Joe Frazier talks about the 1973 Foreman fight

This is from THE DICK CAVETT SHOW. February 21, 1973.

[@Lava1964]

The second knockdown of the first round (which is not shown in this clip) was absolutely brutal. How Frazier got up from that shot, I'll never know. Frazier was a true champion and a good sport.

[@Brandoni73]

Hearing Angelo Dundee screaming "STOP IT"..."STOP the FIGHT!!!" and showing concern for Frazier, even though he was in Ali's corner, shows his humanity.

[@vinny6685]

Dundee was a good man .

[@whitedevil4122]

You have to love Joe Frazier. The fact that fight had to be stopped by the ref is a testament to his heart and the way he dealt with it is a testament to his character and I haven't even mentioned what a great fighter he was.

[@vegansaxon3962]

I don't know his name, but the old man that pointed out Fraziers niceness was a good man for saying what he did..he seemed the only one that sensed the honest humility in Joe.

[@AlleyCat1976]

Jack Benny

[@blobby915]

I agree! He was always overshadowed by his rivalry with Muhammad Ali but people's forget what a calm quiet classy guy Joe was

[@cubicleBOB]

@james2774 more than Rickles?

[@cubicleBOB]

@james2774 Don't sleep on Rickles

[@kingsports1113]

George foreman beat the hair off of joe Frazier

[@tigerarmyrule]

What a superb man Smokin' Joe was. Game as they come. Hard as nails.

[@dac6566]

"It's back to the drawing board for me." I fuckin loved that dude. Smokin' Joe Frazier.

[@unknownjohnson6137]

A great great great fighter and, like the old man said, the nicest of blokes. Greatest respect for Joe Frazier!! A true Champion in every sense.

[@univac7677]

I wish Joe would have taken a page out of Ali’s playbook. Just couldn’t go straight at Forman in those days. Joe really was a nice guy. Great sportsman.

[@callenomari1403]

I guess it's kind of randomly asking but does anybody know of a good website to watch new series online ?

[@leonkayson8402]

@Callen Omari try FlixZone. You can find it by googling :)

[@kaylamarie8309]

Back in the day when champions manned up and said "well its on me, I screwed up and its back to the drawing board" instead of "I lost because my ring walk super hero costume was too heavy" 😆 Much respect to you Smokin' Joe, rest in peace..I will always remember and love you. No man was ever tougher or had more heart. True Champion!

[@skobuffs5761]

I was in Vegas Thanksgiving 1983 and a friend and I bribed our way into the Marvis Frazier after fight party at Caesars. We were the only people not in a suit, I was in jeans and cowboy boots, as well as being the only white people in the place. The guests and hosts and bodyguards couldn't have been nicer to us. We ate their food, drank their alcohol, and danced with the black girls. I went to the bathroom and taking a leak who walks up but Joe Frazier. I said, "How are you doing, Champ?" He was gracious and very disappointed in his son's loss. Later that night Larry Holmes came to the party to pay his respects. A great memory and all of those guys were class acts!

[@jamesditt]

Rest in peace Joe. In every aspect of "character" in and out of the boxing ring-- you are the master. Rest in Peace. Your fan always, JD

[@eyeballsful]

i agree with several of you. this class of gladiators turned out to be remarkable gentleman outside the ring & valuable members/citizens of our greater society. for SURE my hat is off both in awe & respect.

[@PIANOBYMAURICE]

This era was one of the Golden eras of Boxing. Smokin' Joe is as tough as they come. I love this brother. He was a real warrior. His memory will be here forever. Smokin' Joe helped make Muhammad Ali, not taking away anything from Ali because he fought Liston and all the other top heavyweights of his time. But Frazier added gold to Ali's legacy. We miss you Joe. maurice

[@williamarmstrong632]

Seriously underrated fighter, Ali, classless thug, Frazier, absolute class and a gentleman. Rip you were a great man, your fights against Ali showed what you were made of. One of the greatest boxers of all time, greater than "The mouth from the south" Lookin' at you Ali!

[@CahyaTroy]

Frazier getting the crap beaten out of him by Foreman proved he was more of a one trick pony and wasn't that good

[@JimMLINY]

God Bless the People's Champ, RIP Smoking Joe! Fantastic interview! What a humble person with a great sense of humor and purpose, need more right now like him!

[@jnhutchinson3]

"Foreman didn't hit hard"....truly a stupid thing to say. The 50+ people that Foreman knocked out must have taken sleeping pills before the fights.

[@joeygonzo]

LOL Joe must have been KO'd so bad, he forgot . THat uppercut George hit him in the first fight should have put him in a coma. Good Lord , that was some punch.

[@rennie6767]

Joe Frazier might not have been the fastest or the strongest etc etc but he must off had one off the biggest hearts out there,to keep getting up of the canvas time and again.....my respects to a great fighter and a humble human being.

[@j_ko9]

rennie6767 Frazier had a heart like no other. He and Ali both were two of the toughest to ever step foot in the ring.

[@crabb9966]

He had the best stamina

[@niksta1]

How the fuck can a human being actually keep gettin up like that, that shits unreal man, I'd never get into the ring with Frazier

[@gianluciano]

Foreman's punch actually was made out of rock...what a boxer

[@alfalfafalafelmafia]

True, but it's not all punching. Strategy matters. Ali was the proof.

[@luisfloressoto7925]

Rip Joe Frazier "The Smoke"

[@terryvision42]

Nice one Cavebiter thanks for these uploads.

[@28rampage]

joe was a true champ and great guy

[@Dylan98654]

The Vietnam war was wrong. He stood against an unjust war and should be commended for it! His name is Ali!

[@elrey1176]

You can hear angelo dundee screaming for the fight to stop

[@SuperPrince1007]

I loved Joe Frazier. He was a great Heavyweight Champion and an A Class Act.

[@elainemorey1119]

Why is everybody arguing over who was the best,joe or ali?why cAn't we love both of them?they were both great champions,handsome and talented,never to be matched,they needed each other,Ali wound joe up,but joe was no angel either,calling ali clay to wind him up.i loved the rivalry,they were as bad as each other and we will never see great legends like these again.

[@Tee1312Jay]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Joe is a real man....Took his ass whupin like a man.

[@Lampshade51]

Love the Cavett show. He would keep each guest to interact with the next. Jack Benny and Joe Frazier and Bill Cosby interacting! Why don't they do this anymore?

[@CunningStuntsGoFast]

@Fripitto if i remember correct [from a docu] ali is sitting ringside aswell ? i think i saw an interview before and ali picks frazier as the winner . the winner could fight ali . im i correct ?

[@swami1]

Great quality. Where did you get this?

[@cdeezy2718]

The level of leg crossing these guys have reached is ridiculous not even gonna lie

[@trpoihgg]

Hell the fact he got the title shows how much success he had as a boxer. It is not easy to even get a title shot especially winning it

[@Fripitto]

Starting at about 2:04, do you hear that guy screaming 'Stop it!'? That's Angelo Dundee, Muhammad Ali's trainer.

[@observerguy5031]

I remember the time. Most so called "experts" were sure that Frazier would make quick work of Foreman. Foreman was had won the Olympic gold, but hadn't fought anyone of note in 4 years as a professional before fighting Frazier. It was less than 2 years since Frazier beat Ali. The "experts" were sure Frazier would take the young Foreman to school. Frazier severely underestimated Foreman's raw power.

[@nightowl7459]

Observer Guy, That's experts for you.

[@dennisbaker1002]

Yes, but George always pushed opponents which I believe was illegal.

[@Fripitto]

Howard Cossell mentioned it, but it's not in the clip they show here.

[@gnomely1]

@Maryjaneslave It beggars belief that these men can get back on their feet from even one of those punches that would leave you and me in intensive care in a hospital. Their ability to soak up punishment is astonishing and they deserve utter respect. I wish you peace and well-being.

[@heiio66]

Yet, he cried for Foreman because he wouldn't accept Islam. He even wrote in his book that he secretly admired Joe Frazier from the first fight they had. They were good friends, they all were. Trash talking is a fundamental of boxing. And this man is humble. If you don't know anything about Ali, don't say anything at all, what he showed us in the 60s was a little loud mouth confidence and some boxing. Watch the videos of Ali, Frazier and foreman together, they rejoice at each others presence.

[@nickmatthew1]

@Fripitto Hey it sounds like Angelo but how do you know for sure? just curious, cheers

[@holmes1978]

Excellent !!!

[@joelzenny]

Joe Frazier = CLASS.

[@tyjameson7404]

Frazier always the classy gentleman in victory and defeat 💔🙏🙌🏾❤️🇺🇸

[@calbo555]

@Fripitto isnt it howard cosell ?

[@micahalexis26]

I LOVE SMOKIN JOE! MY HERO!

[@stitcha123]

LEGEND

[@PaulGreen11]

Much love, Joe

[@MrGuitars8]

Joe Frazier was an Amazing CHAMPION and He was a Class Act and a GENTLEMAN who had the strongest left hook in the Heavyweights . I remember how he hit Ali in the 6th round of their 3rd fight and how Ali stood up will always be a mystery to me . They were all so Great !

[@joeygonzo]

Well, Ali should have been OUT in that last fight too.

[@Sammy.a1287]

RIP Smokin' Joe. Not even Ali could keep this guy down.

[@wkLeoTrooper]

Ali has said himself that he never really meant the things he said, nor did he really believe that he's the greatest. It was just his boxing persona. He started a whole new ballgame where "trash talking" was another way to hype up a fight.

[@Fripitto]

@Sandu1982 Dundee is there because he just wanted to see the fight, I guess. And we still don't know what his motivation was to be screaming 'stop it', but obviously he was afraid Joe would be damaged beyond repair or even killed.

[@ProBlacklikeamutha]

Joe and Bill clean! Black people style is unmatched.

[@mistermattmoose]

@isitcosimblack for men aged 60 and over named richard, "dick" is a common nickname, even more than "rick", "ricky" or "richie", which are more common now.

[@MrBumboclart]

was he worried for frazier? or did he want him to lose his title? i dont know much about Dundee

[@MrJunktrunker]

the inspiration for Rocky

[@Fripitto]

@calbo555 No, Cosell is doing the broadcasting. And the reason he was shouting that? I think because he wanted Ali to have a rematch against Frazier, but that wasn't gonna happen if Foreman killed him in the ring. Or maybe it was sympathy, who knows?

[@charleswinokoor6023]

Joe’s biggest strategic “mistake” was getting into the ring with Foreman in the first place.

[@taejoonpark9613]

No it wasn't a mistake the greatest vs the greatest, whats funny is that ppl like u say this and if he didnt fight him guys like u would say he was dodging Foremen 😂😂

[@charleswinokoor6023]

@@taejoonpark9613 Hey genius, I didn’t say he should have dodged big George. My point was that it turned out to be a huge mistake. But at least he tried.

[@taejoonpark9613]

@@charleswinokoor6023 nah no mistake boxers have no problem fighting other boxers, well true ones anyways, the best fight the best thats way it should be

[@charleswinokoor6023]

@@taejoonpark9613 I do see your point that it wasn’t technically “a mistake,” except that it turned out so badly for Smokin’ Joe. But Foreman back then seemed invincible, which made Ali ‘s victory seem all the more remarkable.

[@taejoonpark9613]

@@charleswinokoor6023 absolutely mate

[@southtexasprepper6605]

Rest in peace Smoking Joe

[@heiio66]

Inside, ali says he admires him and envys him.

[@trpoihgg]

Joe Frazier was a true champion

[@Dylan98654]

He never physically pointed it at Frazier. Frazier was up on a balcony and Ali was down on the ground!

[@jnhutchinson3]

Dude, Frazier hated Ali. There was a documentary on HBO about Frazier a few years ago and he still carried extreme bitterness toward Ali as an old man 30 years later, because Ali called him an "Uncle Tom", a gorilla, and all kinds of cruel names back in the 1970s. How Frazier acted around Ali in public doesn't mean anything at all.

[@csplayerforever]

you know! great man you know :) respect 4 Smokin

[@PAULKEATING1]

@Maryjaneslave Totally Agree .

[@h0olaman]

@Maryjaneslave i agree! i love frazier. but as an ali fan i have to say this: if frazier is incredible for getting up everytime he'd been knocked down...how great is muhammad ali from not going down after being hit the same punches and winning the fight. and boy, he took foremans hardest shots.

[@vinny6685]

Joe was such a good man

[@jamescarlisle8758]

Real boxing back then

[@MrIronval]

@MrBumboclart i think he was worried about him like everybody even though frazier was ali's rival you can't help but like this guy because of the man he was such a loveable man

[@BarrySlisk]

Some discreet rings there bro.

[@Robstailey]

Is that bill cosby at the beginning??

[@Roman-nu1om]

Upset? It would've been an upset if Frazier had won!

[@real_Leo_Chang]

Undefeated boxer coming off beating Ali.. hardly

[@SIRTURF]

R.I.P. Smokin Joe

[@messier991102]

its a shame he is not a top 5 hw due to the foreman fight. i wish they would realize that the frazier foreman fought was a shell of the man that ali fought

[@elvicare35]

What the heck are you talking about?

[@baz20881]

Joe never deserved any of the insults that Ali made against him. But Joe showed his true class by never getting into slagging matches with him. I can understand that you need to promote the fight and make out that you are going to destroy the other guy, but what Ali said during all the three fight build ups, especially the third fight was way over the line , it was nasty spiteful and vindictive. But Joe showed just what a man he was when he got him in the ring. A book to read is Ghosts of Manila

[@viralbuthow000]

RIP Smokin Joe

[@frankdrebin1023]

@messier991102 He posed a challenge to Ali because Ali didn't have that kind of power, and he could get inside on Ali. Foreman, you just can't trade w/ him, nor do you want to come forward. Frazier did. But, because of the fights w/ Ali, and what they both gave to boxing. He doesn't have to look up at anyone, period.

[@fmills1583]

I like Joe.

[@OgSleep]

Foreman would have had to kill Frazier. That man had the heart of a lion. They dont make em like that no more

[@nickmatthew1]

@Fripitto Okay cheers!

[@charms71]

the era of good boxing is over. These days, I only watch at an opportunity...nothing planned

[@maXfactor0]

RIP joe!

[@muhammadfaheem3267]

Frazier was a tough guy

[@baz20881]

Joe was humble in defeat and addmitted that he made mistakes which cost him the fight with Foreman. Ali was never humble in defeat, after their first fight when Joe beat him, he wouldn't admit he had even lost. I think Jack Benny was a patronizing prick on this show, and Bill Cosby was, i think anyway, trying to wind Joe up, what do you guys out there think! RIP Joe, a modest under rated champion of the world.

[@eyeballsful]

P S by the way...anybody who miss uses "uncle tom" (from the book, has clearly never read read it. yes my black skinned cousins, you included!

[@NelsonMontana1234]

Cavett really was so awkward at interviews.

[@stanmoney8470]

Ron Lyle wanted to fight Frazier, but it didn't happen because Lyle wasnt ranked high enough at the time. Lyle gave foreman a much better fight than frazier did!

[@rogerfausto6256]

Joe had the wrong style of power to hurt Foreman.

[@Excecutioner147]

@Maryjaneslave smoking joe was a warrior, nobody was ever goner keep him down. smoking joe frazier great champion and great man

[@whitedevil4122]

Who had the best knockouts, George Foreman or Bill Cosby?

[@perfecto100]

yeh thats true, i was listening close and about 6 - 7 loud screams for stop it. dont think they were friends or anything, so probably out of compassion

[@CunningStuntsGoFast]

as a dutch guy , and as 'dick'is a dutch name , i find it strange that the name is used in the u.s. people named dick even got famous there , how come ?

[@SkyPilot54]

sad to know truth about cosby

[@ermthewerm]

JOE FRAZIER !!!!!!!!

[@vivalasvegas2090]

Caveat trying to embarrass Joe ?? That's dirty

[@jnhutchinson3]

Uhhhh.....I'd never get in the ring with Foreman!!

[@westyraviz]

Bill Cosby was so handsome ladies!

[@fartbarfunkel]

@baz20881 well they did get into a fist fight on national television that Joe provoked because Ali called him ignorant. So that to me is lacking class. Considering Ali was telling Joe to sit down several times before he stood up and the fight started.

[@SirInTheZONE]

maybe they were good friend's u said they talked trash? no Ali talked trash calling him uncel tony or something which mean's he was a white man's b*tch which he wasn't got joe very angery but he didn't talk back, only bad thing i heard from joe frazier was when ali was lighting the Olimpic touch he said"ali shoulda fell in aswell" as a joke, Ali was a good guy, just saying he was a dick aswell don't really care just saying Joe was much nicer and had more heart.

[@Dylan98654]

His name is Ali! Ali respected Joe Frazier he even said so. All the talking he did was to build up the fight. Ali respected many people outside the black muslims. You've clearly never read a book on him. Examples are Bundini, Dundee, Ferdie Pacheco, Jimmy Ellis. Many people didn't deserve his respect because they disrespected him! Example Patterson, Terrell, anyone who continued to call him Clay!

[@calbo555]

@Fripitto thats mental it sounds exactly like dundee, why would he be shouting that though ? well spotted :)

[@calbo555]

@TheRadicalLiberal he wears a heal on his shoes he isnt that tall