Famous Olympic boxer dies

We lost a great heavyweight Champion last week with the passing of Joe Frazier, who won Olympic heavyweight gold at Tokyo in 1964, and was the first fighter to beat Muhammad Ali. Joe was only 67 which is comparatively young in todays world, and until a few short months back he was still travelling the world doing speaking engagements with his manager Lesley Wolff.

The first time Joe came here in 1975, he was on his way back from Melbourne after fighting Jimmy Ellis. He did a couple of exhibitions at Carlaw Park, and I was there on a wet night to see him in the ring with Maile Haumono, and Stan Ward, an American sparring partner who travelled with the team. I remember the night very well. I had looked around Auckland for Joe but it wasn't until after the exhibitions that I was standing near the dressing rooms and an Auckland Boxing official said to me "Would you like to meet Joe". I got to meet Joe and was allowed five minutes with him. Years later when Joe came here on his second visit in 2005, I told him of our previous meeting, and he said, "You mean I've been here before". So I was able to tell him he indeed had been here before and I showed him the front cover of the programme from Carlaw Park, which he had signed in 1975. The Auckland Paper's headlines next day were "SMOKIN' JOE READY TO 'BURN' ALI.

In a thoroughly Rain-soaked Carlaw Park ring last night which was still treacherous underfoot, Frazier boxed an exhibition over eight five minute rounds. Four of them were with Stan Ward, one of his two regular sparring partners, and the other four were against the Auckland based Tongan Maile Haumono. The most amazing thing about Frazier is—in delivering his punches, in evading an opponent and speed about the ring.

Joe came back to NZ a few years back with his Manager Lesley Wolff, for Dean Lonergan's Fight For Life Program. They appeared very relaxed and Joe told me some newspapers around the world portray him as being a bit 'punchy'. He said he was in excellent shape and the reason he was a bit shakey on his feet was the fact that he was in a bad automobile accident a few years back. According to Joe and Lesley, Joe was parked at a gas station when someone rammed him from behind and it affected the nerves in his neck and spine. That is why sometimes he appeared unsteady on his feet.

Joe Frazier will always be remembered for his three great fights with Muhammad Ali, but he had a great record only losing to Ali twice, and George Foreman twice.

I will never forget meeting the great man in Auckland.

Picture from 1975 Auckland Papers.