Joe Frazier facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joe Frazier
Frazier in 1996
Statistics
Real name	Joseph William Frazier
Nickname(s)	Smokin'
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height	5 ft 11+1/4 in
Reach	73+1/2 in
Born	(1944-01-12)January 12, 1944 Beaufort, South Carolina, U.S.
Died	November 7, 2011(2011-11-07) (aged 67) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	37
Wins	32
Wins by KO	27
Losses	4
Draws	1
Medal record Men's amateur boxing Representing  United States Olympic Games Gold 1964 Tokyo Heavyweight

Joseph William Frazier (born January 12, 1944 – died November 7, 2011), known as "Smokin' Joe", was an American professional boxer. He competed from 1965 to 1981. Joe Frazier was famous for his strength, powerful left hand, and constant attacking style. He was also the first boxer to beat Muhammad Ali.

Frazier was the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion from 1970 to 1973. Before becoming a pro, he won a gold medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics as an amateur. He became a top boxer in the late 1960s. He beat many strong fighters like Jerry Quarry and Oscar Bonavena.

In 1970, he became the undisputed heavyweight champion. Then, in 1971, he famously beat Muhammad Ali in a huge fight called the "Fight of the Century". Two years later, he lost his title to George Foreman. Frazier continued to fight, winning some matches and losing a rematch to Ali.

His last big fight was in 1975 against Ali, known as the "Thrilla in Manila". It was a very tough fight for both boxers. Frazier retired in 1976 after losing to George Foreman again. He tried a comeback in 1981 but fought only once more. He finished his career with 32 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw. Experts consider him one of the greatest heavyweights ever.

The Ring magazine named him "Fighter of the Year" three times. He is also in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. His boxing style involved lots of bobbing and weaving to avoid punches. His most famous punch was a powerful left hook. He only lost to two boxers in his career: Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Both were also Olympic and world champions.

After boxing, Frazier appeared in movies and on The Simpsons. His son, Marvis Frazier, became a boxer, trained by Joe. His daughter, Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, also boxed professionally. She was a world champion and fought Laila Ali, Muhammad Ali's daughter.

Early Life and Boxing Dreams

Joe Frazier was born on January 12, 1944, in Beaufort, South Carolina. He was the twelfth child in his family. His family worked as sharecroppers on a farm. Joe was very close to his father.

When Joe was young, his family got a black-and-white TV. They watched boxing matches on it. One day, his uncle said Joe would be "another Joe Louis" because of his strong build. This made a big impression on Joe. He started training by hitting a bag filled with rags and bricks. He did this for years, almost every day.

When he was 15, Joe decided to leave home. He felt there were better opportunities for him elsewhere. He saved money by working at a Coca-Cola plant and on a construction crew. In 1959, at age 15, he took a bus north and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Amateur Boxing Career

Joe Frazier had a great amateur boxing career. He won the Golden Gloves heavyweight championships in 1962, 1963, and 1964. He only lost two fights as an amateur. One of those losses was to Buster Mathis. Mathis was a big challenge for Joe.

1964 Summer Olympics Gold Medal

In 1964, Buster Mathis was supposed to represent the U.S. at the Olympics but got injured. So, Joe Frazier went instead. Even with a broken thumb, Joe was determined to win. He kept his injury a secret.

In the final match, he fought Hans Huber from Germany. Joe won the fight, earning the only American boxing gold medal at the 1964 Olympics. His amateur record was 38 wins and 2 losses.

Professional Boxing Career

After winning Olympic gold, Joe Frazier became a professional boxer in 1965. A group of businessmen helped him train full-time. His main trainer was Yancey "Yank" Durham. Later, Eddie Futch joined as an assistant trainer. Futch helped Joe improve his "bob-and-weave" style. This made it harder for taller opponents to hit him.

Becoming a Champion

In 1966, Frazier won a tough fight against Oscar Bonavena. He was knocked down twice but still won. In 1967, he won all six of his fights. He even stopped George Chuvalo, a boxer who had never been stopped before.

In 1968, Muhammad Ali was stripped of his title. The New York State Athletic Commission held a fight between Frazier and Buster Mathis to find a new champion. Frazier won by knockout in the 11th round. He defended this title by beating Manuel Ramos and Oscar Bonavena again.

In 1969, Frazier continued to win. He beat Dave Zyglewicz and then Jerry Quarry. The fight with Quarry was very exciting and was named "Fight of the Year". Joe showed he could use smart defensive moves, not just power.

Winning the World Championship

On February 16, 1970, Frazier fought Jimmy Ellis for the undisputed heavyweight title. Frazier won when Ellis's trainer stopped the fight in the fifth round. This win showed how powerful Joe was.

He defended his title against Bob Foster, knocking him out in the second round. Then came the biggest fight of his career: his first match against Muhammad Ali.

The "Fight of the Century"

On March 8, 1971, Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali met in New York City. This fight was called the "Fight of the Century". Both boxers were undefeated. Millions of people around the world watched.

Frazier was 27 and at his best. Ali was 29 and had just returned to boxing after a three-year break. Frazier's trainer, Eddie Futch, had a plan. He told Joe to watch Ali's right hand and hit him with a left hook when Ali dropped his guard.

It was a very tough fight. Frazier took some early punches but came back strong. He landed many powerful body shots and left hooks. Frazier won by a unanimous decision after 15 rounds. Both fighters were taken to the hospital after the fight because it was so brutal.

In 1972, Frazier successfully defended his title twice more.

Losing the Title to George Foreman

Joe Frazier lost his undefeated record and his world championship on January 22, 1973. He fought George Foreman in Jamaica. Foreman was taller and had a longer reach. He knocked Frazier down six times in just two rounds. The fight was stopped, and Foreman became the new champion.

Frazier then beat Joe Bugner in London to start his journey to get his title back.

Rematches with Ali and Quarry

Frazier's second fight against Ali happened on January 28, 1974. Ali won this non-title fight by decision. The fight had a lot of clinching (holding).

Five months later, Frazier fought Jerry Quarry again and won in the fifth round. In March 1975, he beat Jimmy Ellis again. These wins made Frazier the top challenger for the title, which Ali had won from Foreman.

The "Thrilla in Manila"

Ali and Frazier fought for the third and final time on October 1, 1975, in the Philippines. Before the fight, Ali tried to upset Frazier with insults.

The fight was incredibly difficult for both boxers. It was very hot, and they fought hard for 14 rounds. Ali wanted to quit, but his trainer refused. On the other side, Frazier's trainer, Eddie Futch, stopped the fight because Joe's eyes were almost closed. Ali later said it was the "closest thing to dying".

Last Fights and Retirement

In 1976, Frazier fought George Foreman for a second time. Foreman won again, stopping Frazier in the fifth round. After this loss, Frazier announced his retirement from boxing.

He made a small appearance in the movie Rocky in 1976. He then focused on training young boxers in Philadelphia, including his own children.

Life After Boxing

In 1981, Joe Frazier tried to make a comeback. He fought Floyd "Jumbo" Cummings to a draw. After that, he retired for good.

Frazier trained his son, Marvis Frazier, who became a heavyweight contender. He also trained his daughter, Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, who became a world champion. She famously fought Laila Ali, Muhammad Ali's daughter.

Joe Frazier's final boxing record was 32 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw. He won 27 of his fights by knockout. He is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Other Work and Appearances

Frazier appeared in several movies and TV shows. He was in two episodes of The Simpsons. He also appeared in the movie Rocky. He was a character in the Fight Night video games.

He released his autobiography called Smokin' Joe in 1996. He also wrote a boxing instruction book called Box like the Pros.

In the late 1970s, Frazier formed a soul-funk band called "Joe Frazier and the Knockouts". They released several songs and toured. He even sang the U.S. national anthem before a big boxing match in 1978.

Later Years and Legacy

Joe Frazier lived in Philadelphia and owned a boxing gym. He trained young fighters there. He had some health issues, including diabetes and high blood pressure.

His relationship with Muhammad Ali was complicated. They had many public disagreements but also brief moments of friendship. In 1996, when Ali lit the Olympic flame, Frazier felt he should have been chosen.

Joe Frazier's Gym in Philadelphia is now a historic place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.

Death

Joe Frazier was diagnosed with liver cancer in September 2011. He passed away on November 7, 2011, at the age of 67.

Muhammad Ali said, "The world has lost a great champion. I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration." Many famous boxers and athletes attended Frazier's funeral. He was buried at Ivy Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.

In Popular Culture

• In the 2001 movie Ali, Joe Frazier was played by boxer James Toney.
• Parts of the movie Rocky were inspired by Frazier's life, like Rocky punching meat carcasses and running up steps. Frazier himself had a small role in the movie.
• A Joe Frazier action figure was released in 2007.
• The video game character Mr. Sandman from the Punch-Out!! series was partly based on Frazier.
• Joe Frazier is a character in all the Fight Night video games.
• His son, Derek Frazier, was a runner-up on the TV show Big Brother 23 in 2021.

Images for kids

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  Promotional photo for the Frazier vs Ali second fight

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  Joe Frazier's Gym in Philadelphia for sale in 2009

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  Frazier's speech when he was awarded the Order of the Palmetto in Beaufort in 2010.

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  Editor-in-chief Kevin Convey (on the right) presented Frazier with the New York Daily News Front Page Award in 2011

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  Headstone of boxer Joe Frazier at Ivy Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia

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  Frazier statue in South Philadelphia

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  Frazier and his group during the concert in Tilburg, Netherlands.

See also

• List of undisputed boxing champions
• Notable boxing families