Supposing that George Foreman had never existed..?

People all over the world would have higher cholesterol levels.
Seriously..Joe Frazier would have had a rematch with Ali in 73 and would have lost the crown by a narrow 15 round decision...all other speculations beyond that I haven't worked out yet..

 

I'm not so sure that, in the absence of Foreman, that things would have happened similarly to the way that they actually did back then..for instance Norton breaking Ali's jaw and winning a decision...I wonder if Ali..after regaining the title from Frazier would have allowed himself to enter a title defensae against Norton as woefully out of shape and disinterested as he was in that Mar. '73 12 rounder? Ali had, throughout '72, routinely had been feasting on one victim after the other, and had no idea of what a night Norton would have given him in Mar. '73..Norton was, as Ali himself said at that time.."just another head to beat up on"..so Norton qualifies for a title shot vs Ali in '73...how did he do that? Norton, until he did beat Ali in '73, wasn't even close to being discussed for a title fight..but of course, being that Terry Daniels and Ron Stander had both been granted title fights, then being truly eligible for the opportunity isn't really a prerequisite after all. Maybe, with the title on the line, Ali would have taken Norton more seriously..but still it would have been a miserable evening for him with this nemisis of his.

 

Maybe Norton would have shocked Ali anyway in a 15 rounder..for the title, and would have taken the crown from Ali...then, their friendship notwithstanding, would Norton have first defended against Frazier before meeting Ali again?

 

Lets not downplay Joe Frazier here, even if he lost a rematch to Ali he may have won it back versus Norton with a second round KO and be considered the greatest of all time.

 

Frazier would've probably been the champ for a while until Ali defeats him in a rematch.

 

In some ways not much would have changed, because his title reigns were both quite short.

The main thing that would have changed is that Joe Frazier would have been ranked higher, and perhaps even seen as a candidate for the #1 spot.

 

Ali would probably have recaptured the title from Frazier. Holyfield would have probably recaptured the title from Moorer and then eventually lost it to Lennox Lewis...so no Shannon Briggs in the line...and I wouldn't be feeling guilty about still not owning a George Foreman Grill.

 

Here is an interesting what if?

What if he dosn't.

Frazier would probably dictate the venue, rules, and other details. It is not far fetched to imagine him making it 2, 0, which would mean no rubber match unless Ali lnocks over a lot of contenders.

The ripples from that stone could spread quite far.

 

We wouldn't have hiarious wars between SuzieQ and Mr. Magoo.

Seriously though, Frazier likely reigns atleast until 1974, when Ali beats him to recapture the title. Holyfield recaptures the title from Moorer and reigns until Lewis beats him late in the decade.

 

I think they offered the deal to Hulk Hogan first but he turned it down.....who else could they have picked if Big George didn't take it on!

 

You mean who could they have offered the real deal to? Ummm...oh yeah!!!

 

By the way, if it had been called the REAL DEAL GRILL, I would definitely own one by now!

 

THEN we wouldn't have to deal with loudmouth morons like poster Ken Norton.