Hats Off To Smok'n Joe

Boxing lost one of it's Best...

Smok'n Joe Fraiser died today...

Brings ta mind some of the bouts from yesteryear... Smok'n Joe, Ali, Norton, Liston, Foreman...

Not like the Pussys today...

I watched Ali-Frazier II in a store window in downtown Oaxaca. There was a pretty good crowd on the sidewalk, I think all were Ali fans.

The "Thrilla in Manila" was probably the best boxing match ever........

Frazier was someone that the American public could handle since he was the stereotypical black guy from Philadelphia. On the other hand, Ali scared the heck out the public. Their fights were classics and history will consider them as such!

Ali wuz the one who said " I ain't got noth'n against no Vietnees... No Vietnees never called me no Nigger "

unusual grammer ... but hard to argue his point...

After Ali's banishment by both The US & WBA... it wuz Smok'n Joe who helped pave the way for his return for a title fight...

Ali would later say " Joe was the toughest opponent I ever fought "

Oh were the straight public upset by Ali but what a man!!! Smok'n Joe was
something also. I wonder if younger folks understand what a big deal these
fights were. Everything would stop when these fights were going on. People
standing outside listening to the radio and reacting in the cities. Lesser fights
than these use to be broadcast on the network radio and later TV. I still remember the razor blade commercials. How many people remember the
gillette parrot "look sharp, be sharp" commercials during the fights on TV?

Z

Look sharp, feel sharp, be sharp, Gillette blue blades for you! Catchy little ditty with staying power (obviously). The Friday night fights, oh yeah.

oncesubtle wrote:Look sharp, feel sharp, be sharp, Gillette blue blades for you! Catchy little ditty with staying power (obviously). The Friday night fights, oh yeah.

Thats it couldn't quite remember it all.
Thanks!

Z