Smokin' Joe

The Autobiography of a Heavyweight Champion of the World, Smokin' Joe Frazier

By: Joe Frazier, Phil Berger

Narrated by: Bill Andrew Quinn

When boxing was bold, bright, and glamorous and the fights were the hottest sporting events of the year, Joe Frazier was king as the Heavyweight Champion of the World. From 1970 to 1973 he reigned. With a career record of 32-4-1 with twenty-seven knockouts and an Olympic gold medal, Frazier leaves little question that he was one of the greatest fighters of all time.

Well-known, loved, and revered as a gentleman and a fierce competitor in the ring, Joe Frazier speaks his mind in Smokin' Joe - about growing up poor and fighting in the first $2.5million bout; about the early days of his friendship with Muhammad Ali and how their relationship changed; and about the often corrupt world of boxing and what really went on inside and outside the ring.

Personable, good-natured, and funny, Frazier's story is a real delight.

©2013 Joe Frazier and Phil Berger (P)2013 AudioGO

The mindset of Smoking Joe is wonderful to listen and hear about.

The listen was easy and hard to stop. I am now an absolute fan of “Smoking Joe” . As a boxing fan from the 70’s and now not so much. To hear the details about what Joe experienced in the ring was priceless. Especially being a fan of most of the boxers mentioned. To hear his insight and heart was enlightening. I would recommend this book to the toughest of critics.

Great Picture of Smokin' Joe

Having read the Ali biography first, watched their fights after reading this, and seen various press conference footage of them interacting, I was interested to see what the real Joe Frazier was like in his own words. I kinda felt like Ali was part-showman, part-bully in how he treated Joe for the most part, despite him downplaying it in his biography. This book cemented the bully part for me and watching the fights backed up a lot of what Frazier said in this book: Ali was a lot more fame than fight.

As for Frazier, it was great to see how positive the man was in life in general. He acknowledged inequities in life for blacks at the time, he just chose to let his deeds talk for him instead of joining people he felt caused more problems than provided solutions like Ali did. The backlash he got from that was incredible. It's not that different from trying to stay away from politics today: sitting on the sidelines gets you labeled a problem.

Frazier was also portrayed as a dumb guy by Ali when that wasn't the case at all. He managed his money from the beginning so well by the time he retired he literally didn't have to fight anymore if he chose not to. He never got spent by the boxing machine and thrown away because he was savvy to the ways the machine can hurt you.

Overall, the book was a great read I'm glad I bought. The narration was good too. Quinn's voice was a smooth and relaxed as I'd imagine Frazier would be to talk to so it fit well. Great book.

Very good book

I was always a Joe Frazier fan. This book is filled with good stories and shows a lot of really good qualities about the man

Greg Gonzalez

If you’re a boxing fan you will be a fan of this book. If you loved Joe Frazier you will love this book. I must admit I was a fan before reading this. But now I admire the man so much more. This book on a deeper level is about personal resiliency. It’s also about strong fathers and the history of our country’s struggle for individual and racial progress. At times I was in the edge of my seat even though I knew the outcomes of historic fights. I will never forget I lived in Upper Manhattan in 1971 when Joe defended his title in Ali - Frazier One. We were kids out on the street getting the reports as they came in. I relived that and I picked up things that we all know but are worth repeating. 1) do your talking in the ring and in life with your actions not your lip. 2) Perspiration and preparation overcome obstacles. 3) family. 4) no wrong way to do right and no right way to do wrong. I’m an attorney and this applies to me as much as to anyone. Smokin’ Joe was my Champ then a d he’s my Champ now.

♡ Loved this.

scam boogers: love this book! Insightful, history

no wrong way to do right, no right way to do wrong.

great listen

great listen on a great champ. the narrator does a fantastic job as well.

Inspirational

Amazing story, that goes deeply into what kind of man Smokin' Joe Frazier was. Truly inspirational

Great champion, great book

A must read book if you are a boxing fan. The story is intersting and to the point. Joe was one of the greatest and his story is a must read.

Great book.

A somewhat brutally honest self portrayal that was refreshing to experience. I learned much about the true Muhammad Ali and I learned things about Joe Frazier, like his humor and funny sayings that the media never showed much of back in his heyday. I learned to like Smokin Joe where I never did back in the day. May he rest in peace.

Out of the shadows emerges a real champion.

Joe Frazier's story is one that restores faith in the simple approach to a successful career and life.
Enlightening and entertaining.