ShareThisBy JIM JENKINS
Sacramento Bee
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
To say Joe Frazier isn't impressed by the current state of boxing's heavyweights is an understatement.
"A lot of these guys I see do more clinching and hugging than fighting," said the ex-champ, stifling a laugh during a recent phone interview from Philadelphia. "Most of the action you see is by the referee, trying to pull them apart."
Frazier, of course, had no such problem in his prime. When the man known as "Smokin' Joe" went into the ring, particularly during a special 1970s era shared with Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Ken Norton and others, boredom was never an issue.
Frazier says he is still involved in ensuring that fight fans get their money's worth. Only now, at age 63, it's as an adviser for a gymnasium he operates in Philadelphia. It is frequented mostly by young, impressionable prospects with big dreams and an opportunity to gain valuable advice from one of the sport's all-time greats.
"We have about 30 fighters, amateurs and pros, in the gym every day," said Frazier. "We have trainers who work with them in the ring, but I talk to a lot of them and try to show them a few things."
Fighters on a Friday night card in Sacramento will have a chance to avail themselves of the same opportunity. Frazier has been invited as a celebrity guest in what will be the first of two outdoor shows at Raley Field this year. The second will be Oct. 6, when Hall of Fame trainer Lou Duva is scheduled to be on hand.
Frazier is being brought to mingle with customers and share memories from a storied career. In between, he promises to keep a close eye on what transpires in the ring.
None of the seven bouts to be presented by Santa Rosa-based promoter Patrick Ortiz features fighters with much name recognition. But that, Frazier says, isn't what is really important. Of more interest to him is whether there will be competitive fights and an adherence to boxing fundamentals. Sadly, Frazier says, the basics are too often neglected today.
"It starts with the guys training them," Frazier said. "Were they fighters themselves? Some guys weren't and are (good instructors). But I never understood how a fighter could learn that much from someone who didn't fight himself.
"In our gym, we push our fighters hard. They have to be in condition. Unfortunately, some guys you see in the ring these days have bellies on them that make them look like they're three months' pregnant. You shouldn't fight unless you put in the work in the gym."
On another topic, Frazier was asked if it's true he finally has patched up his differences with Ali, a hated rival?
"I knew that was coming," he said, a sigh in his voice. "(Ali) is down now (with Parkinson's disease), and when a man is down, I try to help them back up. I've done a lot of charity work for Parkinson's. That's what I have to say about that."
On mixed martial arts: "I know it's popular right now, but hitting a guy, choking him when he's down? To me, that's crazy."
On women boxing: "My daughter, Jacqui, fought. If women fighters are trained properly, there's nothing wrong with it."
(Contact Jim Jenkins at jjenkins@sacbee.com.)
