Old Foreman v Young Frazier

There is some merit to the criticism that Foreman had slowed with age, but the fact is, Joe would still have to come in close to land, and have to endure punches that would find their mark. He'd also be firing bombs against a defense that was vastly improved over the won that he faced in 1973. The men who beat Foreman in his comeback ( some good, some not so good ), and had one thing in common, in that they either had to take a boxer's approach, or a boxer-puncher's approach. Frazier had no boxer style in him. He just wasn't the type to use the ring..

 

You posted the last fight of Foreman's career when he was nearly 50 years of age, and facing a 6'5", 240 lb challenger who's ass he arguably kicked.

 

Once Foreman hits Frazier once, not much will happen. He hits him four times, he might knock him down. We know what it takes to knock him out. Can old George bring it? He might.

My money is on a Frazier UD, though.

 

I think a young Frazier would bob-and-weave his way inside the old George's punches, and connect with enough lethal left hooks to control the fight.

 

Frazier.

Foreman's work rate isn't what it was when he was younger. Even if he connects and knocks Frazier down once, does he really throw enough punches to overwhelm him again, and again, and again? He simply wasn't that relentless in his second career, nor did he have the footspeed to chase Frazier down.

Secondly, his hand speed had deteriorated badly, which in turn effected his power. I don't think old Foreman hit nearly as hard as young Foreman. Speed is power, and all that.

 

Old Foreman vs 73 Frazier would be the fairest matchup if we're talking comeback Foreman. The fight could go two ways. Younger, but outta shape, overconfident Frazier of 73 survives the early rounds against a much slower but more jabbier Foreman. Joe survives only a couple of early knockdowns to pull out a late stoppage or decision. On the other hand 73 Frazier likely gets stopped in the mid to late rounds by a Foreman right hand. Frazier doing his best in the poor condition that he was tries to outwork Foreman after getting behind early and gets caught trading shots.

Putting old George in against the 1968 - FOTC Joe Frazier is kinda disrespectful. Enough already with the Joe Frazier would always be there to be hit stuff at any stage in his career. Old Foreman has a ridiculously harder time zeroing in on this Frazier and the only trouble I see for prime Joe is the off chance of getting woken up by a heavy old Foreman shot in the early rounds that knocks him down. Joe would finish old George a lot less earlier and less dangerously than his fight with Buster Mathis.

 

George foreman was still hitting hard and accurate however joe frazier before TFOTC deserves the kind of advantage Tyson would over that Foreman. Frazier could land on the way in at any range before the eyesight problems that he got in the first Ali fight. The problem he had with foreman when they did meet was that Frazier had to take shots before he could land - that was not so much the case when he was wiping out ellis, bob foster and co. Prime Joe frazier landing shots on the way in, beating old george to the punch would have a picnic.

Of the champions old foreman met he only knocked former lightheavyweight moorer over. Old George always had power but he wasnt catching all elite fighters with it. Briggs, morrison and Holyfeild were not bothered by foremans power.

 

1968-1969-1970

That 'Smokin Joe' Frazier wins by a comfortable decision, much like Evander Holyfield
over 'Big George', and quite possibly a 12-3 in rounds on the scorecard.

The early 205 lb. Joe, much too quick, and the 'bob-n-weave' was at its perfection back then.

 

I still think Foreman wins. Joe could not fight going backward, and there is no way he's moving any version of Foreman back, least of all the 260 lb, stronger 90's Foreman.

 

The most level,and fair,match up would be the 1976 post Manilla badly faded Frazier v the BEST version of 'Old George' which would be the 1991 incarnation of the Evander Holyfield fight. This would be a good 50/50 one,imo. Let's not even think of the Joe as he was against 'Floyd Cummings.

 

@ People picking slow as mollasses 45yo fatboy Foreman over Frazier, because his speed and workrate would see him get off enough punches here and because he wasn't a punch bag against any top10 opponent he faced atsch

Yea just one punch would do it, because a prime version took how many punches and wait this Foreman is just as quick with just the same 90punch a round stamina workrate? NOW WTF, need to lay off the Teachers me thinks LUFC