Frazier simply didn’t need more fights. Futch did an excellent job matching Frazier and maximizing his earning potential. Futch actually wanted Frazier to retire in 1971 considering Frazier had just received a $2.5 million purse for one fight, which is more than most fighters earn in an entire career both then and now. Also, despite only having 37 fights Frazier has a lot of excellent wins. Muhammad Ali Buster Mathis Joe Bugner Jimmy Ellis Oscar Bonavena Bob Foster Jerry Quarry Eddie Machen George Chuvalo Manuel Ramos
I think 6 of his opponents were Ring ranked. Bonavena [68] no 6 Quarry [69] no6 &, [74] no6 Ellis [70] no 2 A i [71]no1 ,[74 ] no1, &75 Champ Foreman[73]no2, [76] no1 Chuvalo no 8 Bugner no8 Think that's right.
Seems reasonable, but do you remember Durham saying that? I've read that he didn't want Joe to face Ali in the 60's.
He was - Ramos was Top-5. Bonavena was also Top-10 Rated, in '66, when Frazier met him the first time.
Frazier's record was more impressive than Foreman's leading up to their fight and also debatably afterwards. Think the most notable guys that would have boosted his record would be Liston and Norton, the former basically blackballed from fighting in the states and the latter simply because they were friends. Might have been able to face Lyle and Shavers if they weren't defeated by Quarry, same with Patterson. Yank thought Joe wasn't ready for Ali pre-exile but Joe personally thought he was. Have heard about Frazier's camp but not Frazier himself trying to avoid Liston, but never from a direct source.
Frazier has a very good resume but he looked at his best vs highly skilled non big punchers his demolition of quarry is very impressive because Frazier showed he could butcher a dangerous boxer puncher who went toe to toe with him I would have loved to seen Frazier might more foreman types …shavers, liston, Mac Foster, Lyle in early 70s
I can't imagine there was ever much pressure to fight an old ex-con who gave up his title on his stool, the took a dive in the rematch. I don't think Frazier deserves criticism for not fighting Liston
Would have been a lose lose fight for Joe. He wins, so what he beat a mobbed up guy who possibly threw it. He losses (which was a strong possibility even to old Liston) he lost to an out of prime mobbed up guy. Shame as a fan we didn’t get to see it.
I’ve seen quotes by Yank or Futch. I’m not sure which of the two stating they wouldn’t let Lyle near Frazier “He looks like poured concrete, he ain’t getting our number” or something like that. Eddie Machen also legitimately dropped/rocked Frazier if not for clinging on at the last second. Liston they might’ve thought could’ve minced him up regardless of his shape, Bonavena was such a slug he wasn’t a risk and Foreman was about the only other puncher he fought…
