Smokin Joe Frazer - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

75Sv1 · #16 11-09-2011, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarryBible

Yes 75, boxing was really big when I was a kid in the fifties and on up through the seventies. Now there are just too many sports and forms of entertainment to compete with it. Smokin' Joe served the sport well.

I disagree to an extent. Some of the sports from back then are doing well (NFL), other like Baseball have gone down. I do agree that newer sports have 'arrived'; X-Games and Mixed Martial Arts (a direct competitor to boxing).
I don't think Boxing had the next big star after ALi-Frazer. Tyson did create a bit of a buzz and comeback. I think most people despised him though.
If we look at NASCAR and INDY car or other racing. Indy was big from the 70's to the mid 90's. Bigger than NASCAR. There was a transition from the generations. NASCAR started to grow a bit in the late 90's, then went big in the Mid 90's. I think NASCAR is waininng a bit of late. Some of it, was emerging stars, such as Gordon or Tony Stewart. Other was that advertising liked the big fast moving billboard over the pencil thin race car. To an extent, the young guns competed right away in NASCAR at that time. It used to take a few years. Getting good equipment helped.
Hockey has its big days in the 80's with Gretsky. Basketball, grew with Bird-Johnson, then skyrocketed with Jordan. Sort of a let down after that. Golf with Tiger Woods. I think Gold was big with Jack Nicholas in the 70's, then let down a bit, then went huge with Tiger.
Football (NFL) has really gron over the years. It is still huge. Changes in the game, transition of stars from the collegate game. Gun QBs doing well. A lot of factors. I also think that some sports are doing better with advancements in TV coverage. The NFL and racing have virtually put the person in the game or race. I think other sports, like baseball, were easier to cast on the Radio, and early TV.
Some of it is what the next generation plays. I don't know or hear many who get into boxing. Golfing it was the cart before the horse. A big star, Tiger, who attracted people to play golf. A lot of kids play soccer, even big star, like Beckham or Pele, but just hasn't caught on.
I think in the lower weights boxing still has some draw. Hollyfield did have a bit of a draw. But other contenders just didn't fill the bill. Lower wieghts have some draw with Pacqua etc.
Tom

Air&Road · #17 11-09-2011, 08:12 AM

Yes, I agree except in some ways you're proving my point. With so many other sports getting bigger like NFL and NASCAR, there is more competition, and yes MMA definitely robs boxing fans. I love to watch MMA when there is a good match that hasn't been rerun 15 times already.

The Clk Man · #18 11-09-2011, 10:45 AM

This is off topic, but when I was a kid I watched a fighter I think his last name was Young beat the crap out of Ali and still lost the fight. Am I correct here guys?

Air&Road · #19 11-09-2011, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Clk Man

This is off topic, but when I was a kid I watched a fighter I think his last name was Young beat the crap out of Ali and still lost the fight. Am I correct here guys?

I don't remember a Young, but your scenario is absolutely plausible. Kenny Norton beat him up pretty bad and lost the fight.

t walgamuth · #20 11-09-2011, 10:48 PM

Smokin Joe was all heart and stamina. Packed a great punch too. Not a poet or a showman. Born into poverty to a cotton share cropper IIRC and was barely literate (no knock on him, just the truth). Made a pretty good life for himself through hard work, talent and guts.

Not stylish, just a stout man packing a jack hammer in each arm.

May he rest in peace.

75Sv1 · #21 11-10-2011, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chilcutt

I saw a documentary about Joe recently, not sure how old it was.

During one portion of the interviews, Joe was not so lovie-dovie about Ali.

To quote Joe> "You see the way Ali shakes all the time now?. I was the man that did that to him"...(slight chuckle from Joe).

Sorry to see him pass on, Joe was one bad-a$$ Mo-Fo in the ring.

I remember see that too. I thought it was on 60-Minutes.
Tom

chilcutt · #22 11-10-2011, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Clk Man

This is off topic, but when I was a kid I watched a fighter I think his last name was Young beat the crap out of Ali and still lost the fight. Am I correct here guys?

True this. In Avril 76', Ali defeated Jimmy Young in Cleveland, Ohio, altho he took a horrible whuppin, He probly should've hung up his gloves at that point.