Joe Frazier

Known for ActingBorn 1944-01-12Died 2011-11-07Beaufort, South Carolina

Joseph William "Joe" Frazier, known as "Smokin" Joe, is a former Olympic and World Heavyweight boxing champion, whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976, with a brief comeback in 1981. Frazier emerged as a contender in the mid-1960s, defeating Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Buster Mathis, Eddie Machen, Doug Jones and Jimmy Ellis en route to becoming undisputed heavyweight champion in 1970, and followed up by defeating Muhammad Ali in the highly-anticipated "Fight of the Century" in 1971. Two years later Frazier lost his title when he was knocked out by George Foreman. He launched a comeback, beating Joe Bugner, losing a rematch to Ali, and beating Quarry and Ellis again. Frazier's last world title challenge came in 1975, but he was beaten by Ali in their brutal rubbermatch. He retired in 1976 following a second loss to Foreman. He made a comeback in 1981, fighting just once, before retiring for good. The International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO) rates Frazier among the ten greatest heavyweights of all time. He is an inductee of both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame. Frazier's style was often compared to that of Henry Armstrong, dependent on bobbing, weaving and wearing down his opponents with relentless pressure. His best known punch was a powerful left hook, which accounted for most of his knockouts. Compared to Ali's style, he was close enough to the ideal bruiser that some in the press and media characterized the bouts as the answer to the classic question: "What happens when a boxer meets with a brawler?" Since retiring Frazier has made cameo appearances in several Hollywood movies, and two episodes of The Simpsons. His son Marvis also became a boxer - trained by Frazier himself - although was unable to emulate his father's success. Frazier continues to train fighters in his gym in Philadelphia. His later years have also seen the continuation of his bitter rivalry with Ali, in which the two periodically exchange insults, interspersed with brief reconciliations.Read more

Movies & web series

A Whole New Ballgame

Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III

Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier I

Tuesday Night Titans

Glory Days

Champions Forever

Joe Frazier: When the Smoke Clears

Ali-Frazier I: One Nation... Divisible

Muhammad Ali The Whole Story

The Simpsons

Thrilla in Manila

The Fighters

The Rumble in the Jungle: George Foreman vs. Muhammad Ali

American Gangster

Rocky

Facing Ali

Tokyo Olympiad

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Jeffersons

Raw

NWA Starrcade 1984

The Dick Cavett Show

TV Funhouse

WrestleMania II

Movin' On

Just the Ticket

The Mike Douglas Show

Wogan

Jim Brown: All-American

Night of 100 Stars III

Ghost Fever

Thrilla in Manila

Secret Talents of the Stars

The Next Great Champ

When Boxing Ruled The World

Champions Forever - World Heavyweight Champs!

Muhammad Ali - The Greatest Collection

Boxing Crazy

A Christmas Journey Home

Die Muhammad Ali Story

Muhammad Ali: The Whole Story

Home of Angels

Mike Tyson Presents: The Heavyweights

George Foreman vs Joe Frazier II

Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier II

The Fight

Joe Frazier vs. George Foreman

Fight of the Century