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Monday, August 27, 2007
Who’s Your Daddy, Part I: Foreman vs Frazier
This is a series on fights where one fighter seemed to “own” the opponent.
What better series to start with then George Foreman and Joe Frazier. If there was ever a better example of styles make fights, I missed it. As great as Joe was and believe me he was great… He could have fought George a hundred times and never beat him. Joe was able to bull and back up the likes of good fighters like Oscar Bonavena, Buster Mathis Sr., Jerry Quarry, Jimmy Ellis and a great one named Ali, but he could not budge Big George. Against Foreman he ran into a brick wall. He could not move George but boy could George move him! It was simple arithmetic… Power versus power divided by size equals KO to the Big Guy. A case of pure and simple ouch! In their dramatic first fight in Kingston, Jamaica in 1973 the astute, revered and sometimes hated Howard Cosell added to boxing lore with his famous “down goes Frazier, down goes Frazier, down goes Frazier” call on the fight. Truth be told George bounced a game but over matched Frazier around the ring like a rubber ball. It was a shocking sight for those of us growing up at that time.
Well as history shows us George lost the title to Muhammad Ali. As he attempted to come back he met Frazier again. Joe looked different - shaved head - and he fought different - he tried to box and move. It did not help. It only prolonged the inevitable. George caught up to Joe in round five and destroyed him.
George proved then and forever that he was the superior fighter when facing Frazier.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
What If: Joe Frazier vs Ron Lyle?
What happens when the unstoppable force meets the unmoveable object? Let me re-phrase that. What would have happened if Joe Frazier and Ron Lyle would have hooked up in the mid 1970s?
It is too bad that this fight was never made. It was discussed on occasions but to the best of my knowledge no serious talks ever took place. What a shame. This would have been a thrill a minute battle for the fans. Each boxer had the tools and the style to offset the others skills.
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Friday, April 20, 2007
Frazier Drops Lawsuit Against Daughter
Well that was quick…
Former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier told his lawyer to drop the impending lawsuit against his daughter yesterday after they reconciled and she agreed to help him locate his missing business records.
“I talked to my father today and he asked me how I was doing and I told him that I loved him,” Frazier-Lyde said at a press conference that focused on her campaign for city judge.
Frazier’s lawyer said that he eventually agreed to drop the case after a lot of persuasion. However there is still the stipulation that if Frazier’s daughter does not continue with her promise to help her father, the lawsuit will be slapped back on…
“This is about a father’s love for his daughter,” lawyer Michael P. Kelly said. “We’re giving her a chance to live up to her word,” he said. “If we’re not fully satisfied, I’ll be right back, quicker than a Joe Frazier left hook.”
Thursday, April 19, 2007
EEC - April 19, 2007
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Former heavyweight champion Chris Byrd made his return to the ring last night and defeated Paul Marinaccio by TKO in the 7th round…
- According to various reports coming from the UK, newly crowned WBA Heavyweight Champion Ruslan Chagaev may possibly make his first title defense this summer against the winner of the May 26th bout between Matt Skelton and Michael Sprott in London.
Chagaev actually took on Sprott in June of 2006 and knocked him out in the 8th round…
- Mark Vester of Boxing Scene is reporting that WBA Cruiserweight Champion Virgil Hill is demanding a third bout against Henry Maske…
- Joe Frazier has filed a lawsuit against his daughter that seeks the return of various contracts, product endorsements, business papers, and various other documents that his daughter has reportedly has in her possession. Frazier’s daughter served as his lawyer and business advisor from 1989-2004.
- Who is Shane Mosley picking to win on May 5th? Oscar De La Hoya by KO…
- Paul Williams has told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he plans on brawling with Antonio Margarito when their scheduled bout goes down this summer:
“If you have the attitude that you won’t accept losing and you’re going to refuse to lose, it makes a difference,” said Williams. “The easy thing would have been to take the money and fight the other guy. But he stepped up like a man. I’m going to be in there and I’ll bang with him. I don’t think he’s going to be used to that. I’m a harder puncher than he’s seen.”
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Saturday, March 10, 2007
March 8, 1971… The Greatest Show on Earth
There are certain dates that will stick with you as long as you live. Your birthday, the birthdays of family members, anniversaries, the day that you got your divorce(s), etc… Happy and important days that mark milestones in your life.
One such date I’ll always remember is March 8, 1971. The “Battle Of The Century”, it was so aptly named. Two undefeated boxers who each had a legitimate claim to being the heavyweight champion of the world would collide. When Muhammad Ali first won the title in 1964 his name was Cassius Clay. He would shortly thereafter change his name and then proceed to change the face of boxing. He dominated the scene until 1967 when he refused induction into the US Military due to his religious beliefs. Then came the Eight Man Elimination Tourney that was won by Jimmy Ellis. The powerful New York State Athletic Commission would recognize the winner of a match up between unbeaten boxers Joe Frazier and Buster Mathis. A bout in which Joe won. In 1970 Frazier stopped Ellis to claim the vacated title. Later that year Muhammad Ali returned to ring wars and halted highly ranked contenders Jerry Quarry and Oscar Bonavena. The stage was now set. Ali and Frazier would clash for the undisputed title.
The first Ali - Frazier bout was the epic that all others are compared to, even today. There is no reason in this article to describe the bout itself. Reams of print have appeared documenting the action that took place in the ring that magical night. What I would like to share is the impact that fight on me and probably millions of others. I have never before or since March 8, 1971 felt the same way about a prize fight. Yes there were a few that stirred my anticipation like Duran-DeJesus II and III, Leonard-Duran I, Leonard-Hearns I, Pryor-Arguello I, Hagler-Hearns and Leonard-Hagler. Still to this day Ali - Frazier I tops them all.
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Monday, February 19, 2007
The Eight Man Elimination Tournament
April 27th of this year will mark the 39th anniversary of one of the World Boxing Association’s crowning achievements. The grand finale of their eight man elimination tournament to find a successor for the deposed Muhammad Ali.
Acting with the swiftness matched only by Mr. Dooley of the New York State Athletic Commission, the W.B.A. immediately stripped Ali of his crown when he refused induction into the Armed Forces. Eight ranking contenders were chosen to box off for the ultimate prize, the heavyweight championship of the world. The fortunate eight were: former champion Floyd Patterson, Ex W.B.A. titleholder Ernie Terrell, the Argentine strongman Oscar Bonevena, the fast rising Californian Thad Spencer, Angelo Dundee’s hopeful Jimmy Ellis, the “White Hope” sensation Jerry Quarry, 1964 Gold Medalist Joe Frazier, and Europe’s entry Karl Mildenberger of Germany. Frazier, the #1 contender by virtue of his fine record since turning pro declined the W.B.A.‘s invitation. The W.B.A. then inserted Leotis Martin to take his place.
The elimination tourney was scoffed at then and even today it is still scrutinized. What if the Vietnam War would not have wanted or needed Ali? What if Ali who had already “cleaned up” the division had remained active? Remember Ali defeated Paterson, Terrell and Mildenberger before he was forced to abdicate. He then won two out of three against Frazier and two over Quarry. He beat Patterson again and also whipped Bonevena and Ellis after a three year hiatus. Let’s say Ali remained active through 1970. He might have met Frazier as early as 1969. Joe would have been facing a lean, active and sharp Ali not the slow and rusty version he met in their 1971 epic. Also remember Joe would have had two years less experience then what he carried in 1971 . In 1969, Frazier was not yet the polished fighting machine he was to become. In my opinion the Frazier of March 8, 1971, would have given any heavyweight in history a life and death struggle including a prime Ali.
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Saturday, January 20, 2007
EEC - January 20, 2007
Vlad Klitschko and Ray Austin are going to clash on March 10th. Is this fight the beginning of the next wave of heavyweight bout signings? We will find out next week…
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Is Junior Witter going to stop talking? Honestly, he hasn’t stopped once this week. I normally would go ahead and post away with the gossip but it’s different with Witter. See it’s just like he’s come out of nowhere, trying to steal the spotlight from the other three big fights this weekend.
He’s not even on the same level as the names he is throwing out there and the best thing about this - He has a fight tomorrow night. With his mind elsewhere I hope Witter loses and then cries like a little girl, serves him right for going Hollywood and not focusing on his opponent…
- Joe Frazier’s left hook is still just as fast, I promise…
Smokin’ Joe is still quick with a counterpunch.
Asked if he had any birthday wishes for Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier came right back.
“Whose birthday?” he said.
Never mind that Frazier was appearing at Madison Square Garden to help promote a documentary about the 50 greatest moments in Madison Square Garden history and that his first fight with Ali on March 8, 1971, was listed among the top five.
After good-naturedly pointing out that he also deserved birthday greetings for having turned 63 last Friday, Frazier wished Ali, “Happy birthday.”
- It’s offical: Manny Pacquiao will face Injin Chi of South Korea on April 28…
- Reports are saying that the price for the De La Hoya-Mayweather PPV on May 5th may be as much as $54.95.
- Anyone wondering what Hasim Rahman is up to? Here’s the latest…
Former two-time heavyweight champ Hasim Rahman (41-6-2, 33 KOs) will fight once-formidable contender Ray Mercer (34-6-1, 25 KOs) on Feb. 22 (Versus) at Mountaineer Race Track in West Virginia in his first fight since losing his belt via 12th-round knockout to Oleg Maskaev in August. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said Rahman was going to fight Mercer rather than go to Germany in March for a proposed bout with former title challenger Luan Krasniqi. Arum said the fight in Germany might be made for late spring if Rahman beats Mercer, who hasn’t fought since Shannon Briggs knocked him out in the seventh round in August 2005.
Some Good Reads:
TSS: Is Boxing More Dangerous Than Football?
FOX Sports: Hatton’s Vegas tango with Urango
MaxBoxing: Compubox Analysis - Hatton vs Urango
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Sunday, July 09, 2006
Down Goes Mayor Herenton!
Pssh, If Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton thinks he has a chance against Joe Frazier, he better think again. The two will step into the ring in a charity bout that will take place on November 30th at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis.