Was foreman frazier 1 viewed as a big upset?

[rightsideup]

George had a good record coming in was it surprise outcome?

[Scott9945]

Frazier was about a 3-1 favorite. Nobody was picking George, the logic being that he was too slow and crude.

[Panamaniac]

I wouldn't characterize it as a "big" upset as much as it was a shocking one. Shocking in the sense that Frazier could barely get a shot off against Foreman before being pummeled into submission by the bigger guy. He was litterally lifted off his feet by the sheer impact of Foreman's punches, prompting Howard Cosell's immortal call - "down goes Frazier... down goes Frazier... down goes Frazier"...

[Anthony342]

Yeah I guess even though Foreman was unbeaten, that the odds would still favor the heavyweight champion going into the fight, no real surprise there.

[TysonBomb]

Foreman was a raw slugger that didn't show much skill.

The way he annihilated Frazier was why it was such a big deal. Frazier was undefeated, in his prime, and just came off beating Ali in the FOTC just two years prior to the Foreman bout.

[Panthershock]

Frazier was 3.5 - 1 favorite. Foreman winning period was a big upset, the manner in which he did made it even more shocking.

Foreman was 37-0 and an Olympic gold medalist. However his record was made up largely of tomato can opponents. In 1972 he fought five times, three of his opponents had losing records, a combined 8-53-2. So that should give you an idea of how soft that 37-0 record was.
He hadn't really shown much discipline or ring smarts. Looked for a KO in every punch. Just didnt seem like a fighter ready to take on Joe Frazier.

[Ray Corso]

George didn't let Joe step to him, he put Joe on the defense and hit him with Bombs! It was just one of those match-ups that had a fighters number and Joe couldn't over come it! A puncher always has a chance so the 3 to 1 odds were because Joe was the champ, it didn't help. Most of the boxing community thought Joe was in tuff because we didn't think he could back George up! He couldn't! Styles make fights! Ray

[Panamaniac]

I wouldn't characterize it as a "big" upset as much as it was a shocking one. Shocking in the sense that Frazier could barely get a shot off against Foreman before being pummeled into submission by the bigger guy. He was litterally lifted off his feet by the sheer impact of Foreman's punches, prompting Howard Cosell's immortal call - "down goes Frazier... down goes Frazier... down goes Frazier"...

DGF
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[Daddy T]

the biggest upset foreman managed was the win over moorer.