Smokin' Joe Frazier - RIP

[Rhodes]

Members will have no doubt heard the devastating news that one of the best boxers of all time has sadly passed away, aged 67, who will ever forget the so called ‘Thrilla in Manila’ in October 1975 between Frazier and Muhammad Ali which only seems like yesterday and which is regarded as arguably the greatest fight in boxing history. RIP:

 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/11/08/joe-frazier-dead-smokin-joe-s-biggest-bouts-115875-23546581/

 

http://www.therecord.com/sports/article/621625--smokin-joe-frazier-dead-at-67

 

[missunderstood]

The Ali, Frazier, Foreman and Ken Norton era was the greatest ever and will probably never be surpassed in boxing history. Strange then to think that Joe almost certainly wouldn't be competitive now as most heavyweights are at least two or three stone heavier.

 

I used to love the big fights when those four greats were around but have now come to the conclusion that boxing is a brutal uncivilized business and should be banned. Joe Frazier though was a supreme athlete with the heart of a lion, and fighting men like him no longer exist. RIP smoking Joe Frazier.

[Rhodes]

Missunderstood - That's a heartfelt tribute to the great man, as you say it was a truly golden age of boxing.

[moneymay]

RIP to a truely great fighter. havent had a chance to watch his fights cause i was young at his prime. rip champ

[Rhodes]

I don't believe Frazier ever fought our very own Henry Cooper did he which would have been an interesting bout, I know he annihilated Joe Bugner in 1973 although that was obviously no surprise

[missunderstood]

I don't believe Frazier ever fought our very own Henry Cooper did he which would have been an interesting bout, I know he annihilated Joe Bugner in 1973 although that was obviously no surprise

He never annihilated Joe Bugner but beat him on a split decision. To be fair to Joe Frazier though, he was fighting a spoiler who only though of surviving, with the unlikely hope of getting in a lucky punch. If I remember correctly Bugner hardly had a mark on his face at the end of the fight, but he was quite badly hurt from some vicious body shots.

 

Bugner was never liked by the British public, possibly because he farcically got the decision in Henry Coopers last fight. The referee that night was Harry Gibbs, a man I often met at work, and until his dieing day he would never talk about that fight.