Joe Frazier was indestructible from 1968 to 1971. after 71, frazier gained a lot of weight and his punches and head movement and speed slowed down a lot. at 205 pounds, frazier was an animal. he lost that speed once he started fight at 215 plus pounds.he also lost some power in his left hook because since his speed slowed down and was heavier, he couldn't deliver the same speed and force from his left hook.
There is an interview with George Foreman after the 1st fight with Joe where Foreman said he knew, his camp knew that Joe was partying a lot since Joes bout with Ali, after Joe beat ALi it was like there was nothing else to accomplish and Joe partying and got himself out of fighting shape. joe was fat and overconfident against George and got his ass kicked.
The most beautiful video to watch. The dance of Frazier and Mathis was breathtaking. In a time where things seemed so pure and classic. The simplicity of the commercials, the whistles and roars of the crowd. Everything from the voice of the announcer to the dramatic knockout was just poetic.
After Joe finished battering you senseless you WISH he had knocked you out in round one! He’s like some bruising NFL running back who gets stronger in the fourth quarter.
I'm not sure that reach is such an overwhelming advantage; there have been too many great champions with a short reach. They seemi to have an inherent advantage once they get inside.
@@BoxingFightsByGaryWilson absolutely. They don't make em like Smokin Joe anymore. When he turns around for the first round against Ali, he looked like animal that's about to chase his prey.
@@johnd.597 so I've heard. As much as I love Joe, he hit close to low on some occasions so with hiked up trunks, it's definitely gonna make him look bad.
As one documentary stated, 100 Frazier hooks to the stomach did their work in cutting Mathis down to size. Every round, it was more obvious how much pain/nausea Buster was in, in how he increasingly bent over, bringing his head dangerously close to Joe's fists.
24 year old Joe Frazier time really flies.. A bygone era even if you were in your 20s at this time you’re in you’re late 70s and eighties today just think how many ppl that were alive in 1968 which would be billions across the world at the time are mostly dead in 2023.. Appreciate life it goes by fast
Man. Joe threw his punches with such conviction. If he made you fall, you'd hate to get back up just to take more of that. If you did get up, it's hard to go back into the trenches with him with the bravery you once had. Smokin Joe was a scary man.
Joe 68/72 was a beast of a fighter who seemed to get stronger as the fight worn on, that can be seen in his first outing with Ali. He wasn't quite the same by the time he fought Foreman but could still give most fighters a run for their money.
@@BoxingFightsByGaryWilson it almost seemed to me that Frazier kind of gave it his all to beat Ali in 71. Not to say he was done after that but he gave so much to win. Even if only for a moment, he looked unstoppable though
@@Ffeoli1039 Absolutely, he was a pressure fighter & history states they tend to have a shortened career when compared with boxers who look to use their reach & stay out of harms way.
@@BoxingFightsByGaryWilson No non-American heavyweight is ever going to be widely considered GOAT. The national and nostalgia bias of the boxing community is absolutely ridiculous. These all time rankings are a complete joke, bought and paid for by deep state elites. Even Lennox is ranked outside of the top 10 by the Ring and BoxRec. Liston is ranked over Lewis and Wlad by the Ring despite being a can crusher with literally 1 title defense. Wlad is the only non-American ranked within the top ten on either list and despite being the longest reigning champ ever with the most opponents beaten in title fights he still somehow comes up below Dempsey and Patterson of all people. Oh and apparently Lennox Lewis doesn't measure up to Harry Wills lol. Follow the money trails for answers.
Buster Mathis threw some solid shots at Frazier and had suprising stamina for a big man. Just imagine how much he would have benefited slimmed down with a trainer like Eddie Futch...
Buster was a talented fighter but according to most that knew him and worked with him professionally Buster just wasnt fully committed to boxing, some even thought he really didnt want to hurt anyone.Not dissing Buster at all, some folks just aint cut out for the bloodsport of boxing.
Joe in his book said that Buster Mathis was too nice of a guy and didn't really want to put in the work to be a great fighter. Buster was a decent heavyweight, not a great heavyweight.
@@davissinclair4945 Well good enough for being number two contender for half of the heavyweight title. I agree with you that there were more much deserving of a shot. The problem is both Ali and Frazier had already beaten most of them.
You said it, this is Smokin' Joe at his very best. Buster Mathis was no joke! Also, thank you for including these commercials. Younger people should be able to fully experience the Friday Night Fights. Now, UFC is serving that need.
1:52 look at the way Joe stares Buster down,standing stalk still while Buster is rocking back and forth,this is EXACTLY how George stared Joe down,standing stalk still while Joe was rocking back and forth.
This was a great video and fight! I love how the old commercials are included. I just basically stumbled upon your channel being a boxing fan myself and now have a new subscriber!💪🏾🇵🇷
Frazier certainly was a great fighter no question, anyone who outworks & knocks down the great Muhammad Ali over 15 rounds was his equal, in my opinion.
Frazier was an amazing specimen of a fighter! Head movement, short tight punches to the body and head, leverage on his punches, constantly moving, punches thrown with pin point accuracy. Such precision! Like an artist! Physical genius but he burned out early, like Tyson. Frazier trained and fought with such intensity that his body gave out. But at his best, he was awesome.
Four years earlier, Mathis beat Frazier in the finals of the Olympic trials and was to be the USA heavyweight representative at the Olympics in Tokyo that year but he injured his hand so Frazier went in his place and won a gold medal; the rest is history!,,,
Yes, Mathis was an excellent amateur and pro, heavy but that didn't seem to affect him., i recall his son turning pro and didn't quite have what it took, kind of like Frazier's son, it wasn't really there. What do you reckon on Frazier v Tyson? I think Frazier could have beaten Mike, i recently saw footage of Frazier sparring Ken Norton and he battered him, there are only a select few who i would pick over Frazier.
Frazier vs. Tyson is a tough pick. Frazier was a slow starter, needed 2 rounds under his belt to get going, Tyson was the opposite; if Tyson didn’t get him early, Frazier would have wore him down and knocked him out in later rounds, Mike was a strong puncher but had a stamina problem if he was pressed to go hard against an opponent who was hitting him back for several rounds, the Holyfield and Douglas fights proved that,,,
@@BoxingFightsByGaryWilson Tyson had trouble against inside fighters. Joe Frazier's head would be on Tyson's chest for 12 rounds. Frazier was bigger than Tyson. Tyson 5.10. Frazier nearly 6 feet. same weight 215 pounds. Frazier won against tougher opponents. had stamina and knock out power for 15 rounds. Tyson had 5 rounds or 6 rounds of stamina. Frazier never ever got KO-ed and only George Foreman managed and bit him up TKO. Tyson got KO-ed by bums. So I think Frazier at his best would bit Tyson at his best. and overall Frazier was a greater boxer than Tyson. easily in the top 5.
In his autobiography, Frazier described the difference between himself and Buster, calling Mathis a nice guy who really had no killer instinct, not a natural predator. Frazier was ruthless in taking out his opponents, admitting he would knock his own mother out of the ring if she tried to take away his title. Joe could not believe how casual and carefree Mathis was in Tokyo when he had to bow out due to a hand injury, laughing and smiling, wishing Frazier good luck. "You'd never know this guy had just lost an opportunity to fight for his country and an Olympic medal!" Before the injury it was said Buster was the life of the Olympic village, athletes from other countries attracted to his charm and smile.
Classic Frazier win and huge justification for replacing BM in Olympics. In the interview after the fight, Joe’s language was clear and lucid. Compare that to his speech patterns after 2000 and it’s quite remarkable.
@@keithcampbell6806 Frazier would have felt proud that he had passed Mathis, as a boxer. It’s more of a personal victory, but significant. Plus F had managed to win the gold medal so he must have felt destined to succeed. My other point was how articulate he was after the Mathis bout, as a young fighter.
@@BruceAChristie I understand your point about how Frazier felt after this bout since Mathis defeated Smokin' Joe at the 1964 Olympic Trials. It was sweet revenge.
I’ve come back to this fight countless times over the past few years. I reckon I’ve seen it over 20 times. Joe Frazier and Harold Johnson are my favourite
I really think this fight was an important one for Joe, Mathis did have some wonderful footwork and agility for such a big man, jOe really learns to cut off the ring in this fight against Mathis that would prove to be very valuable to Joe in the future when he fought Ali. Not that Buster was in Ali's class of speed but Buster was agile and on his toes. I think this experience not only for a championship recognition but for learning to cut off the ring was an important step for Smokin Joe.
Joe Frazier was larger than the average man but as a heavyweight boxer, he was considered a small man. He had the heart of a warrior, and that bob and weave style was very different than most fighters. Mathis was a fine fighter in his own right but not in the class of a Joe Frazier. It was great seeing the legendary Jim McKay again. The commercials were also entertaining. Thanks for posting this fight.
The biggest myth in boxing particularly the legendary heavyweight division is that size and weight are insurmountable. If you genuinely believe Klitschko and Fury beat all historical heavyweights, and that Dempsey,Ali, Joe Louis couldn't beat any modern ones I suggest you join a gym.
Watching this fight after listening to joes autobriography on audible, free right now for members. The book really made me appreciate the man behind the gloves. I always liked his style of boxing, but hardly any programing went in depth with joe. Joe is a stand up guy , really admirable. I recommend everyone read/listen to his book.
I've read just about every Smokin Joe book out there. All the auto biographies are good but a good short read would be "Smokin Joe Frazier, Eternal Badass:Life Lessons from a Legend" extremely entertaining, written by some guy who was trained by him.
@@Ffeoli1039 hey man, I just saw the book but I’m a little short on money, I was wondering if there were a free version of it somewhere. I really want to read that book.
there were only two ways you could beat Joe Frazier ...you either had to outbox him, like Ali did in their 2nd and 3rd fights, or you had had to overpower him, the way George Foreman did ...if you couldn't do that, you were in for a real bad night! BTW, Joe beat Ali in the Fight of the Century no matter what Ali said later and in their last fight in Manilla, Ali told Angelo to cut his gloves off after the 14th round ....Angelo pretended not to hear Ali's request, he knew Joe was in a lot trouble at the end of the 14th round and he was trying to buy time to see what would happen in Joe's corner and sure enough, Eddie Futch had seen Frazier taking shots to his face he never saw coming and stopped the fight ...we can argue that decision, but at least Joe didn't end up as damaged as Ali was at the end of their respective careers
Mathis constantly giving up his height and crouching down like Frazier and not moving. Its like walking into a wasp nest. I dont know if that was something his corner had him do or if it was a bad habit but it was stupid and may be the main reason he lost . You never give up your height if you are taller and you never crouch down to the level of your opponent if hes a croucher and you certainly never crouch down and just stay there without moving at all.
@@rjsheen5241 Good point. Frazier's body attack is what beat the better fighters and you see Mathis crouch down after he gets hit to the body several times. the thing is though, crouching down like that actually makes your body more vulnerable. You take your head away from the punches but your body becomes exposed with no defense and no eyes to see the punches coming.
The size difference here was amazing! Mathis was big as a middle linebacker at the time (same size as Butkus) and Joe was not only barely out of cruiser in weight, but in fact at best 5'10 NOT 5.11.5 anymore than Tyson was. You can see where Buster's style and stamina would work for the amateurs, but Joe's for the pros. This fight was a perfectly tuned chainsaw against a wet log.
@marshall Selvarajan 5'10 max. His son told me 5'10 but Foreman said "Joe never saw 5'10." When I stood eye to eye to shake hands with Joe after roadwork together I felt at least 2" taller and I'm 6 even.
I'd pick Frazier 68/72 to beat Liston, though i'm not sure on Foreman, i suspect it would always have been a bad style match up for Joe, though he may have done a little better.
@@BoxingFightsByGaryWilson I beg to differ. Foreman was Liston's student so it makes sense why they share similar styles. Regardless of which Frazier shows up Liston beats Frazier simply because of physical mismatch and simply just a style that is all-wrong for Frazier. Even on Liston's worst day, Frazier at his best simply cannot overcome the mismatch. I'd say TKO Liston round 3 if not earlier. I usually say size does not matter but if the bigger guy has more skill and puts his size to good use, it does. In this scenario, size does matter.
@@SimplyThatGuy12 Don't agree, Liston was not nearly as aggressive as Foreman & Frazier would have gotten underneath & done damage, Liston was barely 6'1" & not much bigger than Frazier, certainly in no way the mismatch you say, my money is on Frazier.
The epitome of a slow motion knockout. Frazier's last punch, a glancing blow almost easy to miss, was the finishing touch on eleven rounds of pummelling, the cherry on the sundae. I almost wonder if Mathis was so dizzy and tired he was ready to fall without even being hit. It was like Joe was Captain Ahab with unlimited harpoons and Buster was the White Whale. "Tharrrr she bloooooows!!!!"
If size really mattered, mathis was supposed to knock frazier out at least in round 2.. but as u can see size dont mean nothing when u have the heart of a 🦁 rip frazier
@@winstondurden4427 Going to get myself into trouble with viewers, the Frazier who beat Ali would have survived a torrid opener to slowly impose his will on Tyson, stopping him late. I do regard 80's Tyson as a great fighter & could see him stopping Frazier early as Joe was a notoriously slow starter but would lean towards him stopping Tyson late.
I believe if Ali hadn't been stripped they probably would of fought in late '69 or '70. . Yank Durham Frazier's manager wouldn't of rushed the fight with Ali. He would of played it smart and made sure Joe was 100% ready for Ali.
@@reinaldomanuel8488 frazier fought better opponents than ali. The only fighter ali fought in his first reign as champ that was any good was George Chuvalo. Frazier fought the top tier of heavyweights. Trust me- he would've destroyed clay.
@@danielsalinas6683 Joe wouldn't even get near Sonny Liston at that time... And as we all know, Ali beat Sonny twice! Ali also kayoed Bonavena who knocked down Joe twice... 😂
@@kaspafischer Ali beat Sonny twice? He beat him the first time when he was clay. But I wonder alot about the rematch. I've heard the noi kidnapped sonny's wife and kid and held them hostage so sonny could throw the fight.
Thinking of large heavies who struggled with their weight, how would a fight go between Buster Mathis and Buster Douglas? Would the stream of sweat have created a slip and slide? Would either have stood a chance against Riddick Bowe?
Hard to predict as both guys were underachievers, though talented & capable of pulling off an upset. If pushed i would say Douglas beats Mathis. As for Bowe, on paper, i would favour him to beat both guys but with reservation, Bowe was often troubled with boxers who could move & jab but all that said, if focused & fit, he beats them.
MLK would die exactly one month later. I know this has nothing to do with the match but the history loving side of me couldn’t help but think about it. I really enjoyed the commercials by the way.
***WOW MATHIS IS INTENSE --- FAST LIKE A CAT --- REALLY MAKES FRAZIER LOOK RATHER ORDINARY --- FOREMAN I'M SURE LEARNED A LOT FROM WATCHING THIS FIGHT***
Foreman learnt from watching his 1st title defence against Ramos. Ramos delivered a thunderous right uppercut that nearly floored the newly crowned champion. Foreman took that on board in there title fight 1973, and delivered a uppercut that dramatically destroyed Frazier
why not knockdown at 25:34?! Buster punched and Joe went down. So DUMB for Buster to lean over and in to Joe like that! So much for using his reach and height
Joe was very brave fighter, not afraid of counter punches & continued moving forward, but his indestructibility seems true up to 1971 but this style proved a liability when he fought Muhammad Ali in that year. Though Muhammad Ali lost his come back fight in 1971 but he gave him such heavy beating that Frazier had experienced none in past, you only have to see the scene, when at the end of that fight, Frazier opened his mouth to scold Ali before turning back towards his corner, Frazier's mouth was red with blood & his whole face was swollen with marks of fresh beatings. He won but he paid heavy price and later was not the same fighter, probably it was up to then in 1971, Ali's most fiercely contested fight, in which Ali was head to head up to the 12th round with Frazier, who had to face Ali's fierce & swift counter punching for 13 rounds, which Frazier was not accustomed to & never in the past he had fought such a ferocious contest (receiving savage counter punches) & a boxer as talented as Ali. Thus this fight was the pivot after which Frazier's performance declined though he was only 27 years old at that time, it had to do with the beating he received from Muhammad Ali.
Good afternoon l read your post in it's entirety more than once. Let me correct you once and for all. The first Frazier vs Alli fight should never be described as a come back fight for Alli. Alli had beaten Bonavena and Quarry before facing Joe. These are facts unless you are trying in a subtle way to diminish Frazier s victory.
Frazier was a glass act-no racist/racial comments from him at all, unlike that clay fellow who made his loss vs joe a racial issue. *Just fuckin box ffs people*
I don't like to bad mouth Ali too much. Great fighter even though I don't agree with his racial views most of the time. But yes, Joe only was malicious towards one man and it's hard to blame him. Besides that, Joe was a classy man with a big heart and even bigger heart outside the ring, as impossible as that seems to be.
Good morning Buster Mathis was a very good boxer who with discipline could've achieved more as a boxer. Like his namesake Buster Douglas big tall skillfull but lacked the discipline to get and stay in shape. Joe is one of my favourite boxers but as a sports fanatic l have learned to be honest and objective in my analysis.
@@mr.t658 Joe would kill Douglas. Only 2 men beat Joe. The Greatest Fighter that EVER lived - Muhammad Ali and The Strongest and Hardest Puncher that EVER Lived - George Foreman. Tyson got his ass kicked by EVERYBODY. Bums, Retreads and Champs! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Fraizer was outweighed by nearly 40 pounds, people forget that heavyweights arent the only good punchers/boxers, this proves it by practically a cruiserweight stopping a heavyweight...
Holyfield was essentially a cruiserweight who built himself up to take on the big boys & did very well at it, beating the likes of Foreman, Bowe, Mercer, Moorer & Tyson & became the first man to drop Mercer & Bowe, it was quite remarkable what he achieved when you consider his natural weight was 13 stone.
@@Bronco_Billy_Jack_Hills Ali was light heavy at 18 ,he was actually a full fledged heavyweight who came down in weight for his fights .far under his normal body weight .He generally weighed in over 210 for his fights ,even in the 60's ,and that is after striping of 15-20 lbs in training .I heard him say on a video that his walk around weight between fights was 230lbs in the 60's .most of the time in the 70's he was 220 when he weighed in for his fights ,and when in shape Ali had very defined abs.he was as big as lyle and Foreman or Holmes how was he a cruiser weight?Their whole philophacy is different now.now when they weigh in its over their natural weight.
@@evanbarr9270 It comes as a shock that both George Foreman and Ken Norton would be two of the lightest fighters the Klitschko brothers have ever faced. George Foreman, whom they called "Big George" had an average median weight of 217 lbs through the entire 1970s. Foreman would be in the BOTTOM-3 of Vitali Klitshcko's LIGHTEST opponents he ever faced. And Ken Norton (208 lbs) would be in Wladimir Kliitschko's BOTTOM-2 LIGHTEST opponents he ever faced.
@@Bronco_Billy_Jack_Hills norton also weighed 220 for his fights after 74 .but that is not my point the heavy weight fighters in the older times 60's-70's weighed in at a "fighting weight" they did not bulk up .sure Klitsko would be bigger he 6-7 or whatever he is .I was saying Ali was not a cruiser weight he actually was a 220 l bs heavyweight.Holyfield without weights and roids is 195 -200 lbs. he was a cruiser weight.
@@Bronco_Billy_Jack_Hills yeah so .?Ali weighed about 220-225 for the ones in the 70's he fought guys that where not bulked ,he also fought huge guys to .
Joe Frazier’s Occupation Outside Of The Ring Was A Butcher. That’s How Come He Had That Killer Instinct In The Ring, That’s Why He Knew How To Hit Opponents On Their Internal Organs Which Caused Fighters Great Pain And Slowed Them Down!!!
Not completely Joe Frazier never looked better in stopping Jerry Quarry in 5 rounds in June 1974 at Madison Square Garden but your right. In most of his fights he looked alot stronger from 1957 to 1971
I've been waiting for a decent copy of Frazier/Mathis for years! Great, thank you Gary Wilson.
Cheers, it means a lot that people appreciate the channel and some of the fights i upload.
Yes that's awesome thank you Gary
Joe Frazier was indestructible from 1968 to 1971. after 71, frazier gained a lot of weight and his punches and head movement and speed slowed down a lot. at 205 pounds, frazier was an animal. he lost that speed once he started fight at 215 plus pounds.he also lost some power in his left hook because since his speed slowed down and was heavier, he couldn't deliver the same speed and force from his left hook.
Yes absolutely, he didn't knock down and out fight Ali by accident, he was a great fighter in his own right.
@@gringodelsur7971 He knocked Ali down and he out fought him
Yes, good comment. During those years, he was definitely the best. Smoking Joe!
Gringo del sur
I would say from 1964 to 1971 .
There is an interview with George Foreman after the 1st fight with Joe where Foreman said he knew, his camp knew that Joe was partying a lot since Joes bout with Ali, after Joe beat ALi it was like there was nothing else to accomplish and Joe partying and got himself out of fighting shape. joe was fat and overconfident against George and got his ass kicked.
Bless you Bro for providing these extremely rare fights.They dont make Em like these guys no more🥊
You're very welcome and thank you for taking the time to watch and check out my channel, i do appreciate it!
The most beautiful video to watch. The dance of Frazier and Mathis was breathtaking. In a time where things seemed so pure and classic. The simplicity of the commercials, the whistles and roars of the crowd. Everything from the voice of the announcer to the dramatic knockout was just poetic.
Thank you sir, very kind comments, are you Rey Perez the boxer?
After Joe finished battering you senseless you WISH he had knocked you out in round one! He’s like some bruising NFL running back who gets stronger in the fourth quarter.
Essentially he's John Riggins.
@@stevecvino EXACTLY!! And I did roadwork with Joe in '78
@@ancientarchie1463 who was better joe or OJ
Yeah except RB’s don’t last as long as Smokin Joe did…
Just listened to Fraziers biography on audible, great stuff!!! My favorite athlete ever!!
Who else thinks Joe is waaay underrated on the p4p lists? I mean, just imagine what would've happened if he was Ali's size.
Today he would be at cruiserweight, imagine the domination he would have in that division.
I'm not sure that reach is such an overwhelming advantage; there have been too many great champions with a short reach. They seemi to have an inherent advantage once they get inside.
That stare down was intense. You know Smokin Joe wanted this one bad after losing to him as an amateur.
Absolutely, Frazier 68/72 was a beast of a fighter.
@@BoxingFightsByGaryWilson absolutely. They don't make em like Smokin Joe anymore. When he turns around for the first round against Ali, he looked like animal that's about to chase his prey.
It wasn’t so much Joe’s fault, anyways. Mathis had his trunks so high that legitimate body shots were counted as fouls.
@@johnd.597 so I've heard. As much as I love Joe, he hit close to low on some occasions so with hiked up trunks, it's definitely gonna make him look bad.
As one documentary stated, 100 Frazier hooks to the stomach did their work in cutting Mathis down to size. Every round, it was more obvious how much pain/nausea Buster was in, in how he increasingly bent over, bringing his head dangerously close to Joe's fists.
Great, fantastic and immortal Joe Frazier!!! Respect forever!!!
Size difference is absurd. Mathis was a huge heavyweight back in those days
And a FAT one, lol
@@entertainingsportshighligh7525 fat but pretty slick and agile
24 year old Joe Frazier time really flies.. A bygone era even if you were in your 20s at this time you’re in you’re late 70s and eighties today just think how many ppl that were alive in 1968 which would be billions across the world at the time are mostly dead in 2023.. Appreciate life it goes by fast
agreed. crazy how 2020 was already 4 years ago for example.
Man. Joe threw his punches with such conviction. If he made you fall, you'd hate to get back up just to take more of that. If you did get up, it's hard to go back into the trenches with him with the bravery you once had. Smokin Joe was a scary man.
Joe 68/72 was a beast of a fighter who seemed to get stronger as the fight worn on, that can be seen in his first outing with Ali. He wasn't quite the same by the time he fought Foreman but could still give most fighters a run for their money.
@@BoxingFightsByGaryWilson it almost seemed to me that Frazier kind of gave it his all to beat Ali in 71. Not to say he was done after that but he gave so much to win. Even if only for a moment, he looked unstoppable though
@@Ffeoli1039 Absolutely, he was a pressure fighter & history states they tend to have a shortened career when compared with boxers who look to use their reach & stay out of harms way.
Yes indeed bro🔥🔥🔥🔥❤️🙏
@@BoxingFightsByGaryWilson No non-American heavyweight is ever going to be widely considered GOAT. The national and nostalgia bias of the boxing community is absolutely ridiculous. These all time rankings are a complete joke, bought and paid for by deep state elites. Even Lennox is ranked outside of the top 10 by the Ring and BoxRec. Liston is ranked over Lewis and Wlad by the Ring despite being a can crusher with literally 1 title defense. Wlad is the only non-American ranked within the top ten on either list and despite being the longest reigning champ ever with the most opponents beaten in title fights he still somehow comes up below Dempsey and Patterson of all people. Oh and apparently Lennox Lewis doesn't measure up to Harry Wills lol. Follow the money trails for answers.
Buster Mathis threw some solid shots at Frazier and had suprising stamina for a big man. Just imagine how much he would have benefited slimmed down with a trainer like Eddie Futch...
Buster was a talented fighter but according to most that knew him and worked with him professionally Buster just wasnt fully committed to boxing, some even thought he really didnt want to hurt anyone.Not dissing Buster at all, some folks just aint cut out for the bloodsport of boxing.
@@hammer44head oh, I agree! It take a special kind of person to enter the boxing ring knowing the dangers.
Joe in his book said that Buster Mathis was too nice of a guy and didn't really want to put in the work to be a great fighter. Buster was a decent heavyweight, not a great heavyweight.
@@davissinclair4945 Well good enough for being number two contender for half of the heavyweight title. I agree with you that there were more much deserving of a shot. The problem is both Ali and Frazier had already beaten most of them.
Joe Frazier was indestructible from 1968 to 197Foreman.
He certainly was, those were Frazier's peak years.
You said it, this is Smokin' Joe at his very best. Buster Mathis was no joke! Also, thank you for including these commercials. Younger people should be able to fully experience the Friday Night Fights. Now, UFC is serving that need.
Thanks for keeping those old commercials in. I was 10 years old in 1968 and I remember some of them.
1:52 look at the way Joe stares Buster down,standing stalk still while Buster is rocking back and forth,this is EXACTLY how George stared Joe down,standing stalk still while Joe was rocking back and forth.
Reminds me of the Tyson vs Nckneely stare down
This was a great video and fight! I love how the old commercials are included. I just basically stumbled upon your channel being a boxing fan myself and now have a new subscriber!💪🏾🇵🇷
Cheers thank you, great to see people enjoying the fights, very much appreciated sir.
Joe Frazier was a great boxer.
Equal to Muhammad Ali.
Very cool.
Very disciplined.
Very human.
I love him equal to Muhammad Ali.
Frazier certainly was a great fighter no question, anyone who outworks & knocks down the great Muhammad Ali over 15 rounds was his equal, in my opinion.
He wasn't really disciplined, but he was motivated, and he was a hard worker
Frazier was an amazing specimen of a fighter! Head movement, short tight punches to the body and head, leverage on his punches, constantly moving, punches thrown with pin point accuracy. Such precision! Like an artist! Physical genius but he burned out early, like Tyson. Frazier trained and fought with such intensity that his body gave out. But at his best, he was awesome.
Four years earlier, Mathis beat Frazier in the finals of the Olympic trials and was to be the USA heavyweight representative at the Olympics in Tokyo that year but he injured his hand so Frazier went in his place and won a gold medal; the rest is history!,,,
Yes, Mathis was an excellent amateur and pro, heavy but that didn't seem to affect him., i recall his son turning pro and didn't quite have what it took, kind of like Frazier's son, it wasn't really there. What do you reckon on Frazier v Tyson? I think Frazier could have beaten Mike, i recently saw footage of Frazier sparring Ken Norton and he battered him, there are only a select few who i would pick over Frazier.
Frazier vs. Tyson is a tough pick. Frazier was a slow starter, needed 2 rounds under his belt to get going, Tyson was the opposite; if Tyson didn’t get him early, Frazier would have wore him down and knocked him out in later rounds, Mike was a strong puncher but had a stamina problem if he was pressed to go hard against an opponent who was hitting him back for several rounds, the Holyfield and Douglas fights proved that,,,
@@rickallen8158 I agree with that, for Tyson to have defeated Frazier it would had to have been by early KO.
@@BoxingFightsByGaryWilson Tyson had trouble against inside fighters.
Joe Frazier's head would be on Tyson's chest for 12 rounds. Frazier was bigger than Tyson. Tyson 5.10. Frazier nearly 6 feet. same weight 215 pounds.
Frazier won against tougher opponents. had stamina and knock out power for 15 rounds. Tyson had 5 rounds or 6 rounds of stamina.
Frazier never ever got KO-ed and only George Foreman managed and bit him up TKO. Tyson got KO-ed by bums.
So I think Frazier at his best would bit Tyson at his best.
and overall Frazier was a greater boxer than Tyson. easily in the top 5.
@@dankemo3169 Thank you so much for spending the time to look at my video's & channel, i do appreciate it, cheers!
Classic joe Frazier breakdown of a opponent. Work the body and the rest is History..SMOKIN JOE FRAZIER!
In his autobiography, Frazier described the difference between himself and Buster, calling Mathis a nice guy who really had no killer instinct, not a natural predator. Frazier was ruthless in taking out his opponents, admitting he would knock his own mother out of the ring if she tried to take away his title. Joe could not believe how casual and carefree Mathis was in Tokyo when he had to bow out due to a hand injury, laughing and smiling, wishing Frazier good luck. "You'd never know this guy had just lost an opportunity to fight for his country and an Olympic medal!" Before the injury it was said Buster was the life of the Olympic village, athletes from other countries attracted to his charm and smile.
Corey Roberts, I knew the late buster Mathis,sr. He was a hell of a boxer, and a great man to talk too!! Rest in peace Big buster Mathis!!!
Classic Frazier win and huge justification for replacing BM in Olympics. In the interview after the fight, Joe’s language was clear and lucid. Compare that to his speech patterns after 2000 and it’s quite remarkable.
Good afternoon the replacement was only because of injury. I don't understand your comment.
@@keithcampbell6806 Frazier would have felt proud that he had passed Mathis, as a boxer. It’s more of a personal victory, but significant. Plus F had managed to win the gold medal so he must have felt destined to succeed. My other point was how articulate he was after the Mathis bout, as a young fighter.
@@BruceAChristie I understand your point about how Frazier felt after this bout since Mathis defeated Smokin' Joe at the 1964 Olympic Trials. It was sweet revenge.
Smokin' Joe reminds me of a pack of army ants destroying a prey. He's just relentless and you can't stop him once he gets on you.
I like that comparison
THE epitome of a swarmer.
I’ve come back to this fight countless times over the past few years. I reckon I’ve seen it over 20 times. Joe Frazier and Harold Johnson are my favourite
He defeated Ali when Ali was in full form.
A great achievement.
A great boxer and great human.
He was a great champion no doubt.
Ali was coming out of a tree year lay of gtfo
@@reinaldomanuel8488 its not like Ali didn't fight tho, he did some fights in Canada during that time
@@reinaldomanuel8488 Was That An Oak Tree Ali Was Laid Off?
u talkin' thru your ass ajay...ali was past his prime...hadn't boxed for a l o n g TIME...
In retrospect the more I listen to Don Dunphy's fight commentary the more I appreciate Howard Cosell.
lol.
Cosell was much more incisive and informative
I really think this fight was an important one for Joe, Mathis did have some wonderful footwork and agility for such a big man, jOe really learns to cut off the ring in this fight against Mathis that would prove to be very valuable to Joe in the future when he fought Ali. Not that Buster was in Ali's class of speed but Buster was agile and on his toes. I think this experience not only for a championship recognition but for learning to cut off the ring was an important step for Smokin Joe.
Love the commercials! Brings back memories.
Wow the commercials are a blast from the past.
Yes they bring back memories.
Joe was so good before the first Ali fight. After that month or whatever in the hospital, he was never the same
Joe Frazier was larger than the average man but as a heavyweight boxer, he was considered a small man. He had the heart of a warrior, and that bob and weave style was very different than most fighters. Mathis was a fine fighter in his own right but not in the class of a Joe Frazier. It was great seeing the legendary Jim McKay again. The commercials were also entertaining. Thanks for posting this fight.
The biggest myth in boxing particularly the legendary heavyweight division is that size and weight are insurmountable. If you genuinely believe Klitschko and Fury beat all historical heavyweights, and that Dempsey,Ali, Joe Louis couldn't beat any modern ones I suggest you join a gym.
Joe Louis at 6'1.25" & a peak weight of 200 pounds knocked out many a big man and did it very grand🙂
Çok teşekkürler. Ayrıca 1968 reklamları güzel bir nostaljiydi 🙏🙏
Watching this fight after listening to joes autobriography on audible, free right now for members. The book really made me appreciate the man behind the gloves. I always liked his style of boxing, but hardly any programing went in depth with joe. Joe is a stand up guy , really admirable. I recommend everyone read/listen to his book.
Thanks for your comment & spending the time to watch the video, much appreciated, cheers!
I've read just about every Smokin Joe book out there. All the auto biographies are good but a good short read would be "Smokin Joe Frazier, Eternal Badass:Life Lessons from a Legend" extremely entertaining, written by some guy who was trained by him.
@@Ffeoli1039 hey man, I just saw the book but I’m a little short on money, I was wondering if there were a free version of it somewhere. I really want to read that book.
@@sanchez5963 I believe you can get a free trial on kindle and read it
@@Ffeoli1039 Do you have the pdf version? If you do, could you maybe send that to me?
Pressure, pressure, pressure!!
there were only two ways you could beat Joe Frazier ...you either had to outbox him, like Ali did in their 2nd and 3rd fights, or you had had to overpower him, the way George Foreman did ...if you couldn't do that, you were in for a real bad night! BTW, Joe beat Ali in the Fight of the Century no matter what Ali said later and in their last fight in Manilla, Ali told Angelo to cut his gloves off after the 14th round ....Angelo pretended not to hear Ali's request, he knew Joe was in a lot trouble at the end of the 14th round and he was trying to buy time to see what would happen in Joe's corner and sure enough, Eddie Futch had seen Frazier taking shots to his face he never saw coming and stopped the fight ...we can argue that decision, but at least Joe didn't end up as damaged as Ali was at the end of their respective careers
Frazier saw nothing but a big 240+lbs of targeted meat
There is no love lost between Mathis and Frazier. Goes back to olympic trials.
Frazier's three greatest wins were at MSG: v Mathis, Ellis and Ali
And Quarry
Did Joe make bro shit his pants ?
To have been able to get a 1968 Ali vs Frazier fight would have been a gem...those 3 yrs of Ali's prime .damn
What a beat down. Joe dished out a lot of punishment, like a machine.
Joe had a super star left hook and a great but underrated right hand. That right, at times, set up some classic left hooks for Joe. RIP CHAMP.
Mathis constantly giving up his height and crouching down like Frazier and not moving. Its like walking into a wasp nest. I dont know if that was something his corner had him do or if it was a bad habit but it was stupid and may be the main reason he lost . You never give up your height if you are taller and you never crouch down to the level of your opponent if hes a croucher and you certainly never crouch down and just stay there without moving at all.
I think Joe’s body punches forced Buster to crouch. He was in pain. Joe always said that once you kill the body, the head is there for the asking!
@@rjsheen5241 Good point. Frazier's body attack is what beat the better fighters and you see Mathis crouch down after he gets hit to the body several times. the thing is though, crouching down like that actually makes your body more vulnerable. You take your head away from the punches but your body becomes exposed with no defense and no eyes to see the punches coming.
Earned a new sub for this one bro💯
Thank you, cheers.
@@BoxingFightsByGaryWilson nah fam thank you
The size difference here was amazing! Mathis was big as a middle linebacker at the time (same size as Butkus) and Joe was not only barely out of cruiser in weight, but in fact at best 5'10 NOT 5.11.5 anymore than Tyson was. You can see where Buster's style and stamina would work for the amateurs, but Joe's for the pros. This fight was a perfectly tuned chainsaw against a wet log.
@marshall Selvarajan 5'10 max. His son told me 5'10 but Foreman said "Joe never saw 5'10." When I stood eye to eye to shake hands with Joe after roadwork together I felt at least 2" taller and I'm 6 even.
Mathis really hit Frazier with some shots ,and came to FIGHT and still Frazier destroys him..You have to wonder did Ali see this fight ?
@@evanbarr9270 Ali saw this fight but his ego got in the way of seeing Fraziers Strengths.
I liked the fact that Jim McKay assigned the form of address; announcer to the right man, the ring announcer as opposed to the commentator.
Corey roberts, it was always a pleasure, to talk to buster mathis, sr.
How would this version of Joe Frazier do against Sonny Liston? I think he could win. And I think his version of him could beat Foreman, too.
I'd pick Frazier 68/72 to beat Liston, though i'm not sure on Foreman, i suspect it would always have been a bad style match up for Joe, though he may have done a little better.
Not a chance he beats Liston, at any stage of his career. None. Or George for that matter.
@@BoxingFightsByGaryWilson I beg to differ. Foreman was Liston's student so it makes sense why they share similar styles. Regardless of which Frazier shows up Liston beats Frazier simply because of physical mismatch and simply just a style that is all-wrong for Frazier. Even on Liston's worst day, Frazier at his best simply cannot overcome the mismatch. I'd say TKO Liston round 3 if not earlier. I usually say size does not matter but if the bigger guy has more skill and puts his size to good use, it does. In this scenario, size does matter.
@@SimplyThatGuy12 Don't agree, Liston was not nearly as aggressive as Foreman & Frazier would have gotten underneath & done damage, Liston was barely 6'1" & not much bigger than Frazier, certainly in no way the mismatch you say, my money is on Frazier.
Prime Liston CURBSTOMPS
Frazier was ready for Ali at this time ,if they had fought in 1968 it would have been a even better fight .
And ali would still be too fast for frazier the way he looked invincible against Cleveland williams and ernie terrell
Awesome stuff I love it
Cheers thank you, Frazier 68/72 was a beast of a fighter no doubt.
The epitome of a slow motion knockout. Frazier's last punch, a glancing blow almost easy to miss, was the finishing touch on eleven rounds of pummelling, the cherry on the sundae. I almost wonder if Mathis was so dizzy and tired he was ready to fall without even being hit. It was like Joe was Captain Ahab with unlimited harpoons and Buster was the White Whale. "Tharrrr she bloooooows!!!!"
That titanic left hook by Frazier to the stomach did Mathis in. It was just a matter of time after that.
Both Men were Great Performers in the Ring! Frazier wore Mathis down over the long haul and Stopped him!
The commercials though. They actually told people that cigarettes taste good.
If size really mattered, mathis was supposed to knock frazier out at least in round 2.. but as u can see size dont mean nothing when u have the heart of a 🦁 rip frazier
Me at 185ibs & Standing at 6'2ft (FULL Power)
vs
Joe Frazier at 205ibs & Standing at 5'11ft (FULL Power & Condition)
'Frasier coming in like Dempsey and Marciano' it's amazing that Don Dunfy saw so many great fighters. By the way, who wins: Fraser VS Marciano?
Marciano stops Frazier late on, too heavy handed, though i won't argue with anyone who believes Frazier would have pulled it off, both great.
It's a fight between two tanks... so hard to call. How about prime Frasier vs Tyson...?
@@winstondurden4427 Going to get myself into trouble with viewers, the Frazier who beat Ali would have survived a torrid opener to slowly impose his will on Tyson, stopping him late.
I do regard 80's Tyson as a great fighter & could see him stopping Frazier early as Joe was a notoriously slow starter but would lean towards him stopping Tyson late.
Yo.. that’s a great question I think they go 15 Marciano out points joe
@@BoxingFightsByGaryWilson I agree if Tyson doesn't get him out early someone's going to start smokin and it won't be Mike.
Frazier looks like a small Mike Tyson when Tyson was fighting under Cus and Kevin Rooney
that golfer in that car ad lowkey straight up talkin smack to his opponent
Mathis really gave up his height against Frazier. That was his only mistake.
Mathis holds throughout the fight. Sign of FEAR!
Announcer had a hard time seeing what Frazier was doing to people until they started to quit.
Frazier was such a baddass, he's like a pit ball, someone like George Foreman being afraid of him in their prime is saying something.
Buster could not avoid Frazier's left. Joe hit hard.
If Ali had not been stripped of the title, and he had fought Frazier in 68, Frazier would've fucked him up.
I believe if Ali hadn't been stripped they probably would of fought in late '69 or '70. . Yank Durham Frazier's manager wouldn't of rushed the fight with Ali. He would of played it smart and made sure Joe was 100% ready for Ali.
Disagree, because by the. We would’ve see Ali in his true prime
@@reinaldomanuel8488 frazier fought better opponents than ali. The only fighter ali fought in his first reign as champ that was any good was George Chuvalo. Frazier fought the top tier of heavyweights. Trust me- he would've destroyed clay.
@@danielsalinas6683 Joe wouldn't even get near Sonny Liston at that time... And as we all know, Ali beat Sonny twice! Ali also kayoed Bonavena who knocked down Joe twice... 😂
@@kaspafischer Ali beat Sonny twice? He beat him the first time when he was clay. But I wonder alot about the rematch. I've heard the noi kidnapped sonny's wife and kid and held them hostage so sonny could throw the fight.
That's the left hook that put Ali down to the canvas
Thinking of large heavies who struggled with their weight, how would a fight go between Buster Mathis and Buster Douglas? Would the stream of sweat have created a slip and slide? Would either have stood a chance against Riddick Bowe?
Hard to predict as both guys were underachievers, though talented & capable of pulling off an upset.
If pushed i would say Douglas beats Mathis.
As for Bowe, on paper, i would favour him to beat both guys but with reservation, Bowe was often troubled with boxers who could move & jab but all that said, if focused & fit, he beats them.
I have to give credit to Buster Mathis he hamdles Koe way better than Ali ever did and man those hands were fast!!
Um, Ali beat Joe twice. 🙄
Smoke and Marciano were probably the best ever lighter heavyweights
Excellent quality plus the absence of horrible Howard Cosell? that is superb
MLK would die exactly one month later. I know this has nothing to do with the match but the history loving side of me couldn’t help but think about it. I really enjoyed the commercials by the way.
Joe was always "Smokin"
***WOW MATHIS IS INTENSE --- FAST LIKE A CAT --- REALLY MAKES FRAZIER LOOK RATHER ORDINARY --- FOREMAN I'M SURE LEARNED A LOT FROM WATCHING THIS FIGHT***
Foreman learnt from watching his 1st title defence against Ramos. Ramos delivered a thunderous right uppercut that nearly floored the newly crowned champion. Foreman took that on board in there title fight 1973, and delivered a uppercut that dramatically destroyed Frazier
Frazier fought a lot more upright in this time period. Less bobbing and weaving.
why not knockdown at 25:34?! Buster punched and Joe went down. So DUMB for Buster to lean over and in to Joe like that! So much for using his reach and height
It was deemed a slip but could have been ruled a knockdown, close call.
I'm going to look up Jim Bower that won the combined in Switzerland 🇨🇭
Joe was very brave fighter, not afraid of counter punches & continued moving forward, but his indestructibility seems true up to 1971 but this style proved a liability when he fought Muhammad Ali in that year.
Though Muhammad Ali lost his come back fight in 1971 but he gave him such heavy beating that Frazier had experienced none in past, you only have to see the scene, when at the end of that fight, Frazier opened his mouth to scold Ali before turning back towards his corner, Frazier's mouth was red with blood & his whole face was swollen with marks of fresh beatings. He won but he paid heavy price and later was not the same fighter, probably it was up to then in 1971, Ali's most fiercely contested fight, in which Ali was head to head up to the 12th round with Frazier, who had to face Ali's fierce & swift counter punching for 13 rounds, which Frazier was not accustomed to & never in the past he had fought such a ferocious contest (receiving savage counter punches) & a boxer as talented as Ali.
Thus this fight was the pivot after which Frazier's performance declined though he was only 27 years old at that time, it had to do with the beating he received from Muhammad Ali.
Good afternoon l read your post in it's entirety more than once. Let me correct you once and for all. The first Frazier vs Alli fight should never be described as a come back fight for Alli. Alli had beaten Bonavena and Quarry before facing Joe. These are facts unless you are trying in a subtle way to diminish Frazier s victory.
Frazier was a glass act-no racist/racial comments from him at all, unlike that clay fellow who made his loss vs joe a racial issue. *Just fuckin box ffs people*
I don't like to bad mouth Ali too much. Great fighter even though I don't agree with his racial views most of the time. But yes, Joe only was malicious towards one man and it's hard to blame him. Besides that, Joe was a classy man with a big heart and even bigger heart outside the ring, as impossible as that seems to be.
@@Ffeoli1039 i dont care. fuck ali/clay
FOH!!
@@arnoldmagqaza7860 front of house? wtf
@@atheistleopard618 Fuck outta here with your bullshit
13:32 ate that shit for breakfast lunch and dinner
jeez look at all the blood on buster mathis' shorts
Good morning Buster Mathis was a very good boxer who with discipline could've achieved more as a boxer. Like his namesake Buster Douglas big tall skillfull but lacked the discipline to get and stay in shape. Joe is one of my favourite boxers but as a sports fanatic l have learned to be honest and objective in my analysis.
Remember Mathis Jr fighting Tyson, Dad stopped the fight
Compare this fight to Mike Tyson vs. Tony Tucker. Frazier would have ANNILHILATED Tyson!!!
not a chance
@@mr.t658 Tell that to Buster Douglas.
@@thespy7795 even douglas would beat frazier
@@mr.t658 Joe would kill Douglas. Only 2 men beat Joe. The Greatest Fighter that EVER lived - Muhammad Ali and The Strongest and Hardest Puncher that EVER Lived - George Foreman. Tyson got his ass kicked by EVERYBODY. Bums, Retreads and Champs! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@thespy7795 also frazier got hurt and knocked down by everybody too. guys like bonavena and ron stander dropped him
Great fighters
Great match.
And now.....let's hear from the experts.
Frazier was like a machine. Gotta break him to beat him.
Fraizer was outweighed by nearly 40 pounds, people forget that heavyweights arent the only good punchers/boxers, this proves it by practically a cruiserweight stopping a heavyweight...
Holyfield was essentially a cruiserweight who built himself up to take on the big boys & did very well at it, beating the likes of Foreman, Bowe, Mercer, Moorer & Tyson & became the first man to drop Mercer & Bowe, it was quite remarkable what he achieved when you consider his natural weight was 13 stone.
@@Bronco_Billy_Jack_Hills Ali was light heavy at 18 ,he was actually a full fledged heavyweight who came down in weight for his fights .far under his normal body weight .He generally weighed in over 210 for his fights ,even in the 60's ,and that is after striping of 15-20 lbs in training .I heard him say on a video that his walk around weight between fights was 230lbs in the 60's .most of the time in the 70's he was 220 when he weighed in for his fights ,and when in shape Ali had very defined abs.he was as big as lyle and Foreman or Holmes how was he a cruiser weight?Their whole philophacy is different now.now when they weigh in its over their natural weight.
@@evanbarr9270 It comes as a shock that both George Foreman and Ken Norton would be two of the lightest fighters the Klitschko brothers have ever faced. George Foreman, whom they called "Big George" had an average median weight of 217 lbs through the entire 1970s. Foreman would be in the BOTTOM-3 of Vitali Klitshcko's LIGHTEST opponents he ever faced. And Ken Norton (208 lbs) would be in Wladimir Kliitschko's BOTTOM-2 LIGHTEST opponents he ever faced.
@@Bronco_Billy_Jack_Hills norton also weighed 220 for his fights after 74 .but that is not my point the heavy weight fighters in the older times 60's-70's weighed in at a "fighting weight" they did not bulk up .sure Klitsko would be bigger he 6-7 or whatever he is .I was saying Ali was not a cruiser weight he actually was a 220 l bs heavyweight.Holyfield without weights and roids is 195 -200 lbs. he was a cruiser weight.
@@Bronco_Billy_Jack_Hills yeah so .?Ali weighed about 220-225 for the ones in the 70's he fought guys that where not bulked ,he also fought huge guys to .
Joe Frazier’s Occupation Outside Of The Ring Was A Butcher. That’s How Come He Had That Killer Instinct In The Ring, That’s Why He Knew How To Hit Opponents On Their Internal Organs Which Caused Fighters Great Pain And Slowed Them Down!!!
like joe said about Cassius clay " who's the dumb one now "
Sodium triphosphate?
Ali's illness acquired from fraizer ,norton and foreman fatal punches
Smokin Joe feared no one
Begun being older and slowly aging of time
Smokin joe frazier gave away 40 lbs again buster but Smokin joe was on a mission he had buster in his site's Smokin joe frazier made big buster pay
Not completely Joe Frazier never looked better in stopping Jerry Quarry in 5 rounds in June 1974 at Madison Square Garden but your right. In most of his fights he looked alot stronger from 1957 to 1971
Joe Frazier stronger from 1967 to 1971 except for the Jerry Quarry rematch June 1974 when he stopped Quarry in 5 rounds
I'd say 1968-71. Frazier was still green in 1967 as he started his debut only 2 years ago. 1968 Frazier was destroying everybody!