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| Joe Frazier Lithograph - signed by the Champ himself |
Today, 8 November 2011, the world mourns one of its truly underrated and underappreciated legends in the pugilistic sports of boxing: Joseph William Frazier or better known to the world as Smokin' Joe Frazier.
He was USA's only boxing gold medalist in the Tokyo 1964 Olympics and reigned as boxing's heavyweight champion of the world from 1970-1973, fighting other legends such as Muhammad Ali (three times) and George Foreman (twice).
I was too young to watch any of his matches live - but I saw many of them later on videos and reaired fights on ESPN. Small for a heavyweight, Smokin' Joe overwhelms opponents by throwing mean punches in bunches. I am still looking for a left hook as mean as Smokin' Joe's. The closest one I've seen does not even belong to a heavyweight but rather a 145 lbs Pinoy champ Manny Pacquiao - who also hails Smokin' Joe as one of his heroes.
I will always remember Joe Frazier for his courage and his fighting spirit. God speed Champ!
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