Smokin’ Joe Was Much More Than Just Three Fights Against Ali
For most of his life, Joe Frazier had struggled and failed to get out from behind the shadow of Muhammad Ali. He was a fine, hard-working man and a great heavyweight champion, yet since the 1971 “Fight of the Century” with Muhammad Ali, few have appreciated his virtues as anything other than as Ali’s arch-rival. Most eulogies in the press focus on Frazier’s role as Ali’s foil, and in doing so I think they do Frazier the ultimate and final disservice.
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While I acknowledge the fact that his rivalry with Ali is an inescapable fixture of his biography, “Smokin” Joe Frazier was much, much more than merely some guy Ali fought three times. Ali fought Ken Norton three times as well, yet Norton hasn’t been a household name since the 1970s. Even so, I often think Frazier’s excellent reign as heavyweight champion and his outstanding career as a whole are routinely ignored in the fixation with his rivalry with Ali, and to the detriment of Frazier’s hard earned legacy.
Frazier won a gold medal as a heavyweight at the 1964 Toyko Olympics, placing him in the middle of a three-Olympics American run at winning heavyweight gold (Ali won in 1960; Foreman in 1968). He turned pro in 1965, and within 13 months he was fighting a serious contender in the form of tough Argentine Oscar Bonavena, who was 21-2 going into that bout. Frazier was just 11-0, but he still pounded out a narrow majority decision win.
Who would win a Joe Frazier vs. Mike Tyson fantasy fight?
Wins over Eddie Machen, Doug Jones and George Chuvalo followed. Frazier probably hurt the unstoppable Chuvalo worse than any other man in that rugged Canadian’s career, as he shattered Chuvalo’s eye socket en route to a lopsided points win. By 1968, Frazier stopped Buster Mathis to win the New York World Championship. He later unified the title in a showdown with Jimmy Ellis, knocking Ellis out in the 5th.
During his title reign, Frazier gave Bonavena a rematch and whipped him, tore up Jerry Quarry, and yes, became the first man to ever defeat Muhammad Ali. When Frazier entered the ring that fateful 1973 night in Jamaica to fight George Foreman, he was making the 10th defense of his title. It was a long, distinguished reign as heavyweight champion, and it saw him fight and beat most of the top men in his division.
Frazier also enjoyed a decent post-championship run. He lost the rematch with Ali, and most famously the 1975 Thrilla in Manila, but beat Joe Bugner and won rematches with Quarry and Ellis. In the modern era of fragmented titles, it is easy to see Frazier capturing a crown for a second (albeit short) reign.
Finally, Joe Frazier was a fun fighter to watch. The man was all-action, coming forward and always in motion with his bob and weave. His left hook was pugilistic magic, but Frazier was a full-on two-handed puncher. Until he met George Foreman, most observers thought Frazier was the hardest hitting and physically strongest man in the division, despite standing a mere 5’11” tall and weighing in at about 205 lbs. He was driven by a steely will to win, and never failed to deliver in the ring.
So, when you go to YouTube or pop in a DVD of Frazier’s past fights, remember the man’s entire career and not just the Ali trilogy. Watch some of those other fights, and by that I don’t mean a replay of Foreman and “Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!” That is how Smokin’ Joe would have wanted it.
