Cheap Smokin' Joe: The Autobiography of a Heavyweight Champion of the World, Smokin' Joe Frazier (Book) (Joe Frazier, Phil Berger) Price

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Customer Reviews of Smokin' Joe: The Autobiography of a Heavyweight Champion of the World, Smokin' Joe Frazier

JOE IS A MAIN-BATTLE-TANK. NEVER SAY DIE!
Lions belong to a class of animals, which is famous for its biting prowess. My father once said that any thing that bites a lion to death is strong. I agree. Smokin' Joe is one such thing. A very strong one!
This 1964 Olympic Heavyweight Champion, as well as an ex-World Heavyweight Champion will kill a lion with one "bite", if it is all it will take to become champion. This his autobiography makes no exaggeration of this fact.
Frazier is one of the most respected heavyweights on Ali's mind. He handed The Greatest his first professional defeat, (in the Fight Of The Century). He is also, the only one to take him to the "door of death", (in the Thrilla In Manila). Although Ali refused to pass through that "door", he didn't forget what he saw. Joe is a ferocious fighter: an armoured car! George Foreman and Muhammad Ali were the only fighters capable of handing him convincing defeats. But each one testified that this Main-Battle-Tank of a man always rises as soon as he hits the canvas.
Ring animosity apart, Joe is one of the few fighters that Ali wanted for a friend. Foreman once feared him; and still respects him. This autobiography is down-to-earth.

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Smokin Joe is a Great Warrior and Person
Obviously if you are a Joe Frazier fan you must get this book, but I would also recommend it to any boxing fan. And if you don't like Muhammad Ali, you should also read this book. (For the record, I am not an Ali hater or a big fan of his, but I am a huge boxing fan).

If you are familar with boxing, you will know that every figher has his own unique story, and Joe is no exception. He is definitely an interesting person and has an enjoyable story.

Clearly one of the top ten heavyweights of all time, Joe is most known for his trilogy with Muhammad Ali, and this book definitely gets into those fights, particularly the first one and the third one (which are among the biggest sporting events ever).

Aside from the Ali fights and Joe's out of the ring hatred for Ali, this book does provide a full look at Joe's life, his ups and downs, and his comentary on various subjects such as Mike Tyson and Joe's son Marvis Frazier.

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Smokin¿ Joe - The Man & The Legend
Smokin' Joe The Man & The Legend

4.5 Stars

I always thought of Joe Frazier as a machine. Put him in the ring and he's a tank with one purpose. That left hook. That left hook. That left hook.

I have mixed feelings about this book.

It's the autobiography of Joe Frazier - from his childhood to present day. The history of The Left Hook I found most interesting - it's not a chapter - it's information peppered throughout the book. That left hook!

I loved the details given about his fights. How he felt before and during the fights and what was going on in his life before, during and after these fights.

Joe had a really interesting and amazing career - Olympics, amateur and professional. He is an amazing competitor and athlete.

Here is what I had problems with - Ali - his treatment of Muhammad Ali -

I'm a HUGE Ali fan so take this with a grain of salt -

Joe is incredibly bitter and angry with Ali - rightly so too, but it taints the book and gives it a bitter mood. He flat out refuses to call Ali - Ali - and only refers to him as Clay or the Butterfly - or anything else but Muhammad Ali - it's completely understandable and makes sense. Ali really layed into him and was flat out cruel at times - but it distracts and takes away from the book. It takes away from a feeling of good sportsmanship. I would go back and forth with losing respect for Joe, but in the same breath I understand why he feels this way - but again this takes away from his story.

Ali / Frazier is forever intertwined with boxing history and boxing lore and it seems Joe resents Ali too much and that also takes away from certain aspects of the legacy and legend - but does add to other parts of it.

Compare and contrast how he speaks of George Foreman - there's a lot of respect, admiration and good feelings towards the big man.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in Joe Frazier and anyone interested in a legend of the ring, in one of the greatest fighters ever to lace 'em up.