Joe Frazier was one tough fighter, as he proved at the start of his professional career after achieving so much at the amateur level.
Smokin’ Joe won an Olympic gold medal in 1964, becoming the United States’ only boxing winner as he triumphed over Vadim Yemelyanov of the Soviet Union in the Heavyweight division.
Frazier only got called up because Buster Mathis was injured, and made the most of his opportunity by going all the way, despite breaking his hand en route to the final.
Despite his trademark left hook being nullified by the injury, Frazier won the gold medal and became a hero to the nation before kicking off his professional career in style.
After a year out to recover, Joe Frazier turned professional with a quickfire KO on his debut
After breaking his hand and becoming an Olympic champion, Frazier took a year out to rest, recover, and prepare for life as a professional boxer.
His trainer, Yancey “Yank” Durham, gathered a group of businessmen to invest in Smokin’ Joe, paying for him to train full-time to embark on a professional career in the sport.
A year after his big win, a 21-year-old Frazier booked his debut fight against a little-known boxer named Woody Goss. He was 2-2 going into the fight in Frazier’s home of Philadelphia, but his record would not get any better.
That is because in just 102 seconds, the referee was waving his arms and calling off the fight following a dominant showing by Frazier.
On the undercard of Stanley Hayward vs Tito Marshall, Frazier reportedly floored Goss for an eight-count early in the first round, before a barrage of his famous left hooks forced the referee to put an end to a one-sided bout.
Durham’s investment paid off, and this win kicked off a dominant streak at the start of Frazier’s career that took him to the very top of the sport.
Joe Frazier went on a 20-fight winning streak to become the Heavyweight champion
Just three years after his stunning debut in Philadelphia, Frazier was anointed the Heavyweight champion in Madison Square Garden after an incredible, undefeated run.
Smokin’ Joe went on to win his next 18 fights with ease, only twice going the distance, which earned him a shot at a man who held a win over him as an amateur.
Buster Mathis had beaten Frazier in the Olympic trials before an injury took him out of the competition, which thrust a young Frazier into the limelight.
Enacting his revenge for that loss, Frazier fought an exciting bout that ended in the 11th round of 15 when he dropped Mathis with his famous left hook.
Mathis somehow got to his feet despite looking like he’d been hit out cold, but the referee called off the fight as the glassy-eyed fighter looked on, confused.
Frazier was crowned the Heavyweight champion, just four years after winning the Olympic gold medal with a broken hand.