Joe Frazier and George Foreman clashed in a colossal heavyweight showdown back in 1973.
‘Smokin Joe’ was the unbeaten WBC and WBA world heavyweight champion when he welcomed a challenge from Foreman at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica over 50-years ago.
Frazier had been a heavy favourite going into the bout, having already picked up impressive victories over the likes of Muhammad Ali and Jerry Quarry in the years prior.
It took ‘Big George’ – who sadly passed away last month at the age of 76 – just two rounds to dispatch of Frazier, knocking him down no less than six times to become the world heavyweight champion for the very first time in his career in a historic victory for the formidable puncher.
In a resurfaced interview, ‘Smokin Joe’ was asked whether he believed Foreman had switched fighting styles ahead of their bout, before paying homage to the thunderous punching power of ‘Big’ George by saying, “he punched good!”
“Well no he didn’t switch styles you know what I mean, he just like come out and worked you know what I mean, big strong fella. And I know one thing, you asked me how well that he fights, I don’t know, but I can tell you one thing, he punched good!”
Foreman made just two defences of the titles he captured from Frazier that night, before he was defeated by Muhammad Ali in ‘The Rumble In The Jungle’ in 1974. ‘Big’ George would go on to become heavyweight champion once again two decades later, defeating Michael Moorer to claim the WBA and IBF titles and become the oldest world heavyweight champion in the history of boxing.
