't fight, especially in a strict state like New York, or Nevada...

 

Everything.

 

Wow Frazier must have had some pretty solid acting skills considering he fought all the way to 1981....

And if he would have had 2 eyes he would have been the greatest heavyweight that's ever walked the earth, :dea:

Have you ever tried fighting with 1 eye? you can't get a full vision of what your opponent is going to do an accurately protect yourself...

 

I think he would have done better. Its hard to say if he would have beaten Foreman. Im not one of those guys who thinks Foreman was all that like some do but I admit his size and strength would have always posed problems for Frazier. The thing for me is that Foreman was a guy who didnt like to get hit, even by guys who werent big punchers, if Frazier could get to him enough early he might be able to make a better fight of it by making Foreman less aggressive or throw less. The question is whether that would make any difference in whether Foreman eventually catches him. My guess is Foreman probably would (even though Frazier is probably one of my favorite fighters of all time) but I do think Frazier would do better. Hell, he did better a couple of years later when he was totally shot.

 

I think that on March 8, 1971, Joe Frazier left everything he had in the ring that night in the FOTC with Ali. Frazier left his heart and soul in MSG during that fight..
he left mentally and physically exhausted after he beat Ali...and he was never the same again.

 

Frazier became an overnight star after beating Ali, girls,his group Joe Frazier and the Knockouts and a lot of partying, he was peak for the Ali fight and it was a war that Frazier won convincingly and they both were great that night. Frazier was never the same but his outside lifestyle and sudden fame had an influence on his commitment to get into kind of condition needed to excel with his style.

 

I definitely feel it took quite a bit out of Smokin Joe. He was in a hospital and in pretty bad shape after the fight. High blood pressure and I think his kidney,s were affected as well. he pushed his body way past it,s comfort/health zone. I don,t think he was ever THAT Frazier again. As for his eye problem. Gypsy Joe Harris said that he (and a select few) knew of Joe,s bad eye,well before the Ali fight. FOTC,greatest fight of Frazier,s career,but it took something from him that could never be replenished...

 

I think the loss of Yank Durham was the big event. Like lots of guys, when young and on top all the breaks go his way. Then, at some point, things just don't. Inside and outside the ring things just no longer seem to tilt like they used to.

Things tilt for a different guy.