Smokin' Joe Frazier ~ "Comeback 1976'

[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."