BoxRec

Discuss...

Interesting hypothetical matchup here. Joe Frazier near the end and Ron Lyle at his best, I think it'd be a pretty evenly fought fight in the early going, but I feel like Lyle's fresher body would help him get the better of Joe in the long run and I think he'd either stop him late late or win a clear cut decision over the fading Frazier.

Il Duce wrote:Joe Frazier was 'not' reacting to well to straight right hands from 1970 and on.

If you caught him straight on, he rocked back on 'rounded heels'.

His balance was nearly gone by 1973

How does a fighter lose his balance?

I have watched his first fight with Foreman dozens of times...He offers no resistance. Was it more than a matter of styles?

I wouldn't have wanted to see any Frazier fight post-Manila.

He was shot and it would have been too sad to watch.

ThatOne wrote:

Il Duce wrote:Joe Frazier was 'not' reacting to well to straight right hands from 1970 and on.

If you caught him straight on, he rocked back on 'rounded heels'.

His balance was nearly gone by 1973

How does a fighter lose his balance?

I have watched his first fight with Foreman dozens of times...He offers no resistance. Was it more than a matter of styles?

I think the first Foreman fight effectively ended with the 2nd knockdown. That right uppercut made me wince when I first saw it.

I've always wondered if Joe would be held in slightly higher stead by the general public if he had been counted out right then and there instead of being bounced around four more times.

Still, I was proud to see my favorite fighter keep getting up after absorbing some terrific shots. The heart of a lion.

yancey wrote:

ThatOne wrote:

Il Duce wrote:Joe Frazier was 'not' reacting to well to straight right hands from 1970 and on.

If you caught him straight on, he rocked back on 'rounded heels'.

His balance was nearly gone by 1973

How does a fighter lose his balance?

I have watched his first fight with Foreman dozens of times...He offers no resistance. Was it more than a matter of styles?

I think the first Foreman fight effectively ended with the 2nd knockdown. That right uppercut made me wince when I first saw it.

I've always wondered if Joe would be held in slightly higher stead by the general public if he had been counted out right then and there instead of being bounced around four more times.

Still, I was proud to see my favorite fighter keep getting up after absorbing some terrific shots. The heart of a lion.

I question one or two of the knockdowns. It doesn't seem chivalrous to hit somebody who almost has his back or side turned toward you.

It's become a cliche by now but Foreman was just bad news for any swarmer.

ThatOne wrote:

Il Duce wrote:Joe Frazier was 'not' reacting to well to straight right hands from 1970 and on.

If you caught him straight on, he rocked back on 'rounded heels'.

His balance was nearly gone by 1973

How does a fighter lose his balance?

I have watched his first fight with Foreman dozens of times...He offers no resistance. Was it more than a matter of styles?

I actually think he offered more resistance than in their second fight. He does throw a few good hooks but they miss and if nothing else he is showing great punch resistance. How he got up from that second knock down is beyond me, it's one of the hardest punches I've seen anyone climb off the canvas from.

ThatOne wrote:
I question one or two of the knockdowns. It doesn't seem chivalrous to hit somebody who almost has his back or side turned toward you.

It's become a cliche by now but Foreman was just bad news for any swarmer.

In the heat of the moment and particularly against a man you know is dangerous, I think you'll take any advantage you can get to finish it as quickly as possible. I know I damn sure would.

I don't criticize Foreman for that.

Didn't review the tape, but wasn't Joe practically running away from Foreman when George clubbed him on the side of his head?

Seems like a legitimate blow to throw, chivalry notwithstanding. When you're within seconds of winning the heavyweight championship, you've got to throw that punch. You don't hold back.
Of course in his next bout with King Roman, Foreman got blasted by pundits for supposed fouls on the hapless Puerto Rican.