Joe Frazier: When the Smoke Clears — friday night fights at the movies!

November 11th, 2011 by Mr. C


Director: Mike Todd
Stars: Joe Frazier, Marvis Frazier
Genre: Boxing documentary

It was a very sad & bittersweet feeling when we screened this documentary at IFC Theater just a day after the passing of the great Smokin’ Joe. However, it was also a tremendous way to commemorate and appreciate this boxing legend and more importantly a man who was compassionate towards others–outside the square canvas that is. Family values and community were high priorities in his life and you could clearly see that this would be the solid foundation that would make him into the man that he turned out to be. It just so happened that he was a tenacious & ferocious beast in the ring when he went to work digging those damaging left hooks into someone’s body and soul!

I really dug that this film didn’t concentrate on Frazier’s obvious drama with Muhammad Ali and their epic battles in the ring but instead the director focused more on the man himself, his family in Beaufort-South Carolina, his boxing gym in philly, and the community that benefited from his kind heart. The story would also tell the tale of father and son, Joe and Marvis as they appeared inseparable. Marvis also followed in his fathers footsteps of being a professional prizefighter but you can tell that he wasn’t quite the lion that his dad was. Marvis had a respectable boxing career finishing with a record of 19-2 with two devastating losses to the hands of Iron Mike Tyson & the Easton Assassin, Larry Holmes. There was a touching story told by Marvis in the film after the loss to Larry Holmes with him crying to his dad, expecting Joe to scold him and to tell him how embarrassed he was that he ruined the Frazier name, but instead Joe hugged his son, smiled, and told him everything was alright son, he loved him no matter what. I could only imagine the pressure it was to follow in the footsteps of his dad.

Marvis seemed to blossom into a great man himself thanks to his dad, while he teached, preached, & mentored kids at Joe Frazier’s Gym. The father and son combo definitely was a saviour to the community in this crime ridden area of North Philadelphia. It was a heartbreak to hear of the financial troubles that the gym was going through several years ago which prompted Joe to sell the gym. Now it’s a furniture store.

Cameos from the film included Bernard Hopkins, Larry Merchant, Larry Holmes, George Foreman, Angelo Dundee, & the up and coming boxer from the neighborhood, Isaiah Muneer. They all had nothing but great insight and inspirational words to say about Joe Frazier. It was neat to hear Larry Merchant, Larry Holmes, & Foreman say that Smokin’ Joe might not be the greatest boxer of all time, but his will to win and his HEART was 2nd to none! A revealing statement told by George Foreman was also very poignant. He said that if Muhammad Ali ever called him on the phone and needed some help, he would be there in a minute. If Joe Frazier called him and needed help, he would be there in a second!

Smokin’ Joe represented the humble, softspoken working class folk. His spoken words didn’t break out into cute soliloquy’s or jive talkin’ rhymes such as some other dirty mouth wordsmiths but instead you had a quiet-reserved but relentless warrior ready to destroy his opponent opposite of him in the ring or be destroyed. Outside the ring, he seemed to be a gentle, fun loving family man who truly cared about his fellow brothers and sisters of the human race. It was very nice to hear from the cinematographer & director of this film and Joe’s manager, Les Wolfe that whenever Frazier made a public appearance, he would stay to sign EVERYONE’s autograph. That really says a lot about a person.

I was fortunate enough to be able to meet Joe Frazier at two autograph signing events more than a decade ago in Cherry Hill, NJ and at a Barnes & Noble on Astor Place. He was very gracious and it was fitting that his son, Marvis Frazier was there by his side.

Boxing fan or not, the father and son story of JOE FRAZIER: WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS is worth the price of admission.

The City of Philadelphia should do more than to erect a statue of Joe Frazier. Although Smokin Joe was not born & bred in Philly, he adopted this gritty city as his home since the late 60’s and he never looked back. Frazier’s fighting style matches up with the city of brotherly love rather well both rugged, tough, & ready to rumble toe to toe! Forget about the fictional character Rocky….Phi-town had a legend and best ambassador to their city under their wings and they didn’t even know it.

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