BoxRec

On this day in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1973, it is the 50th year Anniversary of one of the most brutal and stunning knockout wins in heavyweight boxing history.

Unbeaten challenger Big George Foreman (37-0) totally thrashed and destroyed one of the greatest heavyweight champions ever in Smokin' Joe Frazier.

Frazier was also unbeaten and Undisputed Heavyweight World Champion at 29 years of age with a 32-0 record.

It was almost two years since Smokin' Joe beat the great Muhammad Ali in a Battle of Unbeaten Champions.

Frazier went down 6 times! It was a total massacre!

Your thoughts on this fight.

I always found it a bit mystifying that it was chosen as the Ring Magazine Fight of the Year for 1973 considering it was just a one sided ass kicking.

Possibly one of the most memorable ever as far as one sided ass kickings go, but one sided nonetheless.

I wonder how many times George would've had to drop Joe to actually keep him down for the count of 10?

Fun Fact: Frazier was a 4:1 favorite going in.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑22 Jan 2023, 18:24 I always found it a bit mystifying that it was chosen as the Ring Magazine Fight of the Year for 1973 considering it was just a one sided ass kicking.

Possibly one of the most memorable ever as far as one sided ass kickings go, but one sided nonetheless.

I wonder how many times George would've had to drop Joe to actually keep him down for the count of 10?

From everything I have ever read about Frazier, I think he would have to kill him.

That may be the most dominating performance by anyone against a great opponent. Tremendous performance by Foreman.

Fun Fact :
It was the first" live" Boxing broadcast on HBO TV
( but it could only be seen in Pennsylvania and Florida )
people in other the states had to go see it on closed-circuit TV
in movie houses and arenas

gilgamesh wrote: ↑22 Jan 2023, 18:24 I always found it a bit mystifying that it was chosen as the Ring Magazine Fight of the Year for 1973 considering it was just a one sided ass kicking.

Possibly one of the most memorable ever as far as one sided ass kickings go, but one sided nonetheless.

I wonder how many times George would've had to drop Joe to actually keep him down for the count of 10?

Because Joe Frazier had defeated Muhammad Ali he was such a heavy favorite over George Foreman going into the match that the one-sided nature of the beatdown was just something people couldn't wrap their minds around.

As bad as the first match was though the rematch between Joe Frazier and George Foreman I felt was worse for Joe because he was hit so hard his contact lens ended up behind his eyeball.

That nasty uppercut by Big George did Smokin' Joe in. How Smokin' Joe got up? I don't know.

In 1973 we were all shocked, but with the passing of time it seems less and less shocking.

Thats what happens when you know the result and have seen the fight a million times. Plus, this was before he beat Norton so bad. Still impressive that Foreman was able to do that.

Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑25 Jan 2023, 18:17 Thats what happens when you know the result and have seen the fight a million times. Plus, this was before he beat Norton so bad. Still impressive that Foreman was able to do that.

I was going to post the same. You are spot on here.