About Smokin' Joe Frazier

Joseph "Smokin' Joe" Frazier is a former World Heavyweight Boxing champion, active mostly in the 1960s and 1970s. Frazier is considered one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, but he is perhaps most famous for his trilogy of fights with Muhammad Ali, the first of which, won by Frazier in a unanimous decision, and has often been called one of boxing's greatest bouts. Frazier was known for a relentless pursuit of opponents, quickly cutting off angles of escape using a chugging locomotion reminiscent of a train's advance up a hill.

Frazier's record is 32 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw, with 27 knockout wins. He won 73% of his fights by knockout, compared to 60% for Ali and 84% for Foreman. He is a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame.

Joseph Frazier was born in Beaufort, South Carolina, on January 12, 1944 and was raised in the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He notes in his autobiography that he grew up poor but happy. Even as early as childhood, he was noticeably bigger and stronger than most others his age. As a pre-teen he often made deals with his schoolmates: in exchange for some of their lunch or some extra food every once in a while, he would walk them home from school and protect them from bullies.

Soon after his 20th birthday, Frazier won a gold medal in the 84 kilograms (187 lb) and above category (heavyweight) at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He subsequently turned professional in 1965.