The great, the legendary, the never to be forgotten Joe Frazier would have been 80 years old today. Born in Beaufort, North Carolina on January 12 of 1944, Frazier would as we know relocate to Philadelphia as a young man, where he would go on to become not only one of the greatest fighter’s in the city’s history, but one of the greatest fighters in the world.
The recent passing of fine boxing commentator and all-around good boxing guy “Colonel” Bob Sheridan took away one more of the last links to the greatest world heavyweight title fight of them all.
Muhammad Ali’s first titanic battle with his fiercest rival, Joe Frazier, is an old fight now. A very old fight. It was on this day, March 8 in 1971, when the “Fight of the Century” gripped the entire world.
Often referred to as a let-down of a fight, certainly compared to the sensational warfare Ali and Frazier engaged in their first and third fights, “Super Fight II,” which took place on this day back in 1974, was nonetheless an interesting fight.
It was 50 years ago today when a young, raw and unbeaten heavyweight contender hailing from Texas challenged heavyweight king Joe Frazier.
There have been, and will continue to be, some truly incredible fighters to come out of the city of Philadelphia. Just think about a Philly fighter, and you conjure up all that is tough, all that is admirable about a fighter.
Rewind to 1967, and Canada’s greatest heavyweight, certainly the country’s toughest fighter, was on a roll. Having achieved global fame and respect due to his 15 round battle with Muhammad Ali the previous year, Chuvalo was now on the hunt for a third crack at the heavyweight title (having lost a 15 round decision to Ernie Terrell in a WBA title fight in 1965).
Officially, George Foreman scored a technical knockout, or a TKO, over Joe Frazier in winning the world title inside those two shockingly unforgettable rounds.
Joe Frazier, the world heavyweight king, was having his first fight in ten months. A little under a year ago, Frazier had given his all in defeating Muhammad Ali in “The Fight of the Century,” and now, as the universal, undisputed, no arguments from anyone, anywhere heavyweight ruler, Joe had himself a nice easy ring return.
Who is the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time? What is the best era for heavyweight boxing? Two polarizing questions with no certain answer.