Quote Originally Posted by p4pking View Post
I think it's really as simple as Ali having seen his shots coming, wheras not Fraziers. Foreman really loaded up on everything in those days, didn't use his jab and half of everything powerful came from waist level, which played right into his hands against a bob and weave infighter like Frazier. Ali's tactics and mindgames combined with the crowd being so in favour of him only caused George to become more predictable. I think what's more shocking is how Foreman got rid of Frazier so easily, although it does make sense when you break down the styles.
Good assessment, Frazier had a wonderful left hook, you're right Ali didn't see them coming. Frazier would throw them from a different angle and put all his body behind it. Foreman was more predictable, remember Ali's taunts before the fight "Here comes George with a left, here comes George with a right" Foreman telegraphed what he was going to do before it happened giving Ali time to brace for the punch or slip the punch altogether. With Frazier you just got popped and you didn't see it. The Ali strategy of the right hand lead against Foreman was a master stroke, it was devised by a man who was a brilliant ring tactician, someone who did his homework. Ali was not always joking about in the lead up to his fights. It is obvious that behind closed doors he was very serious about his craft, he was the only one who saw flaws in big George and proceeded to put that into practice. I doubt if there was any other Heavyweight in history who could've beaten Foreman in 1974. Sports writers were in fear of Ali's life at the time, yet with a brilliant ring strategy Ali dismantled George round by round. When it comes to left hooks, Smokin' Joe had one of the best ever.