THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 16: JOE FRAZIER’S FIGHTS IN THE MID TO LATE 1960’S
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 04 Oct 2025
In his second year as a professional fighter, Joe Frazier won a close split decision over Oscar Bonavena of Argentina in September 1966 at the Madison Square Garden, New York City. Bonavena floored him twice in the second round and a third knockdown would have defeated Frazier because of the three-knockdown rule in effect at that time. Frazier rallied on points from then on to the tenth and won by split decision.
The next year 1967, Frazier won all his six fights including a stoppage of Doug Jones by a sixth-round knockout and a savage fourth-round TKO of George Chuvalo. Frazier did not stop Chuvalo and he has never been knocked out in his entire career despite fighting top boxing stars.
In February 1967, Frazier had already notched 14 wins without a loss or draw, and he became a rising star in boxing. He then appeared on the cover of the Ring Magazine. At that time, he met Muhammad Ali who was still the world champion and had not been stripped of his title.
Ali said that Frazier would not be able to win over him and would not stand a chance of “whipping” him even in his wildest dreams. Later that year, Ali was stripped of his world title for refusal to get drafted in the Army for the Vietnam War.
The New York State Athletic Commission ordered a fight between Frazier and Buster Mathis, who was also undefeated going into that bout with the winner getting the title World Champion by the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC).
Although the match was not considered by some boxing enthusiasts and authorities as a World Championship. Frazier won by an eleventh-round knockout and claimed himself as a World Champion. But it was popularly known as an NYSAC title.
Frazier defeated Manuel Ramos of Mexico by second round TKO in his first defense of his world title claim. He fought Bonavena in a rematch in December 1968 and retained his NYSAC heavyweight title by unanimous decision. In April 1969, he defended his NYSAC title and stopped Dave Zyglewicz in his home turf in Houston, Texas via first-round knockout.
Then he next faced Jerry Quarry and won by a seventh-round stoppage in New York. It was later named Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 1969. Quarry was considered as a very competitive counter-puncher. But Frazier showed his vastly improved skills of slipping and bob-weaving from the flurry of Quarry.
The photo shows Joe Frazier defeating Buster Mathis.
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