About Joe Frazier

Born January 12, 1944 in Beaufort, SC.
Died November 7, 2011
Career record: 37 wins (32 KO), 4 defeats, 1 draw
"Smokin' Joe"

Frazier grew up in a poor Southern family, so poor that he couldn't afford a punching bag. Instead, he improvised by cutting leather into the shape of a punching bag, filling it with foam-wrapped bricks, and hanging it from the ceiling. His methods were good enough to get him to the Olympics where he won a Gold Medal in 1964 - he had his medal cut into eleven separate pieces so that he could divide it equally among his children. His methods were good enough, as well, to establish him as a legitimate heavyweight contender in the mid-1960's after he defeated several ranked heavyweights, including Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Buster Mathis and Jimmy Ellis. Over a period of four years, Frazier and Ali met three times, perhaps the greatest trilogy in boxing history. The title was finally his after he triumphed over Ali in the much-anticipated "Fight of the Century" in 1971. Three years later, Ali enjoyed revenge when he won a unanimous decision against Frazier. Frazier would make his final attempt at regaining the World Heavyweight Title in the 1975 "Thrilla in Manila" rubber match. It was a brutal battle that Ali won with a TKO in the 14th round, but both boxers would feel the affects of the fight for years to come. Ali called it "the closest thing to death that I could feel".

Since retiring, Frazier has made cameo appearances in several movies and TV programs. He owned and managed a Philadelphia boxing gym, but health issues caused him to put the gym up for sale in 2009. He has also trained his daughter, Jackie Frazier-Lyde and his son, Marvis.

Frazier's autobiography, "Smokin' Joe" has been widely criticized for its negative content regarding Ali. His bitterness towards his rival had been, for the most part, unrelenting, and when Ali lit the Olympic torch, Frazier told a reporter that he would like to throw Ali into the fire. In a 2009 interview with Sports Illustrated, Frazier told the reporter that he no longer held any bad feelings for Ali.

In March 2007, a Joe Frazier action figure was released. The International Boxing Research Organization rates Frazier among the ten greatest heavyweights of all time.

Joe Frazier Items