An Unforgettable Film Profile of One of the Greatest Boxers of All Time
Joe Frazier: When the Smoke Clears Debuts on DVD January 29
New York, NY, January 05, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Kultur/SRO Sports is proud to announce the release of Joe Frazier: When the Smoke Clears available on DVD on January 29, 2013.
Smokin’ Joe Frazier is considered one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. This film brings to life his remarkable story, including intimate interviews with Joe shortly before his death in November 2011.
Born in poverty in the rural South, he moved to Philadelphia and trained as an amateur boxer. After winning the Olympic Gold, he turned pro and became a huge star. His matches with Muhammad Ali and George Foreman were billed as the greatest matches of the 20th century.
The story isn’t only about boxing. In America in the ‘60s and ‘70s, politics affected everything – including sports. Muhammad Ali’s refusal to be drafted for the Vietnam War contrasted with Frazier’s apolitical stance. Their bitter rivalry became a metaphor for the bitter divisions convulsing the United States. Spectacular archive footage of the matches, interviews with key players in the story and unparalleled access to the man himself make this historic film truly a main event not to be missed.
“Touching and beautiful”
Marvis Frazier
“...a must see observational documentary”
Realscreen
Title: Joe Frazier: When the Smoke Clears
Street Date January 29, 2013
SRP: $19.99
SKU: D4793
Run Time: 71 Minutes
UPC: 032031479395
ISBN: 978-0-7697-9249-1
Territory: U.S. and Canada--Region 1
Biography
Smokin’ Joe Frazier was born Joseph William Frazier in Beaufort, South Carolina on January 12 1944. He is considered one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Like other Black Americans, Joe escaped the poverty of the South and headed north first to New York and then to the industrial city of Philadelphia when he was 15. Frazier was "discovered" by local Philadelphia trainer Yancey "Yank" Durham. Durham, along with veteran trainer Willie Reddish, began to train Frazier as an amateur. Frazier won the gold medal in the heavyweight category at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Despite having won Olympic Gold, Joe returned to Philadelphia and his fulltime job at a meat packing factory. A group of local Philadelphia businessmen set up the Cloverlay Group to fund Joe’s training fulltime and help him turn pro, which he did in 1965.
Frazier & Ali
In 1968, New York State recognised Joe Frazier as “world champion” after his 11th round knock-out of Buster Mathis. Though not officially recognised as a world championship fight, Smokin’ Joe had staked his claim on the world heavyweight title. The New York Boxing Commission decided to hold this contest because Muhammad Ali had been stripped of his title after having refused the draft for Vietnam on religious and political grounds. In 1970, in a 5th round knockout, Smokin’ Joe Frazier became Heavyweight Champion of the World after defeating Jimmy Ellis.
It was not until a year later that he was facing Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden for what was called “The Fight of the Century. Not only because two undefeated champions were going head-to-head but because the American public identified the boxers with different sides of the Vietnam argument. Ali pitched himself as the anti-war, Nation of Islam fighter while making Frazier out to be the “white man’s champion.” The criticism that Ali heaped on Frazier only helped fuel the rivalry and the political divide in the country at that time.
They went the distance and Frazier floored Ali in the 15th round. Despite the taunts and jeers Smokin' Joe won by unanimous decision. Frazier says that during the fight, Ali said to him, “Joe, you can't beat me! Don’t you know I’m God?” and Frazier replied, “Lord, you in the wrong place tonight.” This was the first of their three fights. They faced each other again in 1974 (New York) and 1975 (the Thrilla in Manila) with Ali winning both fights.
Frazier & Foreman
In 1973, Frazier faced George Foreman in Kingston, Jamaica only to lose his undefeated record and World Heavyweight Title after six knock-downs by the second round forced officials to stop the fight. In the film, Foreman says, "People remember me knocking Joe down six times, but they forget that he kept getting up. He kept getting up!" They met again in 1976, where again, Foreman beat Frazier in a fifth round knock-out. To this day, Joe regards Foreman as one of the world’s toughest fighters.
Frazier's Record
Frazier's record is 32 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw, with 27 knockout wins; winning 73% of his fights by knockout. Joe Frazier retired in 1981. Smokin' Joe Frazier died on 7 November 2011.
The Film
Joe Frazier: When the Smoke Clears brings the sport of boxing alive, revealing its unique relationship with the Civil Rights movement and the raw consequences of a fighter’s life. The film has a strong contemporary narrative but the story of Joe’s gym is interwoven with a sense of perspective and history.
Contact for Further Information:
Kultur International Films/SRO Sports
Tel: 732-229-2343
info@kultur.com
Smokin’ Joe Frazier is considered one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. This film brings to life his remarkable story, including intimate interviews with Joe shortly before his death in November 2011.
Born in poverty in the rural South, he moved to Philadelphia and trained as an amateur boxer. After winning the Olympic Gold, he turned pro and became a huge star. His matches with Muhammad Ali and George Foreman were billed as the greatest matches of the 20th century.
The story isn’t only about boxing. In America in the ‘60s and ‘70s, politics affected everything – including sports. Muhammad Ali’s refusal to be drafted for the Vietnam War contrasted with Frazier’s apolitical stance. Their bitter rivalry became a metaphor for the bitter divisions convulsing the United States. Spectacular archive footage of the matches, interviews with key players in the story and unparalleled access to the man himself make this historic film truly a main event not to be missed.
“Touching and beautiful”
Marvis Frazier
“...a must see observational documentary”
Realscreen
Title: Joe Frazier: When the Smoke Clears
Street Date January 29, 2013
SRP: $19.99
SKU: D4793
Run Time: 71 Minutes
UPC: 032031479395
ISBN: 978-0-7697-9249-1
Territory: U.S. and Canada--Region 1
Biography
Smokin’ Joe Frazier was born Joseph William Frazier in Beaufort, South Carolina on January 12 1944. He is considered one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Like other Black Americans, Joe escaped the poverty of the South and headed north first to New York and then to the industrial city of Philadelphia when he was 15. Frazier was "discovered" by local Philadelphia trainer Yancey "Yank" Durham. Durham, along with veteran trainer Willie Reddish, began to train Frazier as an amateur. Frazier won the gold medal in the heavyweight category at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Despite having won Olympic Gold, Joe returned to Philadelphia and his fulltime job at a meat packing factory. A group of local Philadelphia businessmen set up the Cloverlay Group to fund Joe’s training fulltime and help him turn pro, which he did in 1965.
Frazier & Ali
In 1968, New York State recognised Joe Frazier as “world champion” after his 11th round knock-out of Buster Mathis. Though not officially recognised as a world championship fight, Smokin’ Joe had staked his claim on the world heavyweight title. The New York Boxing Commission decided to hold this contest because Muhammad Ali had been stripped of his title after having refused the draft for Vietnam on religious and political grounds. In 1970, in a 5th round knockout, Smokin’ Joe Frazier became Heavyweight Champion of the World after defeating Jimmy Ellis.
It was not until a year later that he was facing Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden for what was called “The Fight of the Century. Not only because two undefeated champions were going head-to-head but because the American public identified the boxers with different sides of the Vietnam argument. Ali pitched himself as the anti-war, Nation of Islam fighter while making Frazier out to be the “white man’s champion.” The criticism that Ali heaped on Frazier only helped fuel the rivalry and the political divide in the country at that time.
They went the distance and Frazier floored Ali in the 15th round. Despite the taunts and jeers Smokin' Joe won by unanimous decision. Frazier says that during the fight, Ali said to him, “Joe, you can't beat me! Don’t you know I’m God?” and Frazier replied, “Lord, you in the wrong place tonight.” This was the first of their three fights. They faced each other again in 1974 (New York) and 1975 (the Thrilla in Manila) with Ali winning both fights.
Frazier & Foreman
In 1973, Frazier faced George Foreman in Kingston, Jamaica only to lose his undefeated record and World Heavyweight Title after six knock-downs by the second round forced officials to stop the fight. In the film, Foreman says, "People remember me knocking Joe down six times, but they forget that he kept getting up. He kept getting up!" They met again in 1976, where again, Foreman beat Frazier in a fifth round knock-out. To this day, Joe regards Foreman as one of the world’s toughest fighters.
Frazier's Record
Frazier's record is 32 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw, with 27 knockout wins; winning 73% of his fights by knockout. Joe Frazier retired in 1981. Smokin' Joe Frazier died on 7 November 2011.
The Film
Joe Frazier: When the Smoke Clears brings the sport of boxing alive, revealing its unique relationship with the Civil Rights movement and the raw consequences of a fighter’s life. The film has a strong contemporary narrative but the story of Joe’s gym is interwoven with a sense of perspective and history.
Contact for Further Information:
Kultur International Films/SRO Sports
Tel: 732-229-2343
info@kultur.com
Contact
SRO Sports/SRO Entertainment
John Winfrey
732-229-2343
www.kultur.com
John Winfrey
732-229-2343
www.kultur.com
Contact
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