Could 1971 Frazier have beaten Foreman ?

[OctoberRed]

I almost think Foreman had his number and it was more of good big man beating a good little man.

Agreed.

[Granath]

It's an atrocious style match up. It doesn't matter what version of Fraizer bobs into uppercuts.

Foreman is exceptionally humble, according to George, he loses every fight he could ever have been in.

Agreed. Big George is rock to Frazier's scissors.

George once said that he'd beat Frazier every time but that Ali would beat him every time.

[TBear]

Hard to imagine any other outcome as Foreman's power, strength and style was a nightmare for Smokin' Joe. But the question is a fair one. Joe Frazier spent most of 1971 and all 1972 with only two easy opponents and weighed nearly 10 pounds heavier than he did against Ali in April of 71. But with the advantage of hindsight I would say no.

[Mooshashi]

No, not any version of Frazier. His vaunted left hook either couldn't get to Foreman or it didn't effect Foreman, and that was Frazier's money punch.

[QueensburyRules]

- -Joe without question better in pre Ali 71 than 73 because of ongoing blood pressure and vision problems, but he would not have been nearly so riled up as he was when Ali made their fight painfully political and racial.

Motivation has always been a huge factor in how a fight plays out.

[Dynamite76]

I will always feel that FOTC Frazier would beat Foreman had it been that version in the ring with him in Jamaica. But maybe it wasn't meant to be.

[slicksouthpaw16]

Frazier was smoked 2x because of how poorly he matched up with Foreman. I'm not buying the one eye reasoning either, as he'd been fighting blind (one eye) and beat Ali with the same issue due to a faulty speed bag since sometime in the mid 60s.

[QueensburyRules]

- -Let's not forget that Mercante stuck a finger in Joes eye while breaking he and Ali.

Joe physical ailments were all sadly progressive and exacerbated by his lifestyle that included boxing!