Joe Frazier

Joseph William Frazier (Joe Frazier) was born on January 12, 1944. He is known as Smokin' Joe and was a professional boxer, World Heavyweight Champion and Olympic gold medalist. His professional career lasted from 1965 until 1976. He staged a comeback in 1981.
In the 1960s Frazier was a contender in the boxing world. He defeated Muhammad Ali by unanimous decision in the Fright of the Century in 1971. Two years alter Frazier lost his title to George Foreman. He fought Joe Bugner, lost to Ali, and beat Quarry and Ellis again.
Frazier retired in 1976 following a loss to Foreman. He tried coming back in 1981. He is rated by the International Boxing Research Organization as one of the ten greatest heavyweights of all time. He is inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
Promoter compared Frazier's style to Henry Armstrong and Rocky Marciano. He bobs and weaves his way through fights and relentless pressure wears down his opponents. He had a powerful left hook which accounted for most of this knockouts. He only lost to two fighters: George Foreman and Muhammad Ali.
Upon retirement Frazier was in more than a few Hollywood films and two chapters of The Simpsons. He also appeared as himself in the movie Rocky (1976). His autobiography released in 1996 Smokin' Joe: The Autobiography of a Heavyweight Champion of the World, Smokin 'Joe Frazier outlines his fights, feelings and Olympic triumphs. Marvis, his son is a boxer and Frazier did the training. His daughter Jackie also boxes professionally. He trained fighters in his Philadelphia gym until he could fight no more. Frazier died of liver cancer on November 7, 2011.