How could Frazier have EVER beaten Foreman?

[El Kabong]

Simply put TIMING...if Frazier landed he would have hurt Big George. The problem with Frazier is he was kind of like Golota in that it took him a few rounds to really effectively get his strategy going (though unlike Golota, Joe Frazier was mentally tough and a great boxer)

[marbleheadmaui]

I think that was as bad a style matchup as I have ever seen for a great fighter. Joe was supremely one dimensional. He bobbed and weaved and attacked. It is all he could do and he did it savagely and skillfully. The problem is the antidote for that style is being tall with a powerful uppercut. Well Big George had that and an awfully good chin.

Frazier's chance was to take the fight long but how the heck does his style make THAT happen?

[THE THIRD MAN]

Frazier would need to become Thor and bring that hammer to beat big George!

[brocktonblockbust]

[JazMerkin]

A shotgun. Maybe.

[rjj tszyu]

On a DVD I have (I think it was Champions Forever though I could be mixed up) George says about the first fight that he heard the left hook come whizzing past his face and knew he had to get rid of Joe quickly after that. Now had this punch landed on George and ultimately KO'd him the whole landscape and history of the HW division could have been changed. For me though that is Joe's only chance vs George, to land a big shot early. Joe was Tailor made for George and if they fought 100 times I'd struggle to see Frazier winning many and any that he did would have to be 1 punch KO's which isn't an easy thing to do to Big George.

[marbleheadmaui]

On a DVD I have (I think it was Champions Forever though I could be mixed up) George says about the first fight that he heard the left hook come whizzing past his face and knew he had to get rid of Joe quickly after that. Now had this punch landed on George and ultimately KO'd him the whole landscape and history of the HW division could have been changed. For me though that is Joe's only chance vs George, to land a big shot early. Joe was Tailor made for George and if they fought 100 times I'd struggle to see Frazier winning many and any that he did would have to be 1 punch KO's which isn't an easy thing to do to Big George.

Big George has ALWAYS been extremely kind and respectful in his comments about Frazier. He says things like you noted and other times he he said he knew Frazier would struggle to quickly reach the same peak he had against Ali and so George took him before he could. In short he acknowledges that he never beat the very best Frazier.

I often wonder if that's how George genuinely feels or if he is just being the classy man he has become.