The Unyielding Spirit of “Smokin` Joe”
Hours before his anticipated return to the ring against Jumbo Cummings, Joe Frazier, known for his directness, made his expectations clear: “I`m not interested in hearing promises of `doing my best`; I expect you to pull your weight.” In a light-hearted moment, Muhammad Ali quipped, “Yes, we`re seasoned men now, and it`s our turn to demonstrate our abilities to the world.” Frazier quickly retorted, “Don`t call me old.” Richard Hone, his advisor and close friend, later recalled, “Joe truly resented any mention of his age.” In 1981, Joe Frazier was 37.
From Poverty to Olympic Gold
Born into poverty in Beauford, South Carolina, Frazier relocated to Philadelphia in 1959 at the age of 15. By 1962, he secured employment at a slaughterhouse. Soon after, he joined the Police Athletic League gym, seeking to shed weight and learn the art of boxing. The gym`s director, Duke Dugent, quickly recognized Frazier`s relentless drive and resilience, bringing him to the attention of boxing trainer Yancey `Yank` Durham. This partnership proved immensely beneficial for both. Durham was instrumental in refining Frazier`s signature style, teaching him to bob and weave effectively, allowing him to close the distance despite his average height. He delivered an unending barrage of artful, powerful blows, famously capped by a devastating left hook directed at either the body or head. Frazier’s talent culminated in a gold medal at the 1964 Olympic Games, leading him to turn professional in 1965. He impressively won his initial ten professional fights by knockout.
The Rise to Heavyweight Champion and Epic Rivalries
His eleventh fight, in 1966 at Madison Square Garden, was against the formidable Oscar Bonavena. In the second round, Bonavena`s powerful right hand sent Frazier to the canvas. Frazier rose at the count of five, only to be knocked down again moments later. Under New York State regulations, a third knockdown would have ended the match, but Frazier beat the count and fiercely fought back. He outworked Bonavena over the subsequent seven rounds, securing a majority decision victory. By 1968, Frazier had knocked out his amateur rival Buster Mathis, claiming the New York State heavyweight title. A year later, he systematically broke down Jerry Quarry and then brutalized Jimmy Ellis with his trademark left hook, unifying the WBA and WBC heavyweight titles.
Meanwhile, former champion Muhammad Ali, who had been absent from the ring for nearly four years after being stripped of his title for refusing military induction during the Vietnam War, cast a significant shadow. The reigning and former champions finally met on March 8, 1971, in what was dubbed “The Fight Of The Century.” The anticipation was immense, and Frazier was unusually motivated to silence “The Louisville Lip” definitively. For 15 grueling rounds, they exchanged brutal blows. Frazier endured a tremendous pounding but never yielded an inch. In the 15th round, Frazier, his face visibly battered, landed a thunderous left hook that sent Ali crashing to the canvas. Though Ali miraculously rose, the fight belonged unequivocally to Frazier.
Frazier successfully defended his title twice more until a powerful puncher from Texas, George Foreman, emerged. Foreman brutally ended Frazier`s reign in 1973. Frazier faced Ali again in 1974, with Ali emerging victorious this time. Their legendary rivalry concluded a year later in Manila, in a bout that pushed both fighters, slightly past their prime, to their absolute limits. This back-and-forth battle concluded after round 14 when Ali ultimately stopped Frazier. Neither fighter ever fully recovered from that epic encounter. Frazier had one final rematch left, against Foreman in 1976, which marked the end of his illustrious boxing career in Buffalo, New York.
Life Beyond the Ropes and the Lingering Question
Following his retirement from boxing, Frazier remained active. He toured with his band, “The Knockouts,” performed in local commercials, and served as a greeter at the International Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. He also managed his own gym in Philadelphia, trained his son Marvis and other aspiring boxers, and even operated a limousine service. While he expressed enjoyment for music, the experience of training his son reignited a question that had first surfaced in 1977: Had he retired too soon? Frazier believed he had. The painful memory of his defeat by Foreman had faded. “Joe wanted to put himself to the test,” Horne stated.
The Comeback Glimmer
Frazier perceived the heavyweight division as weak, especially after Foreman`s retirement following a loss to Jimmy Young. He eventually signed a contract in April to fight Scott LeDoux, potentially at the Met Center in Minnesota. LeDoux, known as “The Fighting Frenchman,” had a record of 21 wins in 30 fights. He was tough, resilient, and possessed considerable power, seemingly an ideal opponent for Frazier`s return. However, LeDoux, despite his willingness, was primarily focused on securing a rematch against Leon Spinks. In May, Frazier instead agreed to a fight against Kallie Knoetze, a South African police officer with only one loss. Speculation arose that Frazier needed money, but Horne clarified: “Joe had financial stability. He was a proud man who was dissatisfied with how his career had concluded.”
In November 1977, Frazier’s former opponent, Jerry Quarry, also attempted a comeback. At 32, Quarry moved like a man in his 40s; his reflexes were dulled, his quickness gone. Quarry`s two previous fights with Frazier were tenacious wars. In their first encounter in 1969, Quarry looked exceptional for a round and a half before Frazier`s relentless pressure took over. Their second fight five years later was a one-sided battering. After a two-year hiatus, Quarry fought a 10-round match against Lorenzo Zanon in Las Vegas in 1977. Zanon easily dominated the first eight rounds, landing numerous blows. Quarry pushed forward, finally catching and stopping Zanon in the ninth round. His victory was far from impressive. Frazier watched this fight on TV. When Dick Young of the Daily News asked if he saw any of himself in Quarry, Frazier replied, “No, Jerry hasn`t been in the gym.”
Echoes of Past Comebacks
Boxing history is replete with attempted comebacks that rarely end well. In 1903, former champion James J. Corbett, who famously defeated John L. Sullivan, sought a rematch against his former sparring partner, James J. Jeffries. Corbett, at 37, had spent more time on stage than in the ring. Three years prior, he had been mere rounds away from beating Jeffries before encountering a decisive right hand. Though he returned to acting, the loss gnawed at his spirit, prompting him to request a rematch. Corbett trained with his characteristic intensity, but things were different; his sparring partners were now tagging him. On fight night in San Francisco, Jeffries aimed for a quick finish, unleashing heavy blows that Corbett initially evaded but couldn`t withstand for long. Corbett was knocked down three times before his corner halted the contest.
James J. Jeffries and Joe Louis also emerged from retirement for different reasons. Louis needed money, while Jeffries, though financially secure, was pressured by intense racial sentiment of the era. Jeffries was 35, Louis 36. Both were mere shadows of their former selves. Jack Johnson comprehensively defeated and stopped Jeffries. Ezzard Charles battered Louis for 15 rounds. Corbett, Jeffries, and Louis were not old in years, but they were ancient in the brutal context of the boxing ring. “I couldn`t execute what I intended,” Louis admitted after his fight against Charles. “The openings were there, but the reaction wasn`t.”
The Path to the Final Bout
Frazier`s planned fight with Knoetze was canceled after he contracted hepatitis. He then focused on his limousine service and accepted some singing engagements, yet he longed for the excitement of boxing. Frazier was busy but restless, sometimes succumbing to periods of heavy drinking. “But let`s be honest,” he confessed in his 1996 autobiography, Smokin` Joe, “I loved music, but I lived boxing.” His family and former trainer, Eddie Futch, were against his return, but Frazier was determined to try again.
By 1981, Frazier`s comeback truly took shape. He still craved the thrill that boxing provided. But how much did he truly have left? His training sessions with his son, Marvis, had convinced him of his enduring capability. “Everyone tells me they don`t want to see me get hurt,” Frazier declared in 1981. “I love myself. I`m not going to get hurt. I know what I`m doing. Besides, a man has the right to do what he wants, even if it means hurting himself.”
With LeDoux no longer an option, Frazier signed in October to fight Monte Masters, a heavyweight from Oklahoma. “Fighting is my profession,” Frazier told The Advocate-Messenger. “I never left; I simply set it aside for a brief rest. It has always been a part of me.” Masters was undefeated in 22 fights, all in Oklahoma. His father-in-law, Pat Grady, reportedly remarked at the time: “He`s less of a prospect than a suspect.” A substantial payday loomed for the lanky Oklahoman, but after a couple of weeks, the agreed pay was deemed insufficient, and Masters pulled out.
With Masters and LeDoux out, and Knoetze moving on after Frazier`s illness, Frazier`s team ultimately selected Floyd `Jumbo` Cummings. Cummings, built similarly to sculpted heavyweights Ken Norton and Mike Weaver, had spent a significant portion of his 31 years incarcerated. He was released from prison in 1979 after serving 12 years for murder. During his imprisonment, Cummings honed his physique through weightlifting and learned to box, skills that served him well. He turned professional, racking up 14 consecutive wins, 12 by knockout, before suffering his first loss to Renaldo Snipes in Atlantic City (a fight in which Cummings notoriously bit Snipes). Cummings readily accepted the fight against Frazier shortly after Masters withdrew, confident of his victory. Before the bout, Cummings was quoted expressing his fear not of hurting Frazier, but of killing him. Frazier, undeterred, countered with a jibe, calling Cummings a “jailbird,” projecting unwavering confidence. “All the press are saying I`m too old and past my prime because I`m 37,” Frazier told Newsday weeks before the fight. “Those reporters ought to spar with the guys I`m training with.”
The Final Bell
Perhaps one of those sparring partners should have fought Frazier. On fight night, the famed “smoke” was gone, replaced only by sheer desire and determination. His once-feared left hook, the same punch that had floored Ali in 1971, missed more often than it connected. When it did land, Cummings, whose jab was relentless, displayed utter contempt. Frazier was stunned on several occasions and bleeding. His legs appeared unstable, yet his indomitable fighting spirit refused to capitulate. The pro-Frazier crowd of over 6,000 fans at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago largely resigned themselves to Frazier losing the 10-rounder. The announced decision of a draw, however, was met with shock and boos from many.
Frazier celebrated after the fight as if he had won. Marvis boasted that his father had endured 10 tough rounds. However, a few days later, after other family members firmly told him he was finished, a sober Frazier finally conceded: there would be no more comebacks for the once-feared “Smokin` Joe.”
Oliver Croft 
Neville Whittle