Thread: Frazier v Foreman

We all know that Joe Frazier got comprehensively beaten by George Foreman in 1973. However most would agree that he had probably past his peak which may have been in the first fight with Ali in 1971. However the question I would ask is, if Joe did not have that fight with Ali, which was brutal and he was hospitalised and maybe even blinded after that fight, would he have done better against big George?

Joe would have been at his best, he may have had better resistance and therefore may have taken Foreman to the later rounds. If he could take George to the second half of the fight then maybe Big George would get tired and lose his game plan. Joe has a ton of heart and would have carried on regardless and maybe even get a stoppage.

Would you agree?

No.. Fraziers style was all wrong against foreman, he was there for the taking. He even admitted himself he just couldnt handle georges power, frazier was at his peak when he fought george i thought?? Im asking.. Because he had his third fight with ali after ali beat george. And i thought he had his second fight with ali after george beat him... Its before my time but people have your number frazier was beaten twice conclusively by foreman.

I think Fraziers peak was against Ali in their first fight, I was wondering how that fighter would have done against George.

I think any version of Frazier would get murdered by Foreman. It's just a bad matchup stylistically for him like mentioned above.

Originally Posted by Beanflicker

I think any version of Frazier would get murdered by Foreman. It's just a bad matchup stylistically for him like mentioned above.

But if he could have taken it to the later rounds?

Really think foreman had his number, i checked and the foreman fight was only a year after the ali fight, if somehow he got past george in the later rounds i still see it going same way, frazier was brilliant but his bobbing style had no effect on the awkward swings from george thus why he inflicted fraziers first defeat. Also frazier was the fave going into that fight....

Frazier would have been beaten at any stage of his career against Big George.

Joe's peak was ended by Foreman, he was at his peak when they fought in 1973, Frazier had just turned 29. Foreman was all wrong for him, just as Ali was all wrong for Foreman.

Originally Posted by Master

We all know that Joe Frazier got comprehensively beaten by George Foreman in 1973. However most would agree that he had probably past his peak which may have been in the first fight with Ali in 1971. However the question I would ask is, if Joe did not have that fight with Ali, which was brutal and he was hospitalised and maybe even blinded after that fight, would he have done better against big George?

Joe would have been at his best, he may have had better resistance and therefore may have taken Foreman to the later rounds. If he could take George to the second half of the fight then maybe Big George would get tired and lose his game plan. Joe has a ton of heart and would have carried on regardless and maybe even get a stoppage

Would you agree?

No I don't agree, here's what Frazier had to say:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v...ture=endscreen

cheers mate

Dwight Muhammad Qawi who had a similar style to Joe Frazier, actually didn't do that bad vs George Foreman. And a shot Joe Frazier in the rematch vs George Foreman done ok for 4 rounds aswell.

I think a prime Joe Frazier does better and maybe has some moments, but i think he gets stopped in the 8th round or so. If Dwight Muhammad Qawi can last 7 rounds while not disgracing himself i think a prime Joe Frazier could last a bit longer.

But again George Foreman's weakness wasn't brawler's it was boxers like Peralta, Ali, Young, ETC.

Originally Posted by Master

We all know that Joe Frazier got comprehensively beaten by George Foreman in 1973. However most would agree that he had probably past his peak which may have been in the first fight with Ali in 1971. However the question I would ask is, if Joe did not have that fight with Ali, which was brutal and he was hospitalised and maybe even blinded after that fight, would he have done better against big George?

Joe would have been at his best, he may have had better resistance and therefore may have taken Foreman to the later rounds. If he could take George to the second half of the fight then maybe Big George would get tired and lose his game plan. Joe has a ton of heart and would have carried on regardless and maybe even get a stoppage.

Would you agree?

I agree with those who have already said that George was all wrong for Joe and also that it most likely would not have mattered when they fought. I actually don't really think those two losses really effect Joes legacy anymore then say Penders back to back victories over Robinson effects Rays.

even at his peak, Frazier would just bob right into George's uppercut zone.

Originally Posted by brocktonblockbust

even at his peak, Frazier would just bob right into George's uppercut zone.

Again and again and again and again.

Originally Posted by Master

But if he could have taken it to the later rounds?

Personally, I don't see him doing it. Foreman just had too much firepower for Frazier's style. And for me, I don't buy that the Frazier who fought Foreman was all that different than the one who fought Ali.

Frazier lead with his face a lot of the time, and that was fine for awhile because he had a solid chin and a ton of heart, but against a guy like Foreman he wasn't going to win that battle. A guy like Tyson would have obliterated him within 3 rounds.

Originally Posted by IamInuit

I agree with those who have already said that George was all wrong for Joe and also that it most likely would not have mattered when they fought. I actually don't really think those two losses really effect Joes legacy anymore then say Penders back to back victories over Robinson effects Rays.

Well I think it has to effect his legacy because he got destroyed in his prime, while he was the world champ, by a guy in 2 rounds. We're not talking about an off night where he lost on points or something. This was a very embarrassing, emasculating loss where his opponent bounced him around like a basketball. George beat him like he was a club fighter, and Frazier would DEFINITELY be much higher regarded had he beat Foreman.

To Joe's credit, he only lost to two men: Ali and Foreman, who are both universally recognized as top 5 HWs of all time.