August 26, 1975 ~ 'Press Conference' ~ Ali Tries To Make Gorilla Out Of Joe Frazier

[Bill Paxtom]

Tuesday ~ August 26, 1975

Four Seasons Restaurant ~ New York City, New York

~ Press Conference ~

Smokin' Joe Frazier was the first to arrive, and was polite and cordial to the Press Corps and News Media.

Joe discussed his general plans for pre-fight Training during a 30-Minute question and answer session.

Then the {pre-staged} entrance.

It was all set up, that Muhammad Ali would arrive with his 'entourage' and disrupt the Press Interview
with a 'ranting tirade' aimed at Smokin' Joe.

On Cue >

There was a loud rumbling of noise at the Door Entrance of the 'Four Seasons', an up-scale and fancy
mid-town Restaurant for the 'high-enders'.

Yes, it was the World's Heavyweight Champion - Muhammad Ali, with his 'gangling mob', an entourage
of '15' hangers-on, plusTrainer - Angelo Dundee and 'The Head Cheerleader Clown' - Drew 'Bundini' Brown.

The muffled sound at the Door Entrance grew louder and louder, until it couldn't possibly be, wait a mistake >

Muhammad Ali entered the Press Room with the 'Clown Posse'.

The Champion walked into the Room with a sudden boisterous intrusion.

Smokin' Joe Frazier {acted surprised}, but he knew that the game {event} was pre-staged, so he played along.

Muhammad came barreling in by ranting-and-raving.

But the insiders knew it was 'rigged' before-hand.

It was a staged publicity event.

Joe Frazier was one that didn't go for 'Lunch Charades', but he said that he would play along, to make the
'show' look good.