Fraser, Joe

Until 1965, he played among amateurs, and in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, 20-year-old Joe won gold in the heavyweight category, defeating the Soviet boxer Vadim Emelyanov in the semifinals, and the German Hans Huber with a score of 2–2 in the final.

He became a professional in August 1965 .

In September 1966, by a separate decision of the judges, he defeated Oscar Bonavena . Fraser was knocked down twice in the 2nd round.

In July 1967, in the 4th round, he knocked out George Chuvalo .

In December 1968, a second battle took place between Fraser and Oscar Bonavena . This time, Fraser won by unanimous decision.

In September 1969, Jerry Kwari defeated TKO in the 7th round. The fight received the status of “fight of the year” according to the magazine “Ring”.

In February 1970, a fight took place between Fraser and world heavyweight champion according to WBA Jimmy Ellis . At stake was also the vacant WBC world heavyweight title. Fraser knocked out the champion in the 5th round.

In November, a fight took place between Fraser, who at that time held the title of absolute world champion in heavyweight, and absolute world champion in light heavyweight Bob Foster . Fraser knocked out the opponent in the 2nd round.

In March 1971, Fraser entered the ring against former world heavyweight champion Mohammed Ali . For the first time in the history of heavy weight in a champion fight, two unbroken champions met - one former, the other acting. Fraser had good speed and was able to withstand Ali. In the 15th round, he sent the former champion (3rd in Ali's career) to a beautiful knockdown. Ali lost for the first time. The fight received the status of “fight of the year” according to the magazine “Ring”.

In January 1972, in the 4th round, he knocked out Terry Daniels .

In May, he knocked out Ron Standler in the 5th round.

In January 1973, a battle was fought between two undefeated boxers - Fraser and George Foreman . Fraser knocked down three times in the first round, and three times in the second. Foreman won by TKO in the 2nd round. The fight received the status of “fight of the year” according to the magazine “Ring”.

In July, he won on points Joe Bagner .

In January 1974, the second battle of Fraser against Mohammed Ali took place. The fight consisted of 12 rounds. Following the battle, the unanimous decision of the judges awarded Mohammed Ali the victory. To many, the decision of the judges seemed controversial.

In June, a second battle took place between Fraser and Jerry Kwari . Fraser knocked out the opponent in the 5th round.

In March 1975, the 2nd battle between Fraser and Jimmy Ellis took place . Fraser knocked out the opponent in the 9th round.

On October 1, a third battle took place between Fraser and Mohammed Ali . The battle took place in incredible heat - more than 30 degrees. It was a stubborn and aggressive battle with intrigue to the very end: Ali and Fraser staged a real scuffle. From the first to the fifth round, Ali had the advantage; from the sixth to the 11th, Fraser “beat” Ali; after the next round, Ali said: “I seem to be dying.” After the 14th round, Fraser's coach stopped the fight - Fraser, being blind in his left eye, practically did not see with his right (the coach showed three fingers and asked them to count, Fraser answered “one”). At the same time, Ali asked in his corner to take off his gloves (“I’m very tired, take off my gloves”) and, according to his doctor, I couldn’t go to the 15th round. After the battle, Mohammed got up and fell unconscious in his corner. In whose favor the fight would end if the judge had not stopped him, the question remains. After this fight, Ali called Fraser the best boxer after himself and said that he greatly underestimated him. The fight was named " Thriller in Manila " and the status of "fight of the year" according to the magazine "Ring".

In June 1976, a second battle took place between Fraser and George Foreman . Fraser lost by knockout in the 5th round. After this fight, he did not enter the ring for 5 years.

In December 1981 he returned to boxing. He entered the ring against the little-known Floyd Cummings. At the beginning of the battle, Fraser dominated, but towards the end of the battle he began to get very tired, and the last rounds of the battle passed with a slight advantage of Cummings. According to the results of 10 rounds, the judges gave a controversial draw. Some experts felt that Cummings won. After this fight, Fraser left boxing.

Joe Fraser has appeared as an actor in some films. So he appeared in a short episode of the movie "Rocky" (1976) in the scene of the boxers before the fight. And also in 1994, starred in the film "The Abode of the Angels" ( Eng. Home Of Angels ).

Wife - Florence Fraser.
Children:
Whitt Jo-Netta Fraser, Natasha Fraser, Marcus Fraser;
Marvis Fraser is a professional boxer who performed in the heavy weight category. In 1983, he defeated Joe Bagner, whom Joe Fraser also defeated in 1973.
Jacqueline "Jackie" Fraser-Layd - Professional boxer, light heavyweight world champion. In 2001, she was defeated in a battle with Leyla Ali , the daughter of Muhammad Ali. Promoters actively promoted this fight as the fourth Ali-Fraser standoff ^[1] .
Joe Fraser Jr. (aka Hector Fraser) was also a professional boxer.

In 2011, Joe Fraser was diagnosed with liver cancer in one of the last stages. This sad news was reported to the public by Smoky Joe manager Leslie Woolf. ^[2]

On November 7, 2011, Joe Fraser passed away at the Philadelphia Hospice. ^[3]

• Fraser, Joe - professional boxing statistics for BoxRec
• Fraser, Joe at the Internet Movie Database
• Joe FRAZER: “MY FIRST PEAR WAS A BAG WITH CORN” (beginning)
• Joe FRAZER: “MY FIRST PEAR WAS A SACK OF CORN” (end)
• Joe Fraser: The Unforgiving (11/11/2011)
• Joe Fraser Smoking Joe