Frazier's Private Thoughts

Met him in a bar in Philly. He was drinking hard.... Otherwise a fantastic person to talk with.... Mentioned Ali once but with a bad look on his face. This was early 90s. He made my day with stories. Said Foreman hurt his feet when he connected. Wanted a piece of Tyson after his sons failure.... I lacked the balls to dispute. Thankfully

 

I think given the opportunity Smokin Joe would have fought Muhammad Ali before he was banned in 1967, but as I have mentioned before, his manager, Yank Durham said he was too green for Clay, and did not allow it, Joe was no 1 contender at that time, it would have been a good fight, if anything Joe would have gained experience for a rematch at a later time. I read somewhere where Joe did not like the fact that Ali fought Cleveland Williams in 1966, he was upset that Ali beat up a guy that had been shot.

 

Nice read appreciated that Mac.

 

Smokin Joe had too much respect for himself and his legacy to try himself against spoiled goods like Williams he didn’t fight his close friends either (Norton) and only fought the light heavyweight champ at the time as a favour so he (Mac) could make more money.

 

I figured that when he fought World Light Heavyweight Champion Bob Foster, on Nov 18 1970, it was for money. Joe was a very good human being and a great fighter. I often wished that Yank Durham would have allowed Joe to fight Muhammad Ali for the title in 1967, but Yank loved Joe like a son and was looking out for him, for a later date with Ali. It would have been a good fight in 1967 though.

 

Yeah, Machen was in peach form when Joe KO'd him.

Let put it in this perspective: seven years after losing to Ali, Williams beat one of Joe's challengers that year (Terry Daniels). That's the kind of lofty standards Joe set for his opposition.

 

Well, he fought a guy that had been in mental hospital (Machen).

My guess would be that Joe felt a rivalry with Ali long before Ali did. And that's the way it should be really. A great champion like Joe is the kind that feels that he really is the man years before anyone else does. That the current champion, that everyone else is in awe of, just stands in his way. That's the kind of mentality that makes you great.

 

Really good post, I agree.

 

Great thread, Mac. Cheers

 

Envy is a sin, but that’s what I’m feeling right now; it would have been a sincere pleasure to sit and listen to Smoke opine for an afternoon or so ...

 

Frazier was stopped by Foreman's power, likely could be stopped by Wilder. He definitely could hurt Wilder too.

 

Wilder folded under Fury's determined attack. Nobody did determination like Joe Frazier. FOTC Frazier stops him in 5. Wilder doesn't have a chance.

 

I wanted to elaborate on my above post...there's no one I want to see improve more than Wilder. I believe that if Deontay does what Michael Moorer talked about, goes back to basics and acquires things like a killer jab and better movement NO one can beat him today.

 

One good turn deserves another Mac.