Smokin' Joe: The Life of Joe Frazier

Joe Frazier's three fights with Muhammad Ali are legendary. Although Ali won 2 of the 3 fights, Frazier gave Ali all he could handle. The fights are known for their brutality.Author Mark Kram, Jr., writes that Frazier, a great boxer in his own right, is an "underappreciated athlete." Part of Ali's greatness stems from Frazier's greatness and tenacity. Frazier, often demeaned by Ali, finishes a distant second to The Greatest when it comes to respect and attention.Kram says Frazier "climbed out of the cradle of poverty" in South Carolina to become heavyweight champ. Kram covers Frazier's childhood, as well as the principles he learned, and his early fights in the book's first 175 pages.But, it's Frazier's three matches with Ali that most readers are most eager to read about. While it's well-known history, fans of Frazier and/or Ali can't seem to get enough details or insights into the matches.The Fight of the Century occurred March 8, 1971, before 30 million closed-circuit television viewers, the largest television audience in history. Frazier won an unanimous decision.The non-title rematch came on June 28, 1974, with Ali scoring a victory. The Thrilla in Manila grabbed the nation's attention on Oct. 1, 1975. Ali received $4.5 and Frazier $2 million for the fight. Ali won in the 14th round when Frazier's trainer Eddie Futch stopped the fight. Frazier's vision in his left eye was deteriorating because of trauma to the eye. Frazier felt he was denied a chance to win by Futch's decision. Other observers felt that Futch may have saved Frazier's life by stopping the match.Frazier retired after losing to George Foreman, but he briefly returned 5 years later at age 37. By this time, he was "too old, too heavy and too slow."Kram takes advantage of talking to many of Frazier's family members, childhood friends, children and those who knew him. He also spends a lot of time showing how Frazier's childhood influenced his life and career. Kram sheds light on Frazier's personal life (11 children by 6 women) and his showbiz career (singing with his band The Knockouts).Joe Frazier deserves more recognition and appreciation and Kram's biography aids the cause.

A bio that covers both his ups and down. Couldn't put it down. A good man and a complicated one also. Between Mark and his dad they pretty much have the Frazier/Ali era covered. Apple didn't fall far from the tree. Good job!

If you were growing up or older during the 1960s and ‘70s, you knew Joe Frazier even if you did not follow boxing. He was a cultural as well as a sports hero nearly on a par with Muhammad Ali, and their three epic heavyweight fights, the first of which was won by Frazier, could not escape a nation’s — and world’s — awareness. Mark Kram Jr., whose father covered Ali and his bouts for Sports Illustrated, brings Frazier to life in this magnificent biography that captures the rural South Carolina-born Frazier both as determined athlete and a genuine human being. Kram uses dozens of interviews with those who knew and worked with — and fought — Frazier, as well as family members, and mines contemporary accounts of his life in and out of the ring. It is all done with great skill and sensitivity. The last quarter or so of the book which takes up Frazier the man after his retirement from the ring is unexpected treasure.

I love reading stories about my favorite fighters from the past and Joe Frazier is definitely one of them. He was a great fighter and as well as a good man outside the ring. He was a true hero for me.

I heard Mr. Kram, Jr. discuss his book on an ESPN podcast, and it motivated me to purchase the biography. This book is significant because the author was able to do first-hand interviews with important individuals in Frazier's life which adds a needed, nuanced context to the events in Joe's life. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and appreciated the effort that went into giving us a well-rounded view of Frazier. The book also provides a better understanding of how the political and cultural moments shaped him, and how Joe managed his personal and professional life within the complicated era that he lived.

With the exception of a handful of errors (i.e. referring to Jumbo Cummings as obese) "Smokin Joe" is a thoroughly enjoyable effort. In fact, Joe Frazier had such a full life I'm sure author Mark Kram Jr could have filled twice as many pages. It would have been nice if Kram Jr would have shared more details on Frazier's stalled efforts at a comeback in 1978 (due to hepatitis) and again in 1980 (against Cummings) or provided more info on Frazier's many children and lovers (a template Evander Holyfield seems to have followed as well). So maybe some day we'll see a "Volume Two." As it stands, "Smokin Joe" is a fine bookend to Mark Kram Sr's excellent "Blood Feud: Ghosts of Manila" and also a fine cross-reference tool to Frazier's own autobiography. An enjoyable read for fight fans or anyone who likes well-written sports literature!

Everything you ever wanted to know--or didn't want to know--about Joe Frazier is in this book. I knew Joe from the business but I didn't know half of what was in this excellent book. A real study of the life of one of boxing's best heavyweight champions, warts and all.

I enjoyed this book and would have given it a 3.5 rating if possible. My problem with the book is that the writing lacks flair and the story is told like a series of vignettes without a cohesive whole, skipping around from year to year , particularly near the end of the book. I love boxing books, enjoyed this one , but didn’t love it.

This is a highly engaging biography that details one of the toughest fighters during the best age of heavyweight boxer's that included Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Oscar Bonavena, Jerry Quarry, Jimmy Ellis, Bob Foster, Ken Norton and Ernie Shavers amongst others. This does give a fresh respective on Joe and the book was an enjoyable read, one that will be kept and revisited again later.So why only 4 stars despite the book being a highly recommended read? Well, Mr Kram Jr has neglected to supply a fight record which should be a standard inclusion in any boxing biography. Also, I can't help feeling that in respect to the links to Ali that much of the work here was already done by Mark's father, though not in exactly the same words, in his excellent "The Ghosts of Manila: The Fateful Blood Feud between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier" which I also highly recommend.Nevertheless, Mark Jr has resourced his work well and this is probably the most exhaustive biography on Joe Frazier that will ever be produced.Highly recommended.

A much loved gift

Great read always a fan of the true warrior and the book pulls no punches R.I.P Joe.

Great insight