Old Foreman v Young Frazier

unlike Tyson joe frazier was in more competative fights against guys who wanted to win. doug jones, machen, chuvalo, bonavena, mathis, quarry, ellis and muhammad ali. He had climed that mountain.

For all presure fighters here is a window where he will be at his best and the trick is to get him have all the big competative fights during that window when he is most likly to win. The window had closed after the Ali fight, it was not arrogance or believing the hype. The Joe frazier era had ended. yank wanted him to retire AFTER TFOTC.

frazier gave 100% of what he had at that time, he gave it everything but Foreman was a special fighter on his way up and Frazier had already climed his mountain. there was wear an tear on Frazier. He had bum eyes, still hit hard, still had a lot to give but he needed that extra second to be competative against the next generation of 1970s championship material. It just was not the 1960s anymore. when frazier turned pro the fighters who were around that needed to be beat in order to be considered great were muhammad ali, quarry and ellis and joe beat all of them after climbing over bonavena and chuvalo to get to them. By the time foreman came along frazier was the target, joe was the last man standing and it was time for a new passing of the torch. It was just the natural order of things. Nothing to do with prime vs prime.

 

Foreman was a great talent. when he set out Frazier, ali and Norton were the best guys out there. Frazier and Ali were 1960s guys still hanging out and Norton was the new guy. Foreman blew out Frazier. Foreman blew out Norton but flunked the Ali fight. He blew it. It makes Ali look fantastic but Foreman still blew it. There was unfinished business.

Compare all that with Frazier. when he started out the target was Ali then the whole WBA tournament. Frazier saw, came and conquered but hung around too long. He paid his dues.