Why Did Joe Frazier Not Fight Sonny Liston, Floyd Patterson, Earnie Shavers, or Ken Norton?
In the world of professional boxing, the careers of popular heavyweight champions are often marked by iconic rivalries and memorable matches. Joe Frazier, a prominent heavyweight champion during the late 1960s and early 1970s, faced various challenges that limited the matchups with some of his contemporaries such as Sonny Liston, Floyd Patterson, Earnie Shavers, and Ken Norton.
Timing and Circumstances
Sonny Liston: Liston was a formidable champion during the early 1960s, but as Frazier rose to prominence, Liston's career was in decline. Frazier became the heavyweight champion in 1968, a decade after Liston's last title defense against Muhammad Ali in 1964. Liston's career was fraught with personal struggles, including legal troubles, and he passed away in 1970. Despite Frazier's success, the decline in Liston's condition made a match unlikely.
Floyd Patterson: Floyd Patterson was a former champion who lost his title to Muhammad Ali in 1965. By the time Frazier became a top contender, Patterson was past his prime. Both fighters were managed by different promoters, which contributed to the absence of a match. Promotional issues often dictate the matchups in the boxing world, and Frazier's focus on other prominent rivals overshadowed any potential fights with Patterson.
Earnie Shavers: Earnie Shavers gained prominence in the 1970s as a powerful puncher. Frazier and Shavers never faced each other directly due to the timing of their careers and the promotional landscape. Frazier's career was mainly focused on his major rivalries with Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. As a result, any potential matchup with Shavers was less of a priority.
Ken Norton: Norton and Frazier did fight in 1975, but this was not a result of missed opportunities due to Frazier's managers. Norton had a significant rivalry with Muhammad Ali, and Frazier fought him after both fighters had already established their legacies. Their confrontation was more a consequence of timing rather than a lack of desire to face each other.
Managerial Decisions
Some boxing historians and fans often overlook the role of managers in shaping their fighters' careers. Joe Frazier was famously managed by Bob Arum, a strategic and protective manager. Arum's goal was to maximize Frazier's career by ensuring he was not pitted against fighters who were too powerful and potentially damaging. For example, Frazier's first 11 professional fights were against opponents who were either not slugger-type punchers or were considered weaker contenders.
The fight against Chuck Wepner in 1975 stands out as a significant exception. This was a rare instance when Frazier faced an opponent who knocked him down in the second round. However, despite some booing and controversy, Frazier's performance in the fight was competitive. Wepner was not a typical slugger, but rather a fighter with a more aggressive and resilient style. The successive knockdowns by Wepner were more unusual in Frazier's list of opponents.
Arum's strategy was to protect Frazier from fights that he believed the fighter could not win. Managers' primary responsibility is to plan fights that will help advance their fighter's career while protecting the fighter's future. A manager must be cautious, especially with top contenders, to avoid bringing their fighter down if the potential loss might have long-lasting effects. This is why Frazier's managers focused on matches that would establish his standing as a champion.
Some boxing forums and experts often proclaim their expertise without understanding the complexities of boxing careers. For instance, the claim that managers should only select fights for maximum financial gain disregards the need to protect their fighters. Managers must balance financial opportunities with the well-being of their fighters. It is this balance that often leads to missed opportunities for matchups between fighters like Frazier and his contemporaries.
Ultimately, the decisions made by Joe Frazier's managers like Bob Arum were crucial in shaping the champion's competitive path. Protecting the fighter's career and health, while ensuring the best possible outcomes, is at the heart of a manager's role. Fans and historians often overlook the strategic decisions that govern a fighter's path, focusing instead on the boxing matchups that receive the most media attention.