A Smokin' Joe Frazier Appreciation Thread

[Rattler]

It's easy, in the shadows of the more popular Ali and Foreman to fail remembering one of the great fighters who ever lived - Joe Frazier.

There's been plenty of more flamboyant, personality driven Heavyweights since and before Joe's apex of time, but very few fighters epitomize what's best about the sport of boxing than the ultimate Philly fighter.

Who else would've gotten up six times against George Foreman in two rounds?

Not many.

Who else could've made Muhammad Ali earn everything like Joe did?

Not many.

In any era, at any time, Joe Frazier would've stood as a challenger that any champion would need to fight to truly prove their greatness. Frazier is more well known now for his high profile losses than his successes, but to watch Smokin' Joe is to know that true greatness isn't just a mark of records, but a spirit of the fight.

Nobody had more spirit to fight than Joe Frazier did. Nobody.

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[McGrain]

..

[McGrain]

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[FrazierFan]

I agree whole-heartedly.

Frazier was a warrior in the truest sense.

Reading the Pacheco book about Ali gave me an even greater appreciation of Frazier.

Kevin

[punchy]

Frazier is one of the genuine hard men of boxing and is around no.5 for me. People on this forum should understand what he lacked in size and skill he made up for in toughness which is a quality we here do not appreciate as much as we should.

[janitor]

What I would not give for a fighter like Frazier in the heavyweight division today.

[The Wanderer]

I'm an Ali fan, but I don't there's any way you can not appreciate Frazier's warrior heart, toughness, and determination.

A little something for everyone to enjoy:

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What I would not give for a fighter like Frazier in the heavyweight division today.

Ditto. The heavyweight division is sadly devoid of fighters with the mental makeup and fighting spirit Frazier possessed.

[McGrain]

Wanderer, I think that's the best highlights video on YouTube.

[McGrain]

Joe would tear up this HW division.

[Lacyace]

My favorite fighter.

[Russell]

:happy:happy:happy:happy:happy

[Permy]

Yep i agree Joe Frazier is overlooked by many today ! he should have a shed load more money than he already has because hes poor at the moment.
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Joe Frazier Forever!!

[HyperBone]

surely one of the best fighters that ever lived. if you mix him up with the current HW division, he'll be unbeatable and all his wins would be by KO.

[ChrisPontius]

Yep i agree Joe Frazier is overlooked by many today ! he should have a shed load more money than he already has because hes poor at the moment.
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Joe Frazier Forever!!

Great picture, never seen it before. Seeing that King is on it, was it taken for their third fight?

[RockyJim]

My favorite heavyweight next to Marciano.... Love 'Smokin' Joe...

[Robbi]

I have an enormous amount of respect for Frazier as a fighter. He doesn't do it for me though. Although I do appreciate his strengths and his place in heavyweight history.

[OBCboxer]

My favorite fighter of all-time, Smokin' Joe Frazier.

Joe Frazier was the very definition of a man, he showed courage that was never showed by any other Heavyweight in history and probably any other fighter. For his whole career, he fought blind in his left eye and still managed to beat one of the greatest of all-time. The last thing Frazier would ever want to do is quit, he just wants to keep "Smokin" for as long as he can. No matter how big his opponents are, he'll come right at you and hit with everything he has even he gets knocked down.

Today, Joe Frazier is broke and pissed off at the world but he has the right to be. He's lost a lot in his lifetime and hasn't been treated like a true sports legend like others have. He doesn't have a statue in his own hometown but a ficitional character like Rocky does. That has to be a big slap in the face for him being that he was an inspiration to the movie. He feels betrayed not only by Ali, but by the whole world as life is not so good for him right now. His only valuable thing that he had left was his gym, and that was closed down recently. Now, he only has his son Marvis and his other kids don't contact him much.

He is a true Warrior and he will be remembered by many.

[bigG]

my favourite heavyweight....big heart, loadsa good old fashioned bottle..frazier never swallowed it in a fight....many of todays guys could look at frazier and learn..