III 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 319 

Honoring the life and legacy of Joe Frazier. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

NOVEMBER 9, 2011 

Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Mr. CASEY, and Mr. MCCAIN) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the life and legacy of Joe Frazier. 

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; 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 319 ATS 

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 AfricanAmerican 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; 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 319 ATS 

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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) mourns the loss of Joe Frazier; 

3 (2) honors the life and accomplishments of Joe 

4 Frazier, an American champion and a world re5 nowned boxing legend; and 

6 (3) offers the deepest condolences of the Senate 

7 to the family of Joe Frazier. 

Æ 


tjames on DSK6SPTVN1PROD with BILLS