Smokin’ Joe Loses His Greatest Fight

He was a household word in his sport. He was also best known as one of the two combatants at Madison Square Garden back on the 70’s in what is generally known as ‘The Fight of The Century’. His opponent, whom he beat that night in one of their three historic bouts, may well be the greatest fighter in all of history – Muhammad Ali.

He was Joe Frazier, nicknamed ‘Smokin’ Joe’, a name that symolized well his aggressive and relentless style in the boxing ring. But at age 67, the legendary champion who held the greatest title in the world, succumbed to a battle with liver cancer in his greatest and final fight.

There was a time when Muhammad Ali taunted Joe Frazier relentlessly. But after Frazier’s death, Ali had nothing but kind words for his greatest and most difficult opponent. "The world has lost a great champion. I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration. My sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones."

Bob Arum who once promoted Ali said, "Joe Frazier should be remembered as one of the greatest fighters of all time and a real man. He's a guy that stood up for himself. He didn't compromise and always gave 100 percent in the ring."

Some men and woman reach incredible fame and fortune in this life – sometimes for doing or being very good at something lucrative and other times for reasons not so honorable. Recently another household name, from a totally different sphere of life, died. Mr. Steve Jobs entered eternity after changing the world and amassing a fortune probably equal to the entirety of some third world countries.

The average person is utterly unable to even grasp the kind of wealth and luxurious existence of a Joe Frazier or a Steve Jobs. But in the final analysis, both rich and poor, known and unknown, will eventually come face to face with the Creator who gave them life and will deal with them appropriately after it physically ends. That reality is confirmed in the sobering words of Hebrews 9:27. “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”

Smokin’ Joe Frazier always gave his 100 percent as did Steve jobs. Both rose to the pinnacle of their chosen professions through drive, commitment and God-given talent. But even with all of their great and historic accomplishments, unless they all had a personal union by faith with the Son of God, it all means absolutely nothing now. It was Christ’s unimaginable commitment, and the giving of His very best, that made their personal justification and redemption possible. This is partially explained in Philippians 2:5-8.”Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

Perhaps this year, Frazier’s and Job’s worldly counterparts, Muhammad Ali and Bill Gates of Microsoft fame, will meet their Maker. None can predict when that most crucial of all moments may arrive as the Bible cautions repeatedly to be ready in verses like James 4:14. “Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away”.

As said earlier by one of Joe Frazier’s admirers, “He's a guy that stood up for himself.” But thankfully Jesus Christ did the exact opposite. His divine love drove Him to stand up for others - in the place of undeserving sinners as seen in Romans 5:7-9. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”

‘Smokin Joe’, along with a select few others, held the greatest sports title in the world for a time. But that temporary honor is not even worthy to be mentioned in the same breath when compared to the One who died for him on the cross and for every soul ever born - both the mighty and miniscule. Some of His many eternal titles are recorded in 1 Tim 6:15-16.

"He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen."

Bill Breckenridge