What did Frazier do to be called "Uncle Tom" by Ali?

Frazier was against Ali for being against the Vietnam War. Frazier once said he would have gladly served the country if he were drafted. Ali thought this made him an Uncle Tom. It was also to sell tickets, yes, but there was truth behind it too.

 

Do we? Is this confirmed by Ali in any way? What's the source behind it?

Anyhow, Frazier persistently called Ali "Clay" as far back as 1967, even though Ali had made quite clear how insulting this was to him. I think Ali saw this refusal to acknowledge his conversion as a stance for the white establishment. That Frazier criticised his refusal to go to the Vietnam War probably played into this as well.

 

Do we really want to talk about all the horrible things Ali said?

 

It wasn't so much what Frazier did. It was rather Ali's perception that most white boxing fans wanted to see Frazier defeat him not only because of the Viet Nam war but also because of his association with the Black Muslims, and his brash behavior when viewed through the lense of how most people thought an athlete, especially a black athlete, should behave. That's why younger black Americans venerated Ali and why they remained boxing fans throughout his career. Some of them remained interested in the sport afterward, but most of them drifted away after he retired. I thought the answer to this question would be so obvious that no one would ever have to ask it, but that's just because I lived through the era, I guess. I can't assume anything. I forget how old I really am. All this stuff is in my blood.

 

Frazier was not the first he person he called that name, sometimes he got a little carried away.

 

Back in 1965, when Ernie Terrell was WBA Heavyweight Champion, and Muhammad Ali was the universally recognizes World Heavyweight Champion, having defended his title against Floyd Patterson, Ali was in Chicago to promote his upcoming fight against Terrell. This fight would have been for March 29 1966, well he met with the Illinois commissioner before the media. The commissioner asked Ali if his comments and behavior were the behavior of a champion, Ali replied Yes Sir, this after Ali had remarked to the press, I Ain'T Got No Quarrel With Them Vietcong. The boxing commissioner was referring to that comment, needless to say that bout was cancelled, also it was learned that Terrell's management was underworld connected. Ali must have felt that the media and the rest of America accepted Joe Frazier because he behaved like a caucasian, instead of an Afro American. Ali felt like Joe was an Uncle Tom, which is a very derogatory term. As mentioned in a previous post, Frazier and his management always referred to Ali as Clay, much the same way that Patterson did in 1965, saying that he was going to bring the title back to America, because of Ali's faith. Ali did punish Floyd for that comment, he did call Floyd Patterson and Ernie Terrell, Uncle Tom, remember the Terrell fight What's My Name? And also mentioned before, Joe Frazier was for the Vietnam War, and as far as Ali being broke, true, he was paying his legal team to appeal his case in court. In essence he paid Frazier back in a bad way, by using him for his own gain. A mean trick, but he did it. It is like going on a date, the date pretends to like you, but later you find out you were played like a violin.

 

But he also called Floyd Patterson and Uncle Tom too ... I think it had more to do with how Ali saw himself as “The people’s champ “...after all , the man was arrogant

 

Let's just say that Ali was far from perfect human being leave it that way....

 

We all have our faults.

 

What's funny is, according to George Foreman, when Ali was calling Frazier "a Tom" ... Frazier thought he meant a "Peeping Tom" ... like a pervert who jerks it while staring at women through a window.

I think Ali left the "Uncle" off of it when he referred to Frazier as "a Tom" and it confused Joe (according to George).

 

Ali would say anything to impress his white friends in the media. And if it could gain him some street cred with the black folks, more the better.

 

Did anyone ever ask Ali why he slurred Frazier that way? Anyone remember the exact context of when he first started using the term? Was this before he called Frazier a gorilla and made other racial remarks about him?

 

Everything said above is valid ... I'd add he may have used it because he knew it would get under Frazier's skin like few other names, and would affect him in the ring. Ali cycled through many phases, good and bad ... but there was a span in his life that he was a terrible human being. Several sources said that Frazier loaned him money when Ali was broke because he couldn't fight - and even if it was ultimately self-serving, he petitioned to help Ali get his license back. He'd be nice to Frazier behind the scenes, but when the cameras were rolling, it was no holds barred verbally. He was just mean because he could get away with it, being much quicker verbally than Joe. He was busy having a good time and didn't think about the consequences of his actions - namely Frazier's kids getting harassed in turn because of Ali's taunts. I like Ali, but in an historical context, it's often qualified ...

 

He was Ali's opponent.