The Man Who Made “Smoke Come From Those Gloves”
Joe Frazier, whose epic battles with Muhammad Ali transformed the sport of boxing, passed away after a brief battle with liver cancer. He was 67.
His career in the ring speaks for itself: Olympic Gold Medalist. Undisputed Heavyweight Champion. 32 wins – 27 by knockout.
Smokin’ Joe was the classic bruiser: Always coming at you, bobbing and weaving, pounding the body before taking you out with a textbook left hook. It was that crushing punch – which literally stopped time – that sent Ali to the canvas in the first of the three epic fights.
Frazier also has the quintessential fighter’s heart. You hit him, he kept coming. You hurt him, he kept coming and swinging. Knock him down, he would get up. Ali never knocked him down. Foreman knocked him six times in less than 2 rounds and he got up every time. Joe Frazier was a fighter’s fighter.
Philly may have a statue of Rocky Balboa up outside the Spectrum, but for our money, the greatest fighter to come out of Philadelphia was Smokin’ Joe Frazier.
Rest in peace, Joe.
Read more at nytimes.com
Where do you put Smokin’ Joe Frazier in the list of all time greats!?
