Joe Frazier vs Oscar Bonavena I - Sept. 21, 1966 - Rounds 1 - 3

Joe Frazier vs Oscar Bonavena I
-
Joe Frazier takes on Argentinian Heavyweight Champion, Oscar Bonavena in a 10 round bout at Madison Square Garden. This was the first time Frazier went the distance and because the fight was so close they had a rematch two years later, that fight was for Fraziers heavyweight world title.
-
Their records at the time
Joe Frazier: 11-0
Oscar Bonavena: 21-2

[@loyaldude10]

RIP, Joe Frazier. Wish there was more fighters like you.

[@ronlipton1]

I was right there and saw it live from ringside. What I remember most was after Joe got up both times, we saw fire and determination in his eyes, no fear or worry. That impressed me and my friend.

[@mujemoabraham6522]

How old are you ?

[@ronlipton1]

@@mujemoabraham6522 76

[@mujemoabraham6522]

@@ronlipton1 Wishing you good health

[@ronlipton1]

@@mujemoabraham6522 Thank you Sir, you too for sure.

[@mrsocotraisland1939]

@@ronlipton1 iam happy to know with someone who was there that night stay pretty

[@loyaldude10]

Joe was pretty young at time of this fight, and didnt yet bob and weave to avoid punches. Amazing that he won gold medal with a broken thumb. A real class guy too.

[@manueldi928]

Yeah!

[@johngerard3218]

Bonavena was originally trained by Charlie Goldman who shaped Marciano. But, Oscar did not have Rocky's drive, brains, or willingness to sacrifice and the pair parted company. Too bad, Oscar could have gone even further.

[@mars_bars2397]

Very close to changing the course of history!

[@danhantheman]

damn what a comeback by Frazier, 1 more KD woulda did it. and he stormed back to to beat Bonavena. He's had so many wars of attrition no wonder his career didn't last as long as some of the other all-timers. but while Frazier's championship reign lasted shorter, it burned brightly. RIP Joe

[@victoreduardozoulalian3495]

Que pena que Ringo no lo pudo terminar en el 2 round igual esta en la historia grande del box.Ringo querido nunca te vamos a olvidar.!!!!!

[@BruceinFalkirk]

Good footage. I notice Frazier's narrow escape here and, together with Ali's escape against Henry Cooper, it shows how fine the margin can be between becoming a legend and being an also-ran.

[@manueldi928]

Frazier is a great legend! But Ringo definetely won this fight. Frazier came back through the fight. But Bonavena rocked Frazier more times after this

[@victoreduardozoulalian1025]

GRACIAS RINGO!!!!!!!!!

[@yusufu9]

that right cross that dropped joe was some shot -- and with the second knockdown, joe fell back just like he did against foreman. amazing recovery by the future champion, to beat the tough oscar after those knockdowns.

[@Suzy-Q-Marciano]

Two Great Warriors and Two Great Smokers, Legends,, but that night at Smoking Joe went the smoke in the eyes🥊❤️ poetry boxing

[@syourke3]

Too bad Ali and Frazier did not fight in 1966 or early 1967, before Ali was deprived of the right to fight. That would have been very interesting.

[@akashrathi6813]

Ali would have knocked out Frazier that time.

[@davonbenson4361]

Steven Yourke. The fight wouldn’t have been as interesting. Ali would’ve been way to fast for him.

[@warrendoris9669]

Please Ali would have knocked him da fuck out!🎃

[@urma3137]

Frazier still would have put him on his ass. Speed doesn't matter to Frazier. The constant pressure, the constant body shots. Eventually he would have caught Ali. Frazier was a far better fighter than Ali. Not a better boxer but a better fighter. Ali no Matter what time would be scared shitless of Frazier. I know I would.

[@brucescott4261]

@@urma3137 ...False!

[@ricardovarela5927]

Fue y sera un genio te qeremos RINGO un fenomeno tambien como ser humano.

[@reg5381]

Oscar bonavena could have gone further in his career had he stayed in fighting shape after the ali bout.Oscar liked to party and women.cant argue his logic.bonavena still had an impressive record.

[@trentcleghorn6840]

This fight allways made me have second thoughts about JOE vs ROCKY even though Ringo was bigger than ROCKY he couldn't hit like ROCKY

[@Host.of.Nightmarez]

nice upload

[@dustyrustymusty3577]

Oscar feared no one.

[@uncjim]

Ahh..Johnny Addie doing the introductions and Don Dunphy doing the blow by blow, those were the days. Personally, I can't stand all the pyrotechnics and the "Let's get ready to rumble" garbage that accompanies today's bouts. Let the sport speak for itself. I saw this fight on free TV in my fraternity dining room, one TV for the whole house. When Joe went down, it was a shocker. He was an all time great. Oscar was a tough, tough brawler.

[@albertorm4588]

AGUANTE BONAVENA!

[@RuinaInevitable1]

OSCARRRRRR!!!!! 08:42 RINGOOOOOO!!!! 09:00 BONAVENAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[@lecoexpands]

Ringo Banavena from Buenos Aires, Argentina...put Joe Frazier (an all time great from USA) down twice... Pretty shocking for the nation... Ringo Bonavena could have knocked him out in that very round... Same thing with Ali in Round 9... What a legend!

[@QED_]

Wow. Frazier dodged a bullet in round 2. This is the first I've ever heard that Frazier was down twice in a fight before Foreman.

[@manueldi928]

It would have been a great fight! I think his knockout defeat against Ali was contributed to the fact that he knew that he wouldn't get a decision. So he went for the knockout in the last round, but was caught himself, otherwise he would not have got knocked out

[@brucescott4261]

QED ...That's probably because you weren't around then.

[@QED_]

@@brucescott4261 Actually . . . I was around. Just seemed to have missed this.

[@predferry179]

El personaje de Rocky no está inspirado en Ringo Bonavena. Sylvester Stallone ha reconocido en numerosas ocasiones que lo creó tras fijarse en Chuck Wepner, concretamente en su combate contra Mohammed Alí en 1975. Un boxeador ya mayor, bajo de forma, humilde, ajeno a los grandes éxitos, valiente, encajador y de raza blanca que reta a un gran campeón arrogante y con todas las papeletas para destrozar a su contrincante. Creo que las coincidencias son más que evidentes. Su otra gran inspiración fue, sin duda, el propio Joe Frazier. Al igual que él en la vida real, Rocky Balboa también vive en Philadelphia, donde trabaja en un matadero y se entrena subiendo las escaleras del Museo de Arte de la ciudad. Tampoco es casual que Smokin' Joe haga un cameo en Rocky III, interpretándose a sí mismo. En cuanto al paralelismo entre los orígenes y el apellido de Balboa-Bonavena, Stallone no tuve que irse tan lejos. Su inspiración fue su propia ascendencia italiana, muy evidente además en su aspecto físico. Difícilmente podria interpretar a un boxeador irlandés o centroeuropeo. En cuanto a Bonavena, aún siendo buen boxeador, demostró estar un escalón por debajo de los más grandes, con todo el mérito que ello implica. Atribuir sus derrotas contra ellos a supuestos amaños arbitrales me parece insostenible. Aquí mismo tenemos las imágenes que lo confirman.

[@vgr112261]

Fighters today are bigger, yes, men like Frazier and Bonavena were so much more skilled as boxers. Look at the head movement, jabbing.

[@yusufu9]

ringo bonavena was one strong dude. would have been interesting if he had fought big george foreman.

[@loyaldude10]

@greenrate --Oscar gave Joe trouble twice. He was fortunate to win this one

[@boothdos]

Joe lost this fight. I remember it well.

[@LeviJohansen]

@MrSladeTheBlade hmm..... I have no idea. but there is some color at the bottom of the screen. lol

[@conexo4668]

LE ARRANCO LA CABEZA!! LO DEJO EN PILOTO AUTOMATICO A LOS SALTITOS!!! INCREIBLE ZAPALLAZO.. Frazier is looking for his head

[@claudiodipaola5845]

Y este rincooonn... Oscar Ringo Bonavenaaaa...de pie señores...Q guapea BONAVENA....!!!!

[@ryangibson2061]

and the world is round :)))

[@LeviJohansen]

@Nemesis2151 thanks!

[@predferry179]

Esta foto de Stallone y Wepner ilustra un artículo en el que se hace referencia al documental "The real Rocky", donde se describe la relación entre el boxeador real y el personaje: latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/10/chuck-wepner-examines-his-rocky-life-in-epsns-the-real-rocky.html

[@johngranato2673]

Oscar was tough as nails--tragic end to his life.

[@wildbill2122]

Ringo Bonavena won this fight, had it been in Buenos Aires, Ringo's hometown, instead of Fraziers hometown of Philadelphia Ringo, no doubt, gets his hand raised.

[@thespy7795]

The fight was in Madison Square Garden....New York.

[@wildbill2122]

@@thespy7795 NO, not the 1st fight from 1966, that was in Fraziers hometown of Philadelphia. The 2nd Frazier fight may have been at MSG, IDK. BUT MSG is where Bonavena got KO'd in the 15TH Round after Ali did not go to his corner and instead hit Bonavena as soon as he tried to get up and should have been disqualified, but NO !!

[@thespy7795]

@@wildbill2122 I drove to the fight with Benny Briscoe, former Philadelphia Middleweight contender and Chuck Wepner, yeah THAT Wepner. I was scouting the fight for Ali. Listen to Don Dumpty tell you where the fight is taking place. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnmYeHagbsd3kJY

[@wildbill2122]

@@thespy7795 If You kno the Bayonne Bleeder, thats good enough for me, Bro !

[@gianlucamazzoleni4965]

Ringo had won this fight!

[@davonbenson4361]

Gianluca Mazzoleni. I agree.

[@ruffknight9549]

I agree also. And Ringo was prettier than Ali.

[@lucasquemero5544]

Rocky Balboa is Ringo Bonavena

[@sheekputa5420]

Sento. De raja dos veces a freisier y a este lo ayudaton en el conteo, le dieron todo el tiempo del mundo y bonavena honrado le dio todo el tiempi del mundo. Le pudo haber ganado demas a este weon. Con ali la misma hueva, pero ali a la mafia no le diero ni una oportunidad al argentino. Grande bonavenaz irxa estados unidos en esa época y hacer tamaña gracia.

[@bannavaungvivat6764]

My score card R 1. Frazier 10 Ringo 10 R 2 Frazier 7 Ringo 10 R 3 Frazier 10 Ringo 9 R 4 Frazier 10 Ringo 9 R 5 Frazier 10 Ringo 9 R 6Frazier 10 Ringo 10 R7 Frazier 10 Ringo 9 R8 Frazier 9 Ringo 10 R 9 Frazier 10 Ringo 9 R10 Frazier 9 Ringo 10 115-115 exactly fair point.

[@Jeronimus8090]

8:40 8:58

[@juanamericocaceres3018]

Con mike tayson no hubiera tenido chance igual grande ringo

[@idrissalaam8629]

Had Ringo been a polished fighter, he would have knocked Frazier out in 2.

[@LeviJohansen]

@TG7111P well, you're welcome! :D

[@Kedbuka]

@primeboxers hilarious!

[@MrSladeTheBlade]

Don Dumphy starts his comments out by saying "In Color from Madison Square Garden" - has anyone seen the Color version? For years all I've seen is this BW version - any ideas were the Color footage might be?

[@aquabono]

08:40 wow Bonavena, italian-argentino stallion 08:58

[@manueldi928]

Argentino!

[@giuseppegrillino78]

Italiano...orgoglio Italiano

[@giuseppegrillino78]

@Marcos siete italiani per me un italiano sarâ sempre anche uno persona con nonni o genitori italiani!un grande abbraccio a tutti voi italiani d'argentina

[@giuseppegrillino78]

@Marcos comunque mi auguro un giorno di poter venire a visitare l'Argentina una terra con una splendida natura..e grazie anche a voi Italiani che da generazioni siete lì con gente meravigliosa!senza dimenticare il patrimonio dell'umanitâ..."il Tango'

[@giuseppegrillino78]

@Marcos Nicolino Locche L'intoccabile...un altro patrimonio italiano della boxe...un Grande della boxe

[@44043495]

Oscar the greatest strongest fighter ever.

[@josephgibbons1631]

The announcer said Frazier was nearly 6 ft tall... I met Joe Frazier in the late 1970's....no way he was more than 5' 9" max.

[@akashrathi6813]

Frazier was 5' 11.5''.

[@MuslehFaiz]

Quite the exaggeration there. He was about 5'11' in his boxing days

[@thespy7795]

Joe was a Bona fide 5-11.5

[@mray1255]

Old dudes keep dragging up rocky raccoon, the 180 lb little dude that would have stood up about 30-40 seconds against Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Tyson, etc. just stop it.

[@prowrestlingclassicsofthe7215]

If you are referring to Marciano, While he might not have beaten any of the guys you mentioned saying they'd stop him in 30 seconds is irresponsible. The guy was the most conditioned fighter probably in history and had more heart than anyone. Ali wins every round probably in a Dec if he fights smart and doesn't toy with him,Young Foreman would have to get him early or the 2nd half of the fight would gget really interesting, frazier I think is too much like rocky and probably would have won an absolute war type of bout with lots of punches landed. Tyson who is my all time favorite would either stop himin the first 3 rounds or gas out and be knocked out himself like he lost against Buster Douglas. Shape is more important than anything because once the legs are gone the power and skill is gone too. Foremans KO loss against Ali was exahustion more than being beat up. Important to note it was also in 100 degree heat so saying Foreman didn't have stamina is also irresponsible (other loss to Jimmy Young was in extreme heat as well).

[@dempsey981]

@yusufu9 yes interesting,like lyle foreman .i think it would be toe toe and george would prevail,bet on it

[@LeviJohansen]

@BringerOfTheTruth I agree, they suck donkeyballz!

[@elijahgutierrez5554]

The bashful cloudy naively impress because postbox totally radiate given a complex reduction. debonair, inconclusive watchmaker

[@raulurrajr.7403]

IF that Joe Fraizer fought Muhammad Ali a lot sooner when Ali was in his Prime like if they fought around 67 or 68 then he would have lost againts Ali it would have been no contest!!! When Ali was in his Prime nobody could beat him he would have beaten the Sheat out of Fraizer!!! Fraizer was so lucky that he fought Ali when the Greatest stoped fighting for 3 years because of his stripped of his title because of all the fiasco of Veitnam that really slowed down Ali a lot. That's a fact to reckon with!