Joe Frazier nicknamed “Smokin’ Joe”, was an American professional boxer who competed from 1965 to 1981. He reigned as the undisputed heavyweight champion from 1970 to 1973, and as an amateur won a gold medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics. Frazier was known for his sheer strength, durability, formidable punching power, and relentless pressure fighting style.

Frazier’s style was often compared to that of Henry Armstrong and occasionally Rocky Marciano, dependent on bobbing, weaving and relentless pressure to wear down his opponents. His best known punch was a powerful left hook, which accounted for most of his knockouts. In his career he lost to only two fighters, both former Olympic and world heavyweight champions: twice to Muhammad Ali, and twice to George Foreman.

Joe Frazier adopted the bob-and-weave defensive style, making him more difficult for taller opponents to punch, while giving Frazier more power with his own punches.

The transcript below is from the video “Dan Inosanto: Bruce Lee Could Hit Like Joe Frazier” by Михаил Кочарян.

Grandmaster Dan Inosanto (Filipino-American Martial Arts instructor)

“See, the guy he fought, that he beat in a boxing match in Hong Kong. He is not a stylish boxer. He would not be like a Sugar Ray Leonard. If I classified him, he would be like a miniature Joe Frazier and he would be more like Roberto Duran, but not perform up to Duran because he was just kind of a slugger, too. That’s funny because for his size, you would think he’d be a technician.”

Михаил Кочарян (YouTube Channel)

“Yeah!”

Grandmaster Dan Inosanto (Filipino-American Martial Arts instructor)

“But when he really got into it, he was like a Joe Frazier and if you want to hit the heavy bag because I’ve been around boxing. It’s not the stylish, polished guy working on heavy bag. It’s just like the guy who’s just really upset about something, you know.”

Михаил Кочарян (YouTube Channel)

“Yeah, I’ve watched those videos and every shot is a slam.”

Grandmaster Dan Inosanto (Filipino-American Martial Arts instructor)

“He just snap, snap…”

Михаил Кочарян (YouTube Channel)

“Snap, snap, snap, slam, power, power…”

Grandmaster Dan Inosanto (Filipino-American Martial Arts instructor)

“That’s the way he was. I’ll tell you when he played me, he could be very finesse because I was not in his league you know but when he really wanted to trump them… He knocked me not out but you know, sort of dazed now on my 28th birthday. It was really funny. He says, “Come on, let’s spar,” and I go, “Sure.” Usually he plays but this one, he just sort of went after me and just knocked the breadbasket and I was laying on the ground like this. He was just laughing.

Grandmaster Dan Inosanto (Filipino-American Martial Arts instructor)

I go, “Why is he laughing?” And, he goes, “Maid, bring out the birthday cake!” They brought out this birthday cake and they sang to me, “Happy Birthday.” I said, “That’s good because I’m going to knock you out on your 28th birthday, 29th birthday.” See, he just thought that was really funny.”

Михаил Кочарян (YouTube Channel)

“Yeah and mean spirited. He was actually free fun?”

Grandmaster Dan Inosanto (Filipino-American Martial Arts instructor)

“He’s going, yes. He liked that. He said I was not in his class.”

Михаил Кочарян (YouTube Channel)

“Only saw this for one time in Chinatown school. He did Shotokan in street clothes against Herb Jackson. Herb was trying to use Jeet Kune Do and it was funny as hell.”