Joe Frazier's greatest victories besides the obvious Ali?

I would think his four round win over Jimmy Ellis to unify the title would be the obvious one. After that, maybe his wins over Bonavena (2), Quarry, Mathis and his definitive domination of Eddie Machen would be up for consideration.

Hard to see anything being bigger than the FOTC from a point of view of the signicance at the time.

 

We also have to add bob foster, i mean he is a hall of famer after all !

 

**** poor at heavyweight

 

Yes......but after all he is a hall of famer !

 

Regardless, Joe ( For me ) has never looked more stronger, bigger, and unbeatable as he did on that night. keep well.

 

I thought about Foster but just couldn't include him as a great win. At that point in his career, Frazier was an unstoppable, relentless tank of a heavyweight and Foster's previous forays into the upper echelon of the heavyweight division had not gone well. Foster is one of my favorite light heavies of all time and while this was a great Smokin Joe performance it was not a particularly great win for Frazier.

 

I think that first win over Quarry. Quarry had just beat Mathis and was probably at his best.

 

The first fight against then WBA champion Jimmy Ellis on Feb 16 1970 in Madison Square Garden. Joe started slowly which he always began a fight, then slowly began to whittle Jimmy down with body shots, pressure and finally that Joe Frazier staple , that signature Frazier left hook that finished Ellis, his trainer Angelo Dundee would not let Jimmy out for round 6. And Joe leaped into the arms of Yank Durham, they had a great plan together all along.

 

I remember the commentary for that fight, with Howard Cosell saying something like, "Frazier has no one signature punch" - really, Howard? He certainly had a signature punch by the time the fight was over.

 

He sure did, that's for sure.

 

Cossell didn't belong in boxing period.

 

1. Jimmy Ellis TKO4 (1970)
2. Jerry Quarry TKO7 (1969)
3. Oscar Bonavena W15 (1968)
4. Buster Mathis TKO11 (1968)
5. Joe Bugner W12 (1973)
6. George Chuvalo TKO4 (1967)
7. Eddie Machen TKO11 (1966)
8. Oscar Bonavena W10 (1966)
9. Jerry Quarry TKO5 (1974)
10. Doug Jones KO6 (1966)
11. Bob Foster KO2 (1970)
12. Jimmy Ellis TKO9 (1975)

Ellis at 1 because he was the WBA Champ and fighting well. Winning the elimination tournament. He was a confident fighter. He could box and punch.

 

It’s weird- so many commentators with so much time watching boxing and being around boxing know nothing.

 

Spot on for me!