Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Joe Frazier enjoyed great success as an amateur boxer, eventually winning the 1964 Olympic gold medal as a heavyweight. Why did he almost did not go to these Olympics?
2. Joe officially became a professional boxer shortly after the Olympics and hired one of the all-time great trainer-managers to handle his career. Who was it?
3. Joe had a record of 11 wins (all by knockout) and no losses in September 1966 when he was matched with a great slugger in what was an incredible fight. Frazier was badly beaten in the early rounds, knocked down twice, and looked like he was bound to be knocked out when he turned the tide. Frazier swept the last six rounds to win a unanimous decision. His opponent would continue to be a world class fighter for most of the next decade. Who was the opponent?
4. After Muhammad Ali was banned from boxing in 1967, the heavyweight title split between the New York State Athletic Commission and the WBA. Both parties had elimination tournaments that would determine their new champion. Jimmy Ellis, one of Ali's old sparring partners, won the WBA title, and Frazier would win the NYAC title. Who did he beat in the final of the elimination tournament to become the champion?
5. Jimmy Ellis and Joe Frazier would fight in February 1970 to re-unify the title, the winner being the first 'World' heavyweight champion since Ali three years earlier. In what round did Joe knock Ellis out?
6. Now returning to boxing, Muhammad Ali refused to recognize Frazier as the champ, as he had never lost a fight. In fact, Ali was fighting under the billing of 'The True Heavyweight Champion.' When Ali and Frazier met up in March 1971 for the so-called 'Fight of the Century', Ali made one of his famous predictions about the fight. Which did he predict?
7. The 'Fight of the Century' was the first time two undefeated world champions had fought for the heavyweight title, and it was the most anticipated fight of all time. What was each fighter paid for the match?
8. Frazier was expected to make short work of a young wrecking machine named George Foreman in 1973, but was knocked out in the second round instead. How many times was Joe knocked down in the two round fight?
9. After a rematch to Ali in 1974 in which he lost a twelve round decision, Frazier began to rebuild his standing in the heavyweight division. He knocked out Jerry Quarry and Jimmy Ellis to get another shot at the title, which by that time was again in the hands of Muhammad Ali. Their third fight, the 'Thrilla in Manilla' would end with a 14th round knockout, as Joe's cornermen refused to let him come out for the 15th round. Ali had played many mind games with Joe prior to the fight, even giving him an insulting nickname in order to get Joe angry and vulnerable. What was the nickname?
10. Frazier decided, against his manager's wishes, to try to earn one last shot at the title. He would fight number one contender George Foreman in June 1976 to try to get that shot. In what round did Foreman knock Joe out this time?
Source: Author
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