Problems I had with Frazier vs Foreman I

Slugger beats pressure fighter. Especially when it's George foreman

 

Certainly Frazier was in better shape, both physically and mentally, for the FOTC than for Foreman. Frazier-Ali 1 was such a major fight, to establish the questions of whom the true HW champ was, and also very personal for Frazier due to Ali's treatment of him.

According to the Ghosts of Manila book, some of the people in his camp noticed some of the fire gone in training after he defeated Ali. He scaled the mountain top, and went through hell to do it, as the brutal fight coupled with his already existing health conditions nearly killed him. As said a few posts above, Durham had wanted him to hang up his gloves.

I still think Foreman comprehensively Frazier even if he was the same fighter he had been from 69-71. It's a horrendous style matchup for Joe. It wouldn't be as bad as Jamaica, but still results in a stoppage win for George.

I kind of feel the same way with Hearns-Duran. Everyone knows a 1984 Duran wasn't what he had been in the 70s, or the whirlwind who defeated Leonard in June 1980. But I still don't see the end result being different if they fought in 1980 at 147. Duran fares better, but still loses. Another horrendous style matchup,

 

Anything can happen when 2 guys who can swat, never mind GEORGE FREAKIN FOREMAN and JOE FREAKIN FRAZIER!
At that level and with that of fighter minor changes can have massive consequences!
Foreman stylistically and physically would always problems for Frazier.
Would prime Frazier be able keep Foreman more honest and take him into deep waters and prevail, or hurt him and take him out? Yes....Sometimes. ....I think.

Bottomline: No one knows definitively, but certainly the circumstances if not the consequences would have been different.

 

I think you should be careful what you wish for. Foreman uses the shoving technique in his 2nd career as well. When refs threaten to take away a point, for that or for lowblows, like in the Holyfield fight.. Foreman instead throws punches.

Id rather have the shoves.

Foreman has the grace of... we'll exactly what he is. A big, lumbering giant oaf. But he has the power of one to. To big, to good of a chin, too much power, he makes Joe look like hes in another weight class even though hes not. Shoving or not Joe loses this

 

Joe could not hurt George with a 12_gauge...that is really the fundamental problem.

 

Joe really never landed anything significant on George like he did Ali. Joe got a relatively good shot off in round four of the second Foreman bout when Joe was along the ropes and George was pulling away.

 

Foreman's being allowed to shove and push was a HUGE factor in this fight. And to say
it didn't matter after a minute and a half is ridiculous because shoving Frazier away was what
allowed him to launch his power punches that started all the damage. Mecante was a good
ref who blew it in this fight. Early minute showed Foreman could not keep Frazier away
with his punches. Frazier could get inside but once there he was shoved back out. Mecante gave
a clear warning early in the second round when it was to late. If he had done it right away
this would have been an interesting fight. Frazier could not hit Foreman once he was shoved backwards.
Foreman was that strong but if Frazier had been able to stay inside Foreman's long arms and wide
punches would have not have been as effective and he would have been hittable as well. Could
Foreman had still won? Yes but it could well have been a fight like he had with Ron Lyle without
the pushing.

 

"He comes right at you, I'll know where to find him."George Foreman.

 

anyone got a youtube link to the alternative camera angle on this fight - the one that demonstrates foreman's power in a new terrifying way?

it was posted here a while ago but i cant seem to find it.

 

That was the Norton fight.

 

Frazier was a come forward swarmer, I've never seen him effective in any other style, to which fights are you referring?

 

It’s not as simple as Rock Paper Scissors. If it was That simplistic boxing would be so predictable and hardly worth watching.