Joe Frazier's personality

I remember a documentary I once saw on HBO, Marvis Frazier was saying at school, other students would call his father Joe, a Gorilla, because Ali called him one.

 

Well said. Exact impression I got when I met him.

 

I think any reasonable person would understand it Bill. I certainly do. I just think it would be sad if he allowed it to overwhelm him in later life.

 

Joe told that story himself. Marvis would come home from school in tears. I know what that would do to me.

 

I reckon Joe was the GOAT as far as being the coolest, most likeable heavyweight champion of them all.

There didn’t seem to be one iota of bull**** in the man.

Great post Robert Ungurean.

Cheers All.

 

Joe Frazier was a man's man. He was also a good person who grew up very poor and worked hard for everything he achieved. He was not meant to win a gold medal at the Olympics but made the best out of a few lucky breaks. He was always respectful towards his opponents and gave praise to their efforts (Quarry, Bonavena, Ellis) even when he didn't have to. He respected Ali as a champion and loaned him money when Ali was broke. Ali repaid him by belittling him and calling him a gorilla and an ignorant Uncle Tom. To a poor black man from the south that was very humiliating and demeaning. Years later people begged him to forgive Ali but his fierce pride would never really let him forget those insults. Interesting story: Joe was training Duane Bobick for a short period and one day he was putting on Duane's gloves and was distracted and put the wrong glove on the wrong hand. Duane made a snide comment that Joe couldn't even put his gloves on right and Joe immediately left the gym and stopped training Duane that same day. He had a lot of pride and was sensitive, but very real and straightforward with how he dealt with people.

 

Joe lived an amazing life. He was an awesome dude. Stubborn as hell but that is what made him Joe.