Posted on 11/08/2011 1:42:03 AM PST by markomalley
Joe Frazier needed the night of his career to knock down "The Greatest."
Frazier knocked Muhammad Ali down in the 15th round and became the first man to beat him in the Fight of the Century at Madison Square Garden in March 1971, the first in a trilogy of bouts that have gone down as boxing's most fabled fights.
"That was the greatest thing that ever happened in my life," Frazier said.
It was his biggest night, one that would never come again.
The relentless, undersized heavyweight ruled the division as champion, then spent a lifetime trying to fight his way out of Ali's shadow.
Frazier, who died Monday night after a brief battle with liver cancer at the age of 67, will forever be associated with Ali. No one in boxing would ever dream of anointing Ali as The Greatest unless he, too, was linked to Smokin' Joe.
"I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration," Ali said in a statement. "My sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
He was a black icon to black people, but he dodged the draft, and showed what contempt "his people" had for the Law.
I lost MANY friends and classmates in Nam, and I have no sympathy for whiners.
........yes, just to honor him, I mention my good boyhood friend Bobby Roberts (back around 59-60)....he and I used to play cave men in a creek on Sunday afternoons which consisted of digging caves in the side of the creek, wearing cave man clothes, shooting bb guns at each other etc; etc;....................
Feb 7, 67 I joined the USNR and ultimately spent 69-71 in Sasebo, Japan..........Bobby, joined the Marines who were about to draft him anyway.....at 18, he received a bullet in the head in Vietnam....................
now tell me that Cassius is the most beloved man in the world! Bobby did his duty and paid with his life! Cassius, brave man in the ring but scared (yellow) of “them Congs” did what he did! So, as the saying goes, “it is what it is”...............
“...why is everyone talkin’ bout Joe Frazer...”
RIP, Joe.
I remember hoping Joe would deck the loud-mouthed muzzie. Moohammed was awarded several fights that he didn’t really win and he was also allowed to clinch and hold the back of his opponents’ head way too many times.
Too many of them never came home from Nam.
While the rich kids got their college deferments, and others took their pot and headed for Canada, some stayed to do what they had to do.
I have NO RESPECT whatsoever for a Draft-Dodger, and was TOTALLY PISSED when Amnesty for the ones who ran was afforded.
Likewise, just like The Messiah, the "Great Black Hope" crap disgusts me also. Those who think they're "entitled", and rely on other to support them, belong in another country....not THIS one.
Just saw the tail end of the documentary of the Thrilla in Manila yesterday. Couldn’t believe the amount of punishment both men took. Frazier still hated Ali until the day he died.
RIP, Smokin’ Joe. You gave us much to cheer for through your career.
I heard a news report this a.m. that Frazier had forgiven Ali's "gorilla" remark. He put the hate aside.
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