[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16991]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 319--HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF JOE FRAZIER

  Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Mr. Casey, and Mr. McCain) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 319

       Whereas boxing legend ``Smokin''' Joe Frazier lost a battle 
     with liver cancer on November 7, 2011;
       Whereas, with the passing of Joe Frazier, the State of 
     South Carolina and the United States lost 1 of the greatest 
     heavyweight boxing champions of the modern era;
       Whereas Joe Frazier was born on January 12, 1944, to a 
     farmer in Beaufort, South Carolina;
       Whereas, in Beaufort, South Carolina, Joe Frazier 
     discovered the passion for boxing that would ultimately lead 
     him to greatness;
       Whereas Joe Frazier left his childhood home and began to 
     work in a meat packing company based in Philadelphia, 
     Pennsylvania;
       Whereas Joe Frazier trained in a Philadelphia Police 
     Athletic League gymnasium to prepare for his first amateur 
     fights;
       Whereas, in 1964, Joe Frazier became the only United States 
     athlete to win an Olympic gold medal for boxing during the 
     Summer Olympic Games in Japan, despite breaking a thumb and 
     fighting with a broken hand;
       Whereas, upon becoming a professional boxer in 1965, Joe 
     Frazier was known for having a powerful left hook, which led 
     Frazier to defeat his first 11 opponents;
       Whereas Joe Frazier defeated Jimmy Ellis, the World Boxing 
     Association heavyweight champion, in 1970 and held the 
     heavyweight title until 1973;
       Whereas, on March 8, 1971 in Madison Square Garden, Joe 
     Frazier became the first boxer to defeat Muhammad Ali, 
     throwing a devastating left hook in the 15th round that 
     ultimately led to a victory by decision;
       Whereas, in 1971, Joe Frazier became the first African-
     American man since the Civil War to address the South 
     Carolina State Legislature in Columbia, South Carolina;
       Whereas, in 1975, arch-rivals Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali 
     met in the ``Thrilla in Manilla'' for the third and final 
     fight between the two men, and a battered, bruised, and 
     nearly blind Frazier lost by technical knockout when his 
     trainer pulled him from the fight in the 14th round;
       Whereas, after retiring from boxing, Joe Frazier mentored 
     youth boxers in Philadelphia and encouraged the boxers to 
     lead productive lives and avoid violence;
       Whereas Joe Frazier personified the fighting spirit of the 
     city of Philadelphia;
       Whereas Joe Frazier was inducted into the International 
     Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990;
       Whereas Joe Frazier finished his boxing career with 32 
     wins, of which 27 were knockouts, 4 losses, and 1 draw; and
       Whereas ``Smokin''' Joe Frazier epitomized 1 of the 
     greatest eras in boxing, rising from humble origins on a 
     South Carolina farm to become the heavyweight boxing world 
     champion, and inspiring a generation of Americans: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) mourns the loss of Joe Frazier;
       (2) honors the life and accomplishments of Joe Frazier, an 
     American champion and a world renowned boxing legend; and
       (3) offers the deepest condolences of the Senate to the 
     family of Joe Frazier.

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