Joe Frazier Passport 1984

Frazier’s passport, number E474304, was issued on March 12, 1984. The passport measures 3.5 x 5 and contains his printed personal information on the third page, signed at the bottom “Joseph Frazier.” Affixed on the adjoining page, opposite the personal information page, is Frazier’s 2.25 x 2.5 passport snapshot, which bears an embossed State Department seal over the top portion.

Frazier has also filled in his address and emergency contact information on the inside front cover, listing Florence Frazier as his contact. Inside pages bear Visa stamps from London, Trinidad and Tobago, and New York. In excellent condition, with mild rippling and expected handling wear.

Joseph William “Joe” Frazier (January 12, 1944 – November 7, 2011), also known as Smokin’ Joe, was an American professional boxer, Olympic gold medalist, and Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion, whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976, with a one-fight comeback in 1981.

Frazier emerged as the top contender in the late 1960s, defeating opponents that included Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Buster Mathis, Eddie Machen, Doug Jones, George Chuvalo, and Jimmy Ellis en route to becoming the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion in 1970, and followed up by defeating Muhammad Ali by unanimous decision in the highly anticipated “Fight of the Century” in 1971.

Two years later, Frazier lost his title when George Foreman knocked him out. He fought on, beating Joe Bugner, losing a rematch to Ali, and beating Quarry and Ellis again.

1964 Olympics Joe Frazies Passport 1984

In 1964, heavyweight representative Buster Mathis qualified but was injured, so Frazier was sent as a replacement. At the Heavyweight boxing event, Frazier knocked out George Oywello of Uganda in the first round, then knocked out Athol McQueen of Australia 40 seconds into the third round. He was then into the semi-final as the only American boxer, facing the 6 foot 4, 230 lb. Vadim Yemelyanov of the Soviet Union.

“My left hook was a heat-seeking missile, repeatedly reeling off his face and body. Twice in the second round, I knocked him to the canvas. But as I pounded away, I felt a jolt of pain shoot through my left arm. Oh damn, the thumb.” Joe would say. Joe knew immediately the thumb of his left hand was damaged, though he wasn’t sure as to the extent. “Amid the fight, with your adrenaline pumping, it’s difficult to gauge such things. My mind was on more important matters. Like how I would deal with Yemelyanov for the rest of the fight.” The match ended when The Russian handlers threw in the towel at 1:49 in the second round, and the referee raised Joe’s injured hand in victory.

Now that Joe was into the final, he didn’t mention his broken thumb to anyone. He returned to his room and soaked his thumb in hot water and Epsom salts. “Pain or not, Joe Frazier of Beaufort, South Carolina, was going for gold.” Joe proclaimed. Joe would fight a 30-year-old German mechanic named Hans Huber, who failed to make it on the German Olympic wrestling team.

By now, Joe was used to fighting bigger guys, but he was not used to doing it with a damaged left hand. When the opening bell sounded on fight night, Joe came out and started winging punches; he threw his right hand more than usual that night. Every so often, he’d used his left hook, but nothing landed with the kind of impact he managed in previous bouts. Under Olympic rules, five judges, and that night three voted for Joe.

Frazier’s last world title challenge came in 1975, but Ali beat him in their brutal rubber match. He retired in 1976 following a second loss to Foreman. He made a comeback in 1981, fighting just once, before retiring. The International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO) rates Frazier among the ten greatest heavyweights of all time. He is an inductee of both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.

Joe Frazier Passport 1984