Boxing's Heavyweight Championship Lineage
Joe Frazier
1970-73
Frazier won an Olympic gold medal and a heavyweight championship in an illustrious career, becoming one of the best heavyweight fighters ever. With an aggressive style and a devastating left hook, "Smokin' Joe," often compared to Rocky Marciano, destroyed Jimmy Ellis in five rounds in 1970 to win the world title.
In 1971, Frazier's unanimous decision victory over Muhammad Ali in 1971 to retain the title was recognized as "The Fight of the Century." His third meeting with Ali, in 1975 -- the unforgettable "Thrilla in Manila" in the Philippines -- was named fight of the year.
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