Remembering Joe Frazier

I consider it the most iconic moment in boxing history.

This content is protected

 

His refusal to stay down against Foreman. His body couldn't contain his heart.

 

Wasn't even alive when the Fight of the Century took place, but I also liked Rd 11, when he had Ali trapped against the ropes, 2 massive left hooks, buckled Ali's legs and Ali looked at him with a "What the hell??" face.

Thrilla in Manila - when he got tired of pounding on a shelled-up Ali, hooked his gloves around Ali's and pulled him off the ropes!

Apologies for the Ali heavy memories (bound to be naysayers coming in - "Is this a Frazier thread or Ali thread?") but these two warriors will FOREVER be linked.

 

his destruction of jimmy ellis the first time and both fights against jerry quarry, and obviously his snarling face when in heated exchanges with muhammad ali

 

I have a question for you old-timers:roll:, when Frazier lost to Ali and Foreman back then, was he seen as washed up akin to Hatton losing to Mayweather and Pacquiao? Or was there a more rational attitude back then...in the days of yore?

And no, I'm not equating HAtton to Frazier, who ranks much higher...but both lost to the P4P kings of the time.

 

In his autobiography, he mentions an incident where his family was watching boxing on their TV, a young Joe Frazier walked onto his porch to get into his house and his uncle Israel looked at him and said "That boy is gonna be another Joe Louis"

Joe Frazier took it to heart. He made up his own heavybag consisting of bricks, corncobs, moss and rags. He'd train on it everyday.

....And the rest...is history.

 

If you were to boil a bunch of great fighters down and filter the stuff off the top, you'd be left with the pure, refined essence of a true fighter. You'd wind up with Joe Frazier.

 

^ "I knew I was going blind, but I had the dream of becoming champion..." - on going to Manila. He also had high blood pressure that was wrecking his body and arthritis that was messing up his elbows.

Smokin' Joe had HEART, too much heart...

Also, apologies on getting my fights wrong - that incident where he pulls Ali off the rope was in FOTC too.

 

what I remember off my own experiences was reading his boxing 101 book

 

right before the ABC scuffle....Alis brother put his hand on Joes arm and Joe snatched his arm from him and said " you want some of this too?"
then ali "playfully jumped on him" and all hell broke loose
Joe was NOT playing....Ali was...

 

What made Joe so great was he didnt have montrous power, lightning fast speed or a physique to die for. He was your average "Joe" with heart and determination that couldn't be matched.

 

Lots of great memories. Frazier v. Quarry I (a war), Frazier v. Ellis I. Frazier v. Chuvalo. And all three fights against Ali. RIP Smokin' Joe Frazier.

 

He had very very good power with the left hook to the body and head. And he had a great slugger's technique in that he could close the distance, even against an Ali, using a jab, and body shots. Not crude. But brutal. He really beat down a lot of fighters, although he could never do it to George Foreman.

 

george chuvalo describing the difference between a frazier and foreman punch

Foreman was like getting hit by a dump truck at 75 mph

Frazier was like getting hit by a sports car at 110 mph