Smokin' Joe Frazier ~ "Comeback 1976'

[Bill Paxtom]

Smokin' Joe Frazier

'Comeback 1976'

In January 1976, only 3-Months after "The Thrilla in Manila", Smokin' Joe was sure of
returning to the Ring.

Originally, there was a list of 'selected' opponents that Joe would face in his return.

* Mike Schutte ......... {South African Heavyweight Champion}
* Dante Cane ............{Italian Heavyweight Champion}

* 'Irish' Pat Duncan ... {Northwest Pacific Heavyweight Champion}
* Jody Ballard ........... {Texas Heavyweight Champion}

* Mac Foster ............. {Former Contender}
* Billy Aird ................ {#4 British Heavyweight}

* Bernd August ......... {German Heavyweight Champion}
* Kevin Isaac ............ {New York Heavyweight}

[Bill Paxtom]

"Comeback 1976"

Smokin' Joe was offered a 'comeback bout' with the Bayonne Brawler - Chuck Wepner.

Joe Frazier >

"I want my comeback bout to be with a legitimate fighter. I don't want it to be a
novelty act against a low-caliber club fighter."

"Nothing against Chuck, but a fight with him would be a joke. He's a rough-type of
bar-room brawler with little skills and no defense. I don't want blood spraying all
over the place."

[Bill Paxtom]

January 15, 1976

~ Smokin' Joe To Continue, Will Fight Mac Foster ~

Plans are for the former Champion -- Joe Frazier to come back in February, and
against former Top Contender - Mac Foster of Fresno, California.

The 33 1/2 year-old Mac Foster, a hard-punching slugger, has a record of
30-5-0 with {30 KO's}.

Foster last fought on May 30, 1974 - where he lost a 10-Round Decision
to Top 10 Ranked Henry Clark.

Mac has been out of the Ring for 19-Months, but the Fresno-native said that
he would be ready for Smokin Joe' in 4-weeks.
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Mac Foster >

"I was supposed to fight Joe back in mid-1970, but he pulled out because he
broke his ankle doing his Musical Revue in Las Vegas."

"This is my last opportunity, and I don't want to waste it. I lost a couple of
fights that I should have won. This could be a good fight, because we both
have the same styles."

[Bill Paxtom]

'Comeback 1976'

January 20, 1976

~ New Opponent Selected for Smokin' Joe ~

A new opponent has been selected for Joe Frazier's proposed comeback bout for February,
and slated for The Spectrum in Philadelphia.

'Irish' Pat Duncan has stated that he would fill in for Mac Foster who has 'opted' out.

Duncan, a 27 year-old scrappy 6' 1" and 203 lb. puncher/boxer from the Northwest
Pacific Region would be a suitable opponent.

Duncan with a record of 34-9-3 {24 KO's} has a reputation as a tough fighter, and is
currently ranked as the #9 United States Heavyweight.

'Irish Pat' last fought 5-Months ago, on August 26, 1975 - where he was stopped {L KO 8}
by 'undefeated' Duane Bobick.

Pat Duncan >

"I can give Joe the tough bout that he is looking for. But, he better come in prepared, or
he'll find out the hard way, that I'm no easy mark."

[brocktonblockbust]

'Comeback 1976'

January 20, 1976

~ New Opponent Selected for Smokin' Joe ~

A new opponent has been selected for Joe Frazier's proposed comeback bout for February,
and slated for The Spectrum in Philadelphia.

'Irish' Pat Duncan has stated that he would fill in for Mac Foster who has 'opted' out.

Duncan, a 27 year-old scrappy 6' 1" and 203 lb. puncher/boxer from the Northwest
Pacific Region would be a suitable opponent.

Duncan with a record of 34-9-3 {24 KO's} has a reputation as a tough fighter, and is
currently ranked as the #9 United States Heavyweight.

'Irish Pat' last fought 5-Months ago, on August 26, 1975 - where he was stopped {L KO 8}
by 'undefeated' Duane Bobick.

Pat Duncan >

"I can give Joe the tough bout that he is looking for. But, he better come in prepared, or
he'll find out the hard way, that I'm no easy mark."

"irish" Pat was no easy mark, but ~Earnie Shavers~ had taken the starch out of his Rising Star "Great White Hope"

[Bill Paxtom]

January 23, 1976

~ Don King Offers Smokin' Joe A Bout On The Muhammad Ali - Jean-Pierre Coopman Bout ~

Fight Promoter - Don King has offered Joe Frazier a spot on the February 20th World Championship
Bout between Muhammad Ali vs. Jean-Pierre Coopman set for San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Don King said that he would offer Smokin' Joe $125,000 to fight on the 'Main Undercard'.

Muhammad Ali is set to receive $1,100,000 and the Challenger Jean-Pierre Coopman is to
receive $100,000 with an additional $20,000 coming in from Broadcast rights from Belgium.

Don King >

"We have Jimmy Young {Philadelphia} on the Fight Card, and he is facing the Puerto Rican
Champion - Jose 'King' Roman. I would think that it would be great if Smokin' Joe would
come down and be part of the card."

"I have the Caribbean Champion {Wendell Joseph} lined up for Joe Frazer. This kid from
Trinidad and Tobago is pretty good. He's tough, and has wins over Jose 'King' Roman
and Randy Neumann. He has won '7' in a row, and he is an entertaining fighter."

Wendell Joseph > 26-8-1 {7 KO's} ~ 5' 10" ~ 185 lbs. ~ {Age; 29 years, 9 months}

[Bill Paxtom]

January 23, 1976

~ Don King Offers Smokin' Joe A Bout On The Muhammad Ali - Jean-Pierre Coopman Bout ~

Fight Promoter - Don King has offered Joe Frazier a spot on the February 20th World Championship
Bout between Muhammad Ali vs. Jean-Pierre Coopman set for San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Don King said that he would offer Smokin' Joe $125,000 to fight on the 'Main Undercard'.

Muhammad Ali is set to receive $1,100,000 - and the Challenger Jean-Pierre Coopman is to
receive $100,000 with an additional $20,000 coming in from the broadcast rights from Belgium
Television.

From his Gym in Philadelphia,

Joe Frazier said that he would 'not' play 2nd-Fiddle to Muhammad Ali.

Joe Frazier >

"The show down in Puerto Rico is "Ali's Act". I don't want to be part of that Circus,
with Ali fighting that guy from Belgium. Is this some kind of joke or something."

"Don King wants to give me $125,000 to fight the Caribbean Heavyweight Champion
{Wendell Joseph}. That's lunch money."

[Master]

Joe was finished by then.

[Bill Paxtom]

Joe was finished by then.

I think that Don King was trying to give Smokin' Joe an easy opponent, to get
him back on track.

Joe felt that he was disrespected by the $125,000 Fight Purse, and to fight as
an Undercard Bout.

[Master]

Joe was finished by then.

I think that Don King was trying to give Smokin' Joe an easy opponent, to get
him back on track.

Joe felt the was disrespected by the $125,000 Fight Purse, and to fight as
an Undercard Bout.

I can understand that which was another reason to stay retired.

[Bill Paxtom]

February 4, 1976

~ Former Champion - Joe Frazier To Fight South Seas Champion ~

Smokin' Joe Frazier has been offered $240,000 to fight South Seas Champion -
Mani Vaka on Saturday, February 28th.

The former Champion will have 3 1/2 Weeks to get ready to face Mani Vaka, a hard-
hitting Heavyweight from Tonga.

The bout will take place at the International Center Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii - and
ABC-TV will broadcast the Saturday bout.

Mani Vaka, a 30 year-old Tonga Heavyweight, is a game-fighter, and has a reported
record of 35-8-0 with {25 KO's}. Vaka stands at 6' 0" and weighs 208 lbs. The Tongan
has a big right-hand, and has only been 'stopped' once in his 9-Year career.

[Bill Paxtom]

February 22, 1976

~ Smokin' Joe Now Moving to Madison Square Garden For March Comeback Bout ~

The on-again/off-again comeback bout for former Champion - Joe Frazier has now been
slated for Madison Square Garden.

The 32 year-old former Champion has a record of 32-3-0 with {27 KO's}, and has been
undecided with several changes in his 'comeback' schedule.
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Joe Frazier >

"I have been in the Gym. Right now I'm about 75% of where I should be. I'll need about
'3' more weeks, and then I'll be ready for a mid-March bout."

A tentative date has been set for mid-March.

The opponent, 21 year-old New York Heavyweight - Kevin Isaac.

Kevin, who has a record of 11-3-1 with {7 KO's} was the 1973 New York Golden Gloves
Heavyweight Champion.

The Brooklyn-born Isaac, is a 6' 1" fast-handed boxer with surprising power for a 190 lb.
fighter.
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Kevin Isaac >

"I'm not afraid of the big stage. I've fought at the Garden before, so I'm not in the least
bit intimidated."

"I'm honored to fight Joe Frazier. But, I will not be a walk-over."