Former world champion Joe Frazier was a knockout machine throughout the 60s and 70s.
‘Smokin’ Joe Frazier was one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, best known for his epic trilogy with Muhammad Ali.
Hanging up his gloves in 1976, before returning for a bout in 1981, Frazier left a legacy on the sport that changed boxing forever.
Tasting four defeats in his career, Frazier has only been bested by Ali and George Foreman. In terms of people who he’s defeated, Frazier has wins over the likes of Bob Foster, Oscar Bonavena, and Ali himself.
Having such an incredible skillset, one heavyweight icon even said that he feared Frazier.
George Foreman said that Joe Frazier scared him as a boxer
In 1990, Foreman was a guest on the Johnny Carson show, where he admitted having fear for Frazier.
History-making Foreman was originally asked if he feared Ali ahead of their ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ clash. However, ‘Big George’ said, “It’s strange, I wasn’t afraid of Muhammad.”
Foreman then admitted that it was Frazier who was the fighter that scared him. “I remember Joe Frazier. He was the toughest I had ever seen… I kept thinking, I want to be the champion of the world, but I sure hope Joe Frazier dies,” Foreman said jokingly.
“I knew, if you hit him [Frazier], he liked it.”
Foreman then said during a stare-down with Frazier ahead of their fight, he hoped his opponent did not drop his head like other fighters. This was due to fact his legs shaking during the face-off, which he didn’t want Frazier to see.
George Foreman defeated Joe Frazier on two occasions
Despite being fearful of ‘Smokin’ Frazier, Foreman was able to get the better of him on two occasions.
The heavyweights met for the first time in 1973, fighting in Kingston, Jamaica.
Winning via second-round knockout, Foreman would become the WBC and WBA World Heavyweight champion, his first world title triumph.
The pair would fight again in 1976, however, it would be a similar outcome for Frazier. This time losing in the fifth round, Frazier retired from the sport after the loss.
However, Frazier returned in 1981 to face Floyd Cummings, with the result being a draw.