Former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, ?Smokin? Joe Frazier was one of the greatest fighters and biggest punchers of all time. His short stocky frame, much like Mike Tyson and Rocky Marciano, gave him punching power almost unmatched. Joe Frazier was also one of the most exciting fighters ever. Never in a dull fight, Frazier?s trilogy with Muhammad Ali was extremely brutal and damaged both fighters for life. Dynamic in and out of the ring, Joe Frazier will be missed.
1944: Joe Frazier is born in South Carolina where his father made and sold bootleg corn liquor.
1960: Joe leaves South Carolina for Philadelphia after multiple conflicts with racist white men.
1960: Joe Frazier begins boxing in the gritty and legendary Philadelphia gyms.
1962, 1963, 1964: Joe Frazier wins the three golden gloves championships.
1964: Joe Frazier is snubbed for the Olympic team but becomes a last minute replacement when Buster Mathis suffers a hand injury.
1964: Joe Frazier wins Olympic Gold medal in Tokyo at the summer games.
1964: Even after winning the Olympic Gold medal and multiple amateur titles, prominent boxing promoters and managers snub Joe Frazier thinking he is too short and stocky for a professional heavyweight.
1967: Muhammad Ali refuses to ?fight? in the Vietnam War and is banned from boxing in the United States. Joe Frazier lends Ali money to when Muhammad is unable to pay his bills. Ali would never have had to actually fight, and Muhammad knew this. Dodging the draft was strictly a religious, political, and statement on civil rights.
