Was Frazier mentally beat by Foreman?

Had it not been for the WBC threatening to strip him of his title,Frazier would never have fought Foreman in the first place.


Foreman was the first and only puncher he ever fought - and he was knocked down six times and stopped in two rounds.Frazier simply didn't have the chin to absorb the punches of a noted heavyweight puncher.

 

I think it all biols down to styles here. Frazier always needed to take one or two to deliver one of his own. Noone can do that with Foreman. Also, Foreman's weird defense with his crossed arms worked well against a much smaller opponent. Ali could take Foreman's punches with a defensive style, because he could move his headwith the punches. Frazier walked right into the bombs. Any version of Frazier would have lost to Foreman.

 

Because 'Smokin Joe' was planning comebacks in November 1977,
February 1978, and April 1978.
He even thought about coming back in early 1979, to take on Leon Spinks,
after Spinks had lost to Ali in the Spinks vs. Ali II bout.

Just a fantasy list, with real possible scenario's.

He was offered Jean-Pierre Coopmans in Belgium, in November 1977.
Also, Mike Schutte in South Africa in February 1978.
On the Larry Holmes vs Alfredo Evangilista undercard, he was offered Belgium Heavyweight
Rudy Gauwe (11-0-2), if he wanted to comeback.

All decent pay-days, $200,000+

 

I believe what George said about Joe Louis calling him to boost his confidence before the Frazier rematch in 1976. George felt that fighting Frazier again was needless risk after watching Frazier take Ali to the limit in Manilla. Joe Louis said that Frazier didn't have anything left after Ali, so he was "tune up" for you George. It's in his book. It's a good read if you haven't read it. Maybe you should.

In his book and in interviews before and after the 1973 fight, George said he was fearful of Frazier because he saw no holes in his armour and knew that Frazier "searched every corner of the ring for his prey" and would walk him down and come after him. Evidently, he was surprised as everyone who witnessed the fight when Frazier went down in the first round. He was even more surprised as to how tough Frazier was, and George will tell you, probably more out of respect that he knew he better knock Frazier out before Joe starts warming up. You can see in the post fight interview with Dunphy that George was gassed after letting it all hang out in two rounds.

 

Exactly.

Mac Foster didn't earn the right to fight Frazier after being KO'd by Quarry. We'll never know what would have happened if the two squared off, but what evidence would suggest Foster beating Frazier? Frazier might have been caught and dropped by a Foster right hand early, but I'd bet on him getting up and stopping him in the middle rounds.

Foreman was known to duck Quarry after an apparent sparring session in 69/70 where Quarry got the better of George. Same thing with Shavers, albeit twice. Once in the late 70's and once in the 90's during his second reign as champion.

Liston is perhaps the only fighter from that era that a legitimate case can be made for Frazier avoiding by Durham. I too would have liked to have seen Patterson vs Frazier, but with Floyd's back problems, I doubt it would have been a good contest. Frazier by mid round KO is the likely outcome against Floyd. Frazier was to come back and fight Lyle and/or Shavers and the contract was apparently signed, but the fight didn't happen. I don't know who ducked who, but it's hard to say that Frazier avoided people when he fought practically every heavyweight in line for his title.

 

Frazier paid his dues as a champ. He beat beter guys than foreman ever did. George came along young and fresh when the best heavyweights had all knocked the edge off each other. He still ended up losing to ali (who frazier beat) and jimmy young who was always hot and cold.

quarry, ali,bonnavena, frazier and ellis were 60s fighters who had peaked by 73. George, lyle, shavers and norton were the next generation they SHOULD have had an edge over them, its the natural order of things.

 

Joe Frazier vs. Mac Foster could have happened in early-1970 (Mac before Quarry)

Foster was ranked #1, and took on a supposedly shot Quarry.
Mac did have 3 very good rounds versus Quarry, rocking him with a big left hook in
Round 1, and staggering JQ in Round 3.

But Mac didn't handle body shots too well.

'Smokin Joe' vs. #1 Mac Foster 24-0-0 (24 KO's), probably KO 5 for Joe.

 

Top Cat,

A good one to search..........was Jose Urtain offered a bout with Joe Frazier
in the fall of 1970.

Was the bout scheduled for a Spain location and did 'Smokin Joe's team think the
bout was too much of a risk.
Jose was still undefeated, and had won the European Boxing Crown.
This bout would have been a tune-up for the FOTC in March 1971.

 

He was fistally beat by foreman, esp on the chin

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndqOzDUUYsI[/ame]

www.youtube.com/eslubin

 

And I suppose Bob Foster did,did he? Mac Foster atleast had credibility as a heavyweight contender;Bob Foster had been beaten anytime he stepped in the ring with a half decent heavyweight.


And what had the likes of Ron Stander and Terry Daniels done to "earn the right to fight" Frazier?

 

Yeah, George was really in a bad way.
Pure Fantasy.atsch

 

Je Frazier still had something left after Manila, he just didn't have the goods to
beat 'Big George'.

Very bad the way 'Smokin Joe' left boxing, and foolish choice to take on Foreman
with a 'shaved head'.
Joe should have taken on Dino Dennis or somone in that range, and then retired.

 

He was gassed after Chuvalo, he was gassed after Norton, he was gassed after Frazier, and even after Jose King Roman. Foreman only learned to pace himself better in his second career.

Gee, it must be pure fantasy that Foreman had this great resolve of stamina and somehow lost it against Ali in Zaire? LOL!

 

Foster challenged Frazier for the heavyweight title.

 

That fight should have never been approved.

Not with all the decent heavyweights around.

Now Jimmy Ellis vs. Bob Foster would have been more balanced.