FRAZIER ... was guaranteed J$765,000 or 42 1/2 per cent of the total receipts

Jamaica Boxing Board president Leroy Brown recalls the Frazier/Foreman fight at the National Stadium

The recent announcement by former two-time heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman, that at age 55 he wants to have one more fight, brought back for me, memories of one of the greatest sporting events ever to take place in Jamaica - the heavyweight title fight between "Smoking" Joe Frazier and Foreman - which was billed the "Sunshine Showdown".

That fight took place 31 years ago, on January 22, 1973, a memorable date in the annals of local and overseas boxing. It was one of the most anticipated battles in heavyweight history, a clash between two unbeaten heavyweights, at Jamaica's National Stadium. I had the honour to be a part of this memorable occasion, as I was then the Secretary of the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control, and was named the Ring Inspector for the fight card.

The fight had worldwide appeal, and when it was announced that these two unbeaten heavyweights - Frazier (29-0) the champion, and Foreman (37-0) the challenger - had agreed to fight each other, a mad scramble took place for the rights to the fight. Jamaica surprised the world boxing fraternity, when, through National Sports Ltd (now the Institute of Sports) led by the late Paul Fitz-Ritzon, it made an aggressive bid for the fight.

FOREMAN ... was guaranteed J$337,500 or 20 per cent of total reciepts

Negotiations were long and tense, but with legal assistance from their attorney John Muirhead, National Sports Ltd and Jamaica, finally landed the fight. There was consternation abroad and elation locally, when the announcement was made, but the hard work was just beginning, because numerous ancillary deals had to be made. There had to be negotiations with regard to television and closed circuit rights, for example, and there were several lawsuits, some of which had to do with the boxers themselves. A suit was filed in New York for example, by Richard Fulton, who claimed that he had interests in Foreman that entitled him to certain payments from Foreman's purse.

This type of legal obstacle and others, were costly distractions for National Sports Ltd, but they eventually prevailed, and nothing that was thrown up was able to derail this massive sports extravaganza. On the financial side, Frazier was guaranteed J$765,000 or 42 1/2 per cent of the total receipts, whichever was greater, while Foreman was guaranteed J$337,500 or 20 per cent. Tickets were priced as follows: ringside, J$100, J$75 and J$60, grandstand J$20 and bleachers J$5. One has to remember however, that the Jamaican dollar was worth much more then, that it is now.

An interesting sidelight to the fight was that both fighters were born in January, and celebrated their birthdays here during training. Foreman was born January 10, 1949, and Frazier on January 12, 1944. Foreman's wife Adrienne also gave birth to their daughter Michi, on January 6, and he later dedicated his victory to his wife and child.

National Sports Ltd and their boxing adviser, promoter Lucien Chen, threw birthday parties for both men. Frazier had his party at the Sheraton- Kingston Hotel, where he was staying, and Foreman was toasted at a surprise party at the House of Chen.

Going into the fight, there was strong support for both men. Frazier was very impressive in training and he and his camp predicted a knockout victory. The challenger and his camp were just as confident however, and both Foreman and his adviser, Archie Moore, a former champion himself, also predicted a knockout victory. At the pre-fight physical the men nearly came to blows and I can assure you it was not an act, because I was there.
Foreman came in first, and as soon as Frazier arrived, he launched a verbal attack on his challenger. He said that he had heard that Foreman was predicting a knockout victory, and challenged him to "let's do it now". When he was restrained, he promised Foreman that he would "give it to him" on fight night.

The challenger fought back verbally however, and told Frazier, "you are not a champ, you are a chump, and I am going to prove it to you". They had further heated words and Foreman really got the champion steamed up when he shouted at him, "shut up boy". Foreman had to be taken out of the room shortly afterwards, as things got really hot, and Frazier seemed "ready to rumble" then and there.

The war of words continued up to fight night and this helped to create more interest, here and abroad. Frazier was installed the favourite by the press and public, but Foreman was given a puncher's chance because of the power he had shown in training, while first hitting the heavy bag, and then beating up his sparring partners.

On fight night, 36,000 persons paid J$370,800 to see the fight live at the National Stadium, and millions more saw the drama unfold on television worldwide. Among those at ringside was former heavyweight champion, the legendary Joe Louis. There was excitement from the beginning, as Foreman, a Texan, who at 6ft 3 1/2" and weighing 217 pounds, took the fight to Frazier, who at 6ft and 208 pounds, gave up height, weight and reach advantage.

Frazier as usual, came in low and tried to fire off his feared left hooks, but after landing a couple of punches which did not bother Foreman, he was caught with some thunderous hooks to his body and head. Foreman also adopted the tactic of pushing back Frazier forcefully, as he came in, and this prevented the champion from establishing his rhythm.

Referee Arthur Mercante blundered when he did not caution, and then warn Foreman against doing this, as it was a breach of the rules of boxing. This soon became academic however, as at about the two-minute mark of the round, Foreman caught Frazier with a right hook to the head, that floored him. This surprised not only Frazier but also those watching, and there was first shocked silence and then a roar from the crowd, as Mercante gave the champ a mandatory eight count. No sooner than Frazier was on his feet, Foreman resumed the attack and the champion was on the canvas again.

He took another eight count with his corner yelling at him to stay away from Foreman, but as soon as the action resumed, he was in trouble again and hit the canvas a third time. There was consternation inside the stadium, particularly in Frazier's corner, and fortunately for him the three knockdown rule had been waived by the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control, so he had a second round to try to redeem himself.

Frazier came out low, moving his head from side to side in an effort to make himself a difficult target, but this did not work. Foreman was on a mission to destroy him, and since he was there for the taking, he was soon on the canvas once more. He made two more trips, for a total of six knockdowns, and after one minute and 35 seconds, referee Mercante called a halt to the slaughter.

There was a new world heavyweight champion. Foreman was still unbeaten in 38 fights, while Frazier had suffered his first loss in 30 fights. Jamaica's name will forever be recorded in history as the venue for this, one of the most dramatic fights in heavyweight history. On that eventful day, Jamaicans showed the world that we were capable of hosting world-class events, successfully and with flair.

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