George Foreman: Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali Were Like Brothers

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.