George Foreman: Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali Were Like Brothers

by Scott Christ on Nov 9, 2011 1:01 PM EST in Boxing News Analysis

George Foreman spoke about his friend Joe Frazier in a recent radio interview in Dallas. (Photo by Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images)

In a radio interview with 105.3 in Dallas, George Foreman remembered his friend Joe Frazier, and was asked about the relationship between Frazier and his greatest rival, Muhammad Ali.

Foreman on his own friendship with Frazier:

"I had good years with Joe Frazier and I was able to tell him things that ordinarily boxers are not able to tell each other. Like ‘I love you, I miss you, needing the cash,’ I was able to do those things and didn't leave any stones unturned if you know what I mean. I sure would’ve liked to get another six or seven years with him. What a boogieman. He loved to dance, have fun, a party animal to the end."

Foreman on the relationship between Frazier and Ali:

"Joe Frazier is from a big family like myself. Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier were like two brothers. One that Muhammad Ali always teased the other brother and the other brother is like ‘Oh you teased me again I’m gonna fight you.’ These guys genuinely loved each other. They loved each other. I don’t know what Muhammad Ali is going to do once he receives that news. He loved that man. Don’t let anybody fool you. There was no hate there."

I think this is a fine way to describe Ali and Frazier. Yes, they had some very combative times outside of the ring, and both said things that were pretty harsh. But they were very friendly a lot of the time, too, and there was respect and even love between them. People who think Ali is a hypocrite for saying he loved Joe and admired him miss a lot of that and just focus on the sensationalism and some of the frankly more regrettable things that were said by both.

Tweet Comment 15 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

That second quote

really, really got me. Sadness.

1. Anderson Silva is waiting for you to punch him.
2. That guy is Anderson Silva.
3. Don't fucking punch that guy.

by Chris Barton on Nov 9, 2011 1:23 PM EST reply actions

Good stuff here.

People who think Ali is a hypocrite for saying he loved Joe and admired him miss a lot of that and just focus on the sensationalism and some of the frankly more regrettable things that were said by both.

I also think that some people who are really not very nice people themselves (to put it politely) will always look for the negative in someone or something.
If they think bad, they automatically think others think like they do, imo.
Instead of criticizing others so much they should take a look at themselves.
Of course, we all can be critical at times, but i hear some just go totally overboard on Ali, like he’d done something terrible and was unapologetic and unashamed.
Yes, Ali said some stuff that were totally wrong and uncalled for, but he also apologized and i think it’s obvious that these two were basically good guys who happened to be in competition with each other.
You are often going to find hostility in these circumstances, especially when you have two very different personalities.
George woul know better than any fans about whether they got along or not, imo.

by Matt Mosley on Nov 9, 2011 1:24 PM EST reply actions

Hey Matt – agree with all of what you say. Have you seen the interview with Ali, Frazier and Foreman all together in 1990 (plus Harry Carpenter) with Joanna Lumley on the BBC Sport website? It’s quite a special clip and wonderful seeing the three of them together having a lot of fun.

"Occasionally, there is a boxing match that, in its demonstration of skill, courage, intelligence, hope, seems to redeem the sport - almost. Perhaps boxing has always been a sport in crisis, a sport of crisis."

by Oli Goldstein on Nov 9, 2011 1:27 PM EST up reply actions

Cheers Oli

I haven’t seen that but i’ll have a look at it. Is it still on the sport page?
You have probably seen this but one of the first dvds i bought as a boxing fan was the “Champions Forever” documentary.
It features Frazier, Ali, Foreman, Norton and Holmes and is a tribute to them, mixing in music and social events from the times that they were fighting, along with highlights of their fights together and an interview where they are all sat there talking and answering questions together. It was made in the early 90’s i think but is still available.
I haven’t watched it for ages but it really is an emotional and uplifting documentary.
For example, Norton tells how Ali was the first person who came to see him in hospital when he was almost killed in a car crash.
I highly recommend it.

by Matt Mosley on Nov 9, 2011 1:39 PM EST up reply actions

I actually haven’t seen it but I will definitely look into it now! I don’t think the interview is still up on the front page, but hopefully you’ll be able to find it somewhere on the boxing page. It really is quite special.

by Oli Goldstein on Nov 9, 2011 6:06 PM EST up reply actions

Completely disagree about the end statement

People dont like to admit it because of the glorification of Ali in the last 15 years but he said stupid things when he was young.

Stuff like being against Desegregation and only blacks should marry blacks. He ate his crow and changed his opinions as time went on but he said a lot of unforgivable things about Joe and anyone that thinks Joe liked Ali like a brother is kidding themselves. Just listen to Joe’s answering machine.

Joe Frazier had hate for Ali and anyone in his position would as well. Its stupid to rewrite history imo, does a disservice to Frazier to paint him as ALi’s little brother that got teased. This was a man that bore the brunt of Alis racially charged insults in the 70’s. He hated Ali for this and I dont blame him. It is known in the autograph world that if you wanted an Ali and Frazier autograph on the same picture, you got Fraziers autograph first. If you took Joe something with Ali’s signature on it he would sign his name over Ali’s name.

by TheBirdsDen on Nov 9, 2011 4:14 PM EST reply actions

People dont like to admit it because of the glorification of Ali in the last 15 years but he said stupid things when he was young.

Yes, he did.

he said a lot of unforgivable things about Joe

Yes, he did.

And there was hatred there. I didn’t mean to say that there wasn’t — but there was a respect, too. Joe felt Ali didn’t need to do what he did, felt betrayed, and he was right. But earlier this year Joe said “I forgive him.” I think there’s incredible value in that, after 40 years (during which there were some good times between the two) to forgive the man, who did change a lot, and I think truly did admire and even love Joe Frazier. No that feeling wasn’t always mutual, to say the least. We do stupid things when we’re young. Ali tried to mend that for a long time. Joe, understandably, was reluctant for the most part.

It’s more a complex issue than the black and white (no pun intended) “they hated each other,” I believe. I think there were times they could probably have shared a meal and talked about old times. And there were times Frazier would have just as soon fight him a fourth time in the streets. I’ve known brothers like that. And it’s not cute — it’s truly ugly, especially at its worst. That’s how I took “brothers,” not that they were sitting around watching the NFL every Sunday and calling on Wednesdays to see how the wives were doing.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Nov 9, 2011 6:10 PM EST up reply actions

Well, if this is true, then I am truly happy to hear it. I, like some others, think that Ali treated Frazier abominably, and as we all know, Frazier felt betrayed, and deeply resented this treatment for many years.

It would be wonderful closure if they in fact put these things to rest in the past few years.

by DrRck on Nov 9, 2011 4:49 PM EST reply actions

For TheBirdsDen & DrRck

Regarding Frazier and Ali, who would know more—you, me, and the lamppost (where the lamppost = most media), or George Foreman? I’m taking George Foreman, myself. He was there, after all, and you, me, and the lamppost weren’t. Also, check out the two men in the "This Is Your Life’ clip, and tell me where’s the hate, and wondef if maybe both Frazier and Ali were better at forgiving than you are.

There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939

by BoxAnne on Nov 9, 2011 6:03 PM EST up reply actions