joseph William "Joe" Frazier, born on January 12, 1944, and passed away on November 7, 2011, was a legendary American professional boxer. He earned the nickname "Smokin' Joe" and gained recognition as an Olympic gold medalist and undisputed world heavyweight champion. Frazier's remarkable career spanned from 1965 to 1976, with a brief comeback in 1981.
Known for his extraordinary strength, durability, powerful punches, and relentless attacking style, Frazier emerged as a dominant figure in the late 1960s. Along his path to becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion in 1970, he defeated formidable opponents such as Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Buster Mathis, Eddie Machen, Doug Jones, George Chuvalo, and Jimmy Ellis. One of his most notable victories came in 1971 when he defeated Muhammad Ali by unanimous decision in the highly anticipated "Fight of the Century."
However, Frazier lost his title two years later when he was knocked out by George Foreman. Undeterred, he continued to fight, securing wins against Joe Bugner and avenging his loss to Quarry and Ellis. Frazier's last shot at a world title came in 1975, but he was defeated by Ali in their brutal rubber match. He retired in 1976 following a second loss to Foreman. In recognition of his immense contributions to boxing, Frazier was honored as one of the ten greatest heavyweights of all time by the International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO). The Ring magazine also ranked him as the 8th greatest heavyweight in 1999. Frazier was inducted into both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
Frazier's fighting style drew comparisons to the likes of Henry Armstrong and occasionally Rocky Marciano, relying on bobbing, weaving, and relentless pressure to wear down his opponents. His signature punch was a devastating left hook that accounted for many of his knockouts. Remarkably, he only lost to two fighters in his career, both former Olympic and world heavyweight champions: Muhammad Ali (twice) and George Foreman (twice).
Following his retirement, Frazier made cameo appearances in several Hollywood movies and two episodes of The Simpsons. His son, Marvis Frazier, pursued a boxing career under his father's guidance but fell short of replicating his father's success. Frazier's daughter, Jackie Frazier-Lyde, also ventured into professional boxing. Additionally, Frazier continued to train fighters at his gym in Philadelphia. Throughout his later years, his relationship with Ali oscillated between periods of insults and bitterness, occasionally interspersed with brief reconciliations.
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