Smoking Joe Frazier R.I.P.

As a child of the 70’s Smoking Joe Frazier was part of my life. He, along side footballing greats such as Pele, Eusibeo, and his boxing nemisis Muhammed Ali were to me  Black warriors and heroes. In their chosen field of sport they strived to be the worlds best and in doing so they gave Black children like myself a sense of unparaled pride that allowed us to boast in the playground 'at sport we’re simply the best'.

Back then the challenge to become heavyweight champion of the world was truly a global event. Time would almost stand still as the build up to these gladiatorial events unfolded. And with Frazier and Ali there were no greater adversaries. Their fights along with Ali’s iconic fight against George Foreman defined a generation of Black sporting supremacy. But behind these extraordinary fights complex racial issues were being played out, often to the detriment of individuals such as Smoking Joe Frazier.

Like many of my generation I was caught with which boxer would be the standard bearer for the Black world: it seemed a no brainer. Muhammed Ali. After all he was good looking, fast talking, and he fantastically rebelled against racist America. But by investing everything in Ali  and, often the arrogance that came with it, we consigned brave, courageous fighters such as Frazier to the bogeyman role. Although unbeaten world champion for three years and being central to some of the most memorable fights in boxing history Frazier, was never truly  revered as a great champion,  and was never able to find peace from the physiological torment that Ali threw at him during their challenges for the boxing summit. ‘You’re too ugly to be champion of the world’, Ali would taunt him, worst still he would call him an ‘ uncle tom’.

What hurt Frazier above all about the abuse Ali poured upon him was the fact that when Ali needed a friend- having been ostracised by the boxing establishment for refusing to be drafted in the Vietnam war- it was Frazier who ensured he had money and  who lobbied for him to return to boxing.

Looking back the race politics of the 70's got it spectacularly wrong in its assessment of Joe Frazier. He was one of the most skilful and bravest boxers of his generation, he loved his community and genuinely gave to a man who was to throw his kindness back in face. In subsequent years Ali sought to make an humble apology to his great rival, but after so many years Frazier could not forgive.

History, now must be rewritten and Smoking Joe Frazier afforded the great respect not only for being a boxing champion of world when it really meant something, but also as great black sporting icon who was a bigger man than we ever gave credit to.

Rest in peace, Smoking Joe. You deserve that.

Picture : Joe Frazier (January 12, 1944 – November 7, 2011)

Simon Woolley