Comments Thread For: Measured Against All Time - Heavyweight Joe Frazier

[balintawak]

Ali's nemesis

by Cliff Rold - Joe Frazier was no man’s co-star.
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[Click Here To Read More]

Smokin Joe was a great fighter to watch. His bobbing and weaving was a great counter to Ali's upright style. It was the fights between Ali and Frazier that got me hooked on boxing.

[IronDanHamza]

I completely agree that too many are making this about Frazier AND Ali, and in some cases all about Ali, like punk ass First Take did. Frazier was about far more than 3 fights with Ali, and accomplished big things other than beat Ali.

Great article. Frazier was a GREAT fighter, a great person, and as long as there is a single true boxing fan in the world he will never be forgotten.

I agree.

But being the first man to beat Ali takes to from great to greatness.

Legendary status as far as I'm concerned.

Great article, Cliff.

[antrob]

Great article! Lyle Fitzsimmons wrote a little while back that he thinks that Joe Frazier doesn't even belong in the Hall of Fame let alone a all time great. What a joke he is!

[ghidra]

Excellent article!

[twosweethooks]

As a young man with boxing as my passion I grew up under Ali and Frazier.

This writer got it right !! All of it !! I was there !!

I remember Mathis beating out Frazier in the Olympic trials but then slaughtered by Frazier in the pros.

Frazier was a KILLER in the ring. He wiped out all my favourites like Bonavena and Jerry Quarry.

I was loading 500 lb bomb casings in boxcars in the late 60's and early 70's during Fraziers March thru opponents. His left hook was pure killer. Ali was exiled from the ring. Young guys don't understand like old guys so I was troubled about Ali not being in the ring due to his stand on the vietnam war etc.......

Meanwhile Frazier slaughter ALLLLLLLL COMERS !!

UNLIKE Mayweather JR vs Pacman ,,,,Frazier Ali was easy to make once Ali Got cleared to fight, it was like two magnets drawing each other.

Great Fighters Fight , the NEVER DUCK !!!!!!!!!

From leaning over the back seat as a young boy listening on the radio to the LISTON PATTERSON fights, eyes wide open , ears alert to every punch thrown and expressed by the commentator to Larry Holmes I can't remember people griping about DUCKERS !!!!!!!!!!!!!

That was the AGE of FIGHTERS and fighters before that era.

I love boxing today, but this is more the age of money, we still have those who love to fight and we will see it this weekend Pac vs JMM.

I long for the glory days. I want to see it again.

I have seen glimmers, this is why I love a fighter that will fight all comers.

PUT FRAZIER in there today and the only thing that would stop him is SIZE.

FRAZIER would be great in any era.

My heart fell when I heard he had cancer.

I was stunned when I read the news on boxingscene of his death.

ALL HALE TO THE CHAMP !!!!

[puncyrock]

Well done piece, you gave Joe his due unlike that other idiot Lyle Fitzsimmons who wrote a piece earlier in the week.

[koboy]

As someone who grew up in Manila in the 70s, I hated Joe Frazier because he was the villain to our beloved Ali. They even had a mall made in Manila in honour of him - Ali Mall. But as I grew older on became more immersed in boxing and having a better understanding of the sport, its history and its great fighters, I began to appreciate what Frazier had truly accomplished inhis outstanding career. ANYONE WHO THINKS Joe isn't an ATG or even worthy of being in Canastota doesn't understand boxing. Not at all. Joe was 5'10 with a reach shorter than most heavys at the time, yet still he managed to defeat the invincible Ali and knocked out guys who were previously un-knockable was truly amazing. RIP ATG.

Now... Where Lyle at?

[WESS]

I loved how everyone already knows his place to the point that it is not even necessary to place it in the article. Well written and great conclusion.

Joe was the man and will be missed but never forgotten... Rest in peace champ.

[earlpearl]

It's good to see that Cliff doesn't agree with his BoxingScene colleague Lyle Fitzsimmons, who recently wrote that Frazier isn't worthy of being in the IBHOF. What a moron.

[crold1]

I loved how everyone already knows his place to the point that it is not even necessary to place it in the article. Well written and great conclusion.

Joe was the man and will be missed but never forgotten... Rest in peace champ.

Glad it was a good read for folks.