1972
World Heavyweight Champion ~ Smokin' Joe Frazier
Did he get a 'raw deal' by the Press, by not defending his Title against any quality opponents.
Were Challengers ~ Terry Daniels and Ron Stander worthy of a Champinship bout.
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1972
World Heavyweight Champion ~ Smokin' Joe Frazier
Did he get a 'raw deal' by the Press, by not defending his Title against any quality opponents.
Were Challengers ~ Terry Daniels and Ron Stander worthy of a Champinship bout.
Technically,
It wasn't Smokin' Joe's fault as to his '1972 Campaign'.
After Joe 'wiped the floor' with Cassius Clay in March 1971, he
needed some time off.
Joe had been training for the Clay fight since early-January 1971, and the
physical and mental stress took it's toll on the little guy.
And Joe wanted to enjoy the 'accolades' for a while, and he wanted to
tour with his 'Musical Revue'.
Joe probably peaked against Ali and was never the same fighter again.
It happened to Nigel benn after the brutal fight with McClellan where he made some easy defences and money.
I think Foreman was also suppose to be an easy fight for him.
At the end of 1971
The rumblings were,
That Smokin' Joe was looking to defend in early-1972 against;
* Former 2-Time Champion - Floyd Patterson
* Spaniard - Jose Manuel Urtain
* 'comebacking' - Oscar Bonavena.
Those fights may have been too early and too hard after the fight with Ali. That was the biggest fight ever. Joe could have lost to any of them at that time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Paxtom
Floyd PattersonQuote:
Originally Posted by MasterThose fights may have been too early and too hard after the fight with Ali. That was the biggest fight ever. Joe could have lost to any of them at that time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Paxtom
Was angling for a Championship bout in late-1971, but then opted out.
Floyd felt that Joe may have not recovered yet from the March 1971 Cassius Clay
bout.
Floyd thought it over, and decided to wait a few more months.
He was too kind for his own good.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill PaxtomFloyd PattersonQuote:
Originally Posted by MasterThose fights may have been too early and too hard after the fight with Ali. That was the biggest fight ever. Joe could have lost to any of them at that time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Paxtom
Was angling for a Championship bout in late-1971, but then opted out.
Floyd felt that Joe may have not recovered yet from the March 1971 Cassius Clay
bout.
Floyd thought it over, and decided to wait a few more months.
Master
You don't think that 1972 Floyd Patterson could beat Smokin' Joe Frazier.
It might have gone 5 Rounds, tops.
No on the contrary I believe Patterson may have won. I said he was too kind to Joe by not taking the offer of fighting Joe.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Paxtom
Patterson-Frazier could have been a terrific war, two small HW's with lots of heart, reckless abandon and big left hooks. I'd say Patterson was actually the better fighter at a time but pretty well past it by when Frazier was champ, and he couldn't take the same punishment.