What About Joe?

Watching football highlights yesterday and seeing boxing legend Muhammad Ali in the stands at the St. Louis Rams Arizona Cardinals game brought to mind the recent tragic news of another boxing great, Joe Frazier.  It was recently reported that Frazier, who is battling liver cancer, is currently under hospice care.

Nobody knows who Joe Frazier is, and how good he once was.  Of course that is a false statement, but is it really a stretch of the imagination to think that most people under 30 don't know too much about Frazier.  Everyone and their grandmother knows who Ali is, based mostly on his place as a political and social figure mixed with his athletic greatness.  Were at a point where UFC has overtaken boxing, and the only two stars left - Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather - can't even agree to a fight date.

Ali, Tyson, Sugar Ray (both of them), Marciano, Foreman.  All names that resonate with people for whatever reason.  Frazier unthoughtfully does not get mentioned in the same class.

After winning Olympic gold in 1964, Frazier became heavyweight champion after Ali was stripped off his belt for refusing entry into the Vietnam War.  Frazier had actually petitioned President Nixon at the time to reinstate Ali.

In what was dubbed, "The Fight of the Century", Frazier would go on to fight Ali in 1971 at Madison Square Garden, nearly four years after Ali was ostracized.  Frazier, the short bruising menace wrongly nicknamed an "Uncle Tom" by Ali, proved to be quite the anecdote to the latter boxer.  Frazier used his lack of height to bob and weave against opponents, on top of a terrifying left hook that knocked out numerous adversaries.  Ali, the popular choice among blacks as well as the growing younger generation in the country, rooted for an eloquent yet powerful athlete whose moves in the ring may never be seen again.  Perhaps that's another reason for Frazier's lack of acknowledgement; his style was not flashy.  (For lack of a better corollary, think of Pete Sampras' no-nonsense style to that of Andre Agassi's theatrical performances on the tennis court)

In a grueling match that went 15 rounds, the 27-year old Frazier beat the 29-year old Ali.  Ali was certainly at a disadvantage, considering he was still coming back after being away from the sport for three years.  Nevertheless, Frazier became the first person to beat the then undefeated Ali, all the while remaining undefeated himself. 

Frazier would go on to lose his first match against George Foreman, and after two losses to Muhammad Ali (the final one in the Philippines was tagged the "Thrilla in Manila"), and another to Foreman, Frazier retired in 1976 with a final record of 32 wins, four losses, and one draw.

Perhaps it's the fact that Frazier remains vastly under recognized compared to boxers like Ali, Foreman, Tyson, and Holmes.  Maybe his lack of recognition goes hand-in-hand with the downfall of boxing.  Or maybe it's a little bit of both.

When his time comes (unfortunately sooner than later), Frazier should be recognized more than being Ali's villain, or simply as a sideshow.  He should be distinguished as one of the all-time greats, and as someone who helped carry the sport at a time when boxing meant something more than shady dealings and outrageous pay-per-view prices.