Beyond the Ring: Joe Frazier's Extraordinary Journey After Losing the Heavyweight Champion Title to George Foreman

Summary

Joe Frazier's loss to George Foreman in 1976 marked a negative turning point in his career and led to his retirement from boxing.

Frazier made a brief comeback in 1981, but television networks showed minimal interest and he experienced a disappointing match, ultimately resulting in his final retirement.

Following his retirement, Frazier transitioned into being a boxing trainer for his children, providing guidance and assistance to his sons, nephews, and daughter in their respective boxing journeys.

Joe Frazier's loss of the world heavyweight championship title to George Foreman is depicted in the biopic Big George Foreman. However, the movie does not delve into what transpired for Frazier following this event. Big George Foreman primarily traces the life and accomplishments of the Olympic gold medalist and world heavyweight champion boxer. The film centers around his significant boxing matches, including those against Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, his major rivals. One of the matches highlighted in Big George Foreman is Frazier's second bout against the former world heavyweight champion, Joe Frazier.

While Big George Foreman alters various aspects of George Foreman's life story, it does accurately portray Frazier's loss to Foreman. In reality, Foreman achieved a well-known victory over Frazier in their 1976 match, marking Frazier's second defeat at his hands. As the focus of Big George Foreman lies solely on the titular boxer, viewers are left unaware of what transpired for Frazier after this particular boxing match. While Foreman's win propelled him into further fame, it brought about a negative turning point in Frazier's career.

Joe Frazier Retired After Losing To George Foreman Again In 1976

Joe Frazier faced formidable opponents in his boxing career, namely Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Both Ali and Foreman handed Frazier losses prior to his '76 match against Foreman. In 1973, Frazier lost his world championship and undefeated record to Foreman, and then in 1974 and 1975, Ali defeated Frazier once again. A report from Sports Illustrated suggests that the '76 match against Foreman revealed a decline in Frazier's offensive abilities.

The defeat proved to be the final blow. Shortly after the fight, Frazier expressed, "I believe it is time to hang up the gloves" (as cited in The New York Times). He temporarily retired from boxing, demonstrating self-awareness in acknowledging the decline in his career. Rather than waiting until his reputation was completely tarnished, Frazier chose to conclude his boxing journey on a relatively positive note. Furthermore, Frazier's decision to retire was influenced by the support and encouragement of his wife, as mentioned in a Newsweek article.

Joe Frazier's Brief Comeback In 1981 Explained

In 1981, Joe Frazier attempted a comeback from retirement, but it was short-lived. The TV networks showed no interest in covering the match, which didn't bother Frazier. He confidently stated that he was in just as good physical shape as before and emphasized the boxing wisdom he had gained over the years, which made him a better athlete. Unfortunately, this did not prove to be true in his match with Floyd "Jumbo" Cummings.

According to The New York Times, Frazier did not fare well in the match against Cummings. Despite the match being declared a draw, Frazier suffered significant injuries, contradicting his claim of being fine. When Frazier expressed his desire to fight again in two to three months, a boxing official from Illinois adamantly told him that he would not be allowed to fight there again. Nick Karasiotis, the executive secretary of the Illinois Athletic Board, told The New York Times that Frazier was in no condition to fight and should retire once again. Following the fight, that's exactly what Frazier decided to do.

Joe Frazier Became A Boxing Trainer For His Children

Joe Frazier, after retiring, made Philadelphia his permanent home and purchased the gym where he had once trained, as reported by The New Yorker. This gym became the preferred destination for aspiring young boxers in Pennsylvania. Frazier dedicated most of his time to grooming his sons, Marvis and Hector, for successful boxing careers. Marvis Frazier quickly gained recognition as a talented amateur boxer, which brought pride to his father. Additionally, the former heavyweight champion also provided assistance in training his nephews Rodney and Mark, even though they were not expected to surpass his own achievements. Nevertheless, Frazier remained wholeheartedly committed to their development.

Moreover, Frazier's daughter, Jacqui Frazier-Lyde, chose to follow in her father’s footsteps and became a professional boxer. Frazier reportedly trained her at his gym in Philadelphia. Jacqui Frazier-Lyde went on to become a world light-heavyweight champion under the WIBA organization, renowned for her famous bout against Laila Ali, the daughter of Muhammad Ali. While she ultimately lost the match against the daughter of her father's legendary rival, their boxing rivalry ensured that Frazier's legacy persevered long after his retirement.

In 2013, Frazier's gym in Philadelphia, where he and his children trained, was granted historical building status by the city. This means that future generations of boxers will have the opportunity to visit the place where many legends were born. Unfortunately, Frazier did not live long enough to witness this significant event. He passed away on November 7, 2011, after a brief battle with liver cancer. However, Frazier's legacy lives on through his gym, his children, and his impact on the sport of boxing.