Tuesday, December 15, 2009

American Journal Article

By Jenny Jones/American JournalPhotography by Pete Marovich/American Journal
When Joe Frazier walked into his Philadelphia gym, it was as if he was showing up at Madison Square Garden for another bout with Muhammad Ali. Everyone stopped what they were doing, looked in his direction and from the other side of the room someone announced, “Smokin’ Joe Frazier.”


But instead of a young, muscular man in boxing shorts, 62-year-old Frazier shuffled past the ring with a stoop in his walk. His black brimmed hat was low on his forehead and his suit jacket hung loose over his T-shirt and suspenders.


Frazier heartily shouted, “Who let the dogs out?” Then he ambled through the dimly lit gym and clambered up a single staircase to his apartment, where he lives alone on the second floor. Read Full Article

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

I'm Attending Greatest Ever - You should go too!

Spectacular Three-Day Celebration Dec. 11-13 in Las Vegas

The great "Smokin'" Joe Frazier has joined a growing list of confirmed boxing legends attending the Dec. 11-13 "World's Greatest Ever Boxer" (WGEB) festivities, highlighted by an awards dinner and U.S. vs. The World pro boxing show, at The Paris Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas.

Frazier joins a red-carpet list of "WGEB" nominees traveling to Las Vegas Vegas for the spectacular celebration of boxing legends, including Mike Tyson, Jeff Fenech, Carlos Ortiz, Aaron Pryor, Roberto Duran, Bob Foster, Tommy Hearns, Wilfredo Gomez and others.

"The 'Greatest Ever' event is another competition that I would like to win and although my Internet skills are quite limited," Frazier said, "I hope my fans will go to www.greatestever.com and vote for me. Their support has been and always will be appreciated by me. To my fans who are attending the different functions of the 'Greatest Ever' event at the Paris Hotel, I hope you will take the time to say hello. I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can."

Frazier is an official nominee in the hotly-contested "WGEB" Heavyweight Division with 11 other stars: Jack "The Gavelston Giant" Johnson, Jack "The Manassa Mauler" Dempsey, Joe "The Brown Bomber" Louis, Rocky "The Brockton Blockbuster" Marciano, George Foreman, Larry "The Easton Assassin" Holmes, "Iron" Mike Tyson, Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield, Lennox "The Lion" Lewis and "The Boston Strongboy" John L. Sullivan.

"Las Vegas is a great "Fight' city and I am looking forward to being there for the 'Greatest Ever' weekend," Frazier added. "My career has not only been great in what I've achieved, but in all of the fans I have met worldwide, and the love and respect they've shown me. Being part of the 'Greatest Ever' event is equally satisfying and the recognition of being one of the world's greatest ever boxers is very much appreciated. I fought in a Golden Era of heavyweight boxers and to be at the top of that group was a big achievement, as being classified as the 'Greatest Ever' of all-time is very special."

On-line voting at www.GreatestEver.com allows boxing fans from around the world to select the greatest boxer in each of the original eight weight classes, highlighted by the all-time pound-for-pound "The World's Greatest Ever Boxer."

Frazier embodied the tough Philadelphia fighter, giving and taking with the best, and he was best known for his vicious left hook. After capturing a gold medal at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, he made his pro debut 1965 and 2 ½ years later he captured the vacant New York State Athletic Commission heavyweight title, recognized as the world title in New York and four other U.S. states, by stopping previously unbeaten Buster Mathis in the 11th round at the famed Madison Square Garden.

Frazier is universally recognized for his incredible trilogy of fights against Ali, winning the first in 1975 by a 15 round decision for the WBC and WBA crowns.

During his celebrated 16-year pro career (1965-1981), Smokin' Joe defeated three world champions, including fellow "WGEB" nominees Ali and Bob Foster, in addition to just about all of the foremost heavyweights of his era. All four of his four pro losses were to world champions, twice apiece to Ali, and another "WGEB" nominees, Foreman.

The winners in the eight divisions, plus "The World's Greatest Ever Boxer," will be announced Sunday, Dec. 13, the final day of a three-day celebration of these outstanding boxers in The Paris Las Vegas.

The weekend of events Dec. 11-13 at the Paris Las Vegas include a USA vs. The World pro-boxing show on Saturday (Dec 12). Final results of the global on-line vote at www.GreatestEver.com will be announced Sunday (Dec. 13) at "The World's Greatest Ever Boxer" black-tie awards dinner. Tickets to the dinner are available at www.greatestever.com or via MMG in Las Vegas (702. 617.9730). The Retired Boxers Foundation (RBF) is the official charity.

Tickets for the US vs. World pro boxing show are priced at $150 (Super VIP), $100 (Platinum), $80 (VIP), $65 (Gold) and (newly added) $40. The fight card plus hospitality packages are priced at $500 (Super VIP), $400 (Platinum) $250 (VIP) and $150 (Gold), as well as for the Greatest Ever Dinner Awards Ceremony and Entertainment at $1000 (Super VIP), $800 (Platinum), $450 (VIP) and $250 (Gold).

For all USA ticket sales for the World's Greatest Ever Boxer event please contact: MMG Marketing & Consulting, 702.617.9730, 1771 Flamingo Road, Suite 216A Las Vegas, NV. 89119 Email: WGEB@marketingbymmg.com

Fight tickets for Saturday December 12 are also available via the Paris Box Office on 877.603.4386.

For international tickets sales and packages, as well as more information about the "WGEB" weekend, go on-line to www.greatestever.com

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Overheard!

Overheard at the Flyers' Hall of Fame banquet for Dave "The Hammer" Schultz

Female: "Joe Frazier gave me goosebumps."

Male: "This is once in a lifetime."


Have you overheard fans talking about Joe?

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Getty Images honors the career of Joe Frazier...

Tuesday September 29, 2009 5:45 PM By Bobby Cassidy

On September 23, at Madison Square Garden’s Club Bar & Grill, Getty Images hosted an event with former heavyweight champion Smokin' Joe Frazier as the guest of honor. In addition to Getty customers and key Getty Images staff, there were several celebrity athletes in attendance -- inlcuding Dustin Keller, Chansi Stuckey and James Ihediqbo of the New York Jets.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Joe Frazier fans travel far to hang out with former heavyweight champion

PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS | BY MARK KRAM | Sun, Sep 6, 8:12 AM

PHILADELPHIA -- Wide-eyed, the boy sat down across the table from Joe Frazier, who was eating a spoonful of black raspberry ice cream.

"Can I ask you one last question?" asked Arthur Natalino, who is 13 and an aspiring boxer. "Can anyone throw the left hook the way you did, or was it just something only you could do?"

Cheerfully, Frazier assured the boy: "Anybody can do it. You just have to lean into it. But you have to have this."

He tapped his finger just below his shirt pocket.

"Ribs?" the boy asked.

"No," Frazier said. "Heart." ...

Joe Frazier fans travel far to hang out with former heavyweight champion