Also want to take a minute to say goodbye to these brave warriors, thank you for everything and I'm so sorry that your country didn't do the right thing in 2024, because if it had, we wouldn't be in this war right now and you'd still be here with your families, where you belong. It's a shame that this forum is littered with people that voted for this crap and they come and go like nothing seems to bother them.
Wicked photo of Joe Frazier sparring in Times Square, notice the Kent cigarettes advertisement behind him with the smoke coming from it. Folks, if you've ever wondered how Frazier's punches, in particular his left hook, was so devastating, look at his arms and legs, he's built like a damn tree trunk, those muscles helped him to generate brutal power. He faced 36 opponents during his professional career, he iced 27 of them.
2010 Leaf - Ali Opponents - Auto - Bronze - Joe Frazier. I'll tell you what, I am having a fit trying to find the images to match up with his 2010-11 Leaf cards, my goodness, you would think it would be easier to find the modern card images. I can understand the resistance his early Panini stickers are offering up, but not the modern stuff.
2011 Leaf - Ali Opponents - Auto - Gold #/5 - Joe Frazier. This is a wicked card, I know this image is from his second fight with Ali on January 28th, 1974 but I'll be damned if it isn't elusive for some reason.
2011 Leaf Metal - Ali Opponents - Auto - Joe Frazier. I know this image is from the pre-fight weigh-in before their 1971 fight but can't pin down an exact match.
It's eating me up that I can't find the photo to match up with this, the 1967-68 Panini - Campioni Dello Sport - Joe Frazier. I know it's from his time at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic games because he's wearing his Olympic robe, but the photos of him at the Olympics are limited and this one has obviously been lost to history and time. Awesome sticker though.
Now it's really pissing me off that I can't find the photo to match up with the 1968 Mira Tuttosport - Joe Frazier, because I saw the photo a few years back and I can't remember where I saw it. I love this set and this is a really rare sticker.
1970-71 Dayton Daily News - Bubblegumless Card - Joe Frazier. This card is extinction-level rare, I've never seen one surface anywhere. These were cutouts from the Dayton Daily News newspaper in Dayton, Ohio, they were featured regularly as an ongoing series. They ran consistently in the newspaper for a span of nine months throughout 1970 and returned again during stretches in 1971.
2023 Presidents Choice - Jumbo Memorabilia - Logoman #1/1 - Joe Frazier. It's a crying shame that the seller of this card neglected to upload a back scan, a mixture of Joe Frazier and Michael Jordan, it's awesome.
1981-91 Klector's Cab Cards - 2M25- Joe Frazier. These are fascinating cards, the legend behind Klector's Cab Cards is that, in the 1980's, there was a NYC cab driver named Bernard Kleckner who would take black and white photos and colorize them using chalk, and then type the details of the card on the back with a typewriter. Kleckner printed the cards on glossy stock at Soloman Printing, and would give them to his cab fares so as to encourage them being repeat customers. The story goes that 400 of each card was printed, and those with Kleckner's NYC Taxi medallion number "2M25" are more valued as they were made while he was still driving his cab.
Just want to say goodbye to two more of our troops killed because of this pointless war going on, 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan 25, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzalez, 19.
1973 Panini - Campioni Dello Sport - Joe Frazier. I'll tell you what, finding the photos that match up with his Panini stickers is brutal, I haven't had any luck, Panini kicked my a$$.
I guess I've gone about as far with the Joe Frazier cards as I can go, it's frustrating that I couldn't pin down some of the photos to match up with his cards. This is one of my all-time favorite boxing photos and it really captures why Frazier was so great. In sports, as in life, you have to have the work ethic, the determination, the drive to be successful. This photo shows Joe Frazier, in freezing cold weather, pitch dark outside, putting in that work, and besides his skills, this is what made him so great, his determination, his drive, his work ethic. He's one of the greatest to ever do it, "Smokin' Joe" Frazier ladies and gentlemen.
Billy Conn was a generationally great boxer, a brilliant light heavyweight champion, and one of the finest defensive and tactical fighters of the 1930s and 1940s. He finished his career with a record of 63 wins, 11 losses, and 1 draw, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Known as "The Pittsburgh Kid", Conn was famous for his blazing-fast footwork, sharp intellect in the ring, and exceptional counterpunching. He won the world light heavyweight title on July 13, 1939, by beating Melio Bettina. He never lost that 175-pound crown in the ring, choosing to vacate it to move up in weight. His resume included elite wins over legends and champions like Fred Apostoli, Young Corbett III, Teddy Yarosz, Solly Krieger, Bob Pastor, Lee Savold, Eddie "Babe" Risko, Gus Lesnevich, Fritzie Zivic, and Tony Zale. On June 18, 1941, Conn—weighing only about 174 pounds—challenged the dominant heavyweight champion of the world, Joe Louis, who weighed 199½ pounds. Relying on his speed, Conn bewildered the "Brown Bomber" and was ahead on the scorecards going into the 13th round. Seeking a knockout instead of coasting to a decision, Conn traded punches with Louis in the 13th and was dramatically knocked out. It remains one of the most famous and thrilling fights in boxing history. All-time great fighter. We'll start off with my favorite card of his, the 1948 Leaf Gum - Billy Conn.
Wicked image of Billy Conn on the cover of the CD for "Boxers." If you're not familiar with it, "Boxers" is a 1995 single by English singer Morrissey, released on January 16, 1995, that peaked at number 23 on the UK Singles Chart. It reflects Morrissey's fascination with the sport of boxing.
1991 Kayo - Billy Conn. I can't believe I'm having trouble finding the photo to match up with this card, trouble with a 91' Kayo? This is embarrassing.
Gosh, what a great boxing photo, Billy Conn getting water thrown in his face after the Louis knockout in 1941. Conn had him, he had him, he came within a hair of beating a prime Joe Louis. He lost because he abandoned his winning move-and-box strategy to trade punches. While leading on the scorecards after 12 rounds, Conn tried for a knockout in the 13th round and elected to trade with the greatest puncher the sport has ever known and Louis caught him. Billy Conn began his career at welterweight, and over the years he slowly moved up in weight and almost, almost beat arguably the greatest Heavyweight ever in his prime. I don't think people understand just how great of a pound-for-pound fighter Billy Conn was.
Late 1930s Adam Hats Premiums - Billy Conn. There's not really much to show here, the original Cosmopolitan studio photo pictured at the very top is pretty much the same as the premiums pictured, but we'll show it anyway.
The great Billy Conn, aka "The Pittsburgh Kid." Jesus, watching these highlights, he was something else. It's just a beautiful and fascinating sport, it's deeply technical and scientific.
A YouTuber in the comments section of this video really nailed it about Billy Conn:
"Conn really had a brilliant (and near complete) fighting style that integrated both defense (distance and head control/clinch work) with attack (mostly the lead left hook but also great two fisted body punching) seamlessly."
Up next, Ezzard Charles. I honestly don't even know where to begin with him. I just want to start off by saying, hardcore boxing fans know what I'm talking about when I say that I would have no argument whatsoever if someone were to say he's the greatest fighter that ever lived. A pound-for-pound monster that slayed all-time greats across three weight divisions, middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight. His resume gives any fighter in history a serious, serious run for their money, Greb, Robinson, Langford, Armstrong, Ezzard Charles is right there with them. This is where the Megalodon sharks go to talk boxing, the most hardcore, educated boxing fans on this planet. These guys breathe, sleep, eat and $hit boxing, their ability to break a fighter down and put his career under a microscope is scary. I learn so much from boxingforum24 and I want to show my appreciation to the place. Let them tell you about how great "The Cincinnati Cobra" was.
Helmar Brewing Company - All Our Heroes - Ezzard Charles. This is my favorite Ezzard card, beautiful artwork. This image of Ezzard Charles is my favorite, wearing the heavyweight title belt with a scowl on his face, I use it as my forum avatar. My forum name is also a tribute to him, so under appreciated, you hardly ever see his name atop the GOAT lists, when in reality, he just might be the GOAT. Such a pound-for-pound monster, his resume is loaded like a 12-gauge shotgun.
Comments
Also want to take a minute to say goodbye to these brave warriors, thank you for everything and I'm so sorry that your country didn't do the right thing in 2024, because if it had, we wouldn't be in this war right now and you'd still be here with your families, where you belong. It's a shame that this forum is littered with people that voted for this crap and they come and go like nothing seems to bother them.
Wicked photo of Joe Frazier sparring in Times Square, notice the Kent cigarettes advertisement behind him with the smoke coming from it. Folks, if you've ever wondered how Frazier's punches, in particular his left hook, was so devastating, look at his arms and legs, he's built like a damn tree trunk, those muscles helped him to generate brutal power. He faced 36 opponents during his professional career, he iced 27 of them.
2020 Topps Heritage - News Flashbacks - Joe Frazier/Muhammad Ali.
This is a monster card, it's double sided with two all-time great legends, the 2011 Sportkings - Box Top Redemption - Joe Frazier/Larry Holmes.
2010 Leaf - Ali Opponents - Auto - Bronze - Joe Frazier. I'll tell you what, I am having a fit trying to find the images to match up with his 2010-11 Leaf cards, my goodness, you would think it would be easier to find the modern card images. I can understand the resistance his early Panini stickers are offering up, but not the modern stuff.
2011 Leaf - Ali Opponents - Auto - Gold #/5 - Joe Frazier. This is a wicked card, I know this image is from his second fight with Ali on January 28th, 1974 but I'll be damned if it isn't elusive for some reason.
2011 Leaf Metal - Ali Opponents - Auto - Joe Frazier. I know this image is from the pre-fight weigh-in before their 1971 fight but can't pin down an exact match.
2009 Sportkings - Box Top Redemption - Memorabilia #1/1 - Joe Frazier.
2011 Sportkings - Box Top Redemption Single #1/1 - Joe Frazier. Another monster card with an awesome image of Frazier.
2021 President's Choice - Hall of Fame - Memorabilia #1/1 - Joe Frazier.
1968 Difusora de Cultura - Album Juegos Olimpicos - Joe Frazier.
1988 Diario AS Ases Olimpicos - Joe Frazier.
It's eating me up that I can't find the photo to match up with this, the 1967-68 Panini - Campioni Dello Sport - Joe Frazier. I know it's from his time at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic games because he's wearing his Olympic robe, but the photos of him at the Olympics are limited and this one has obviously been lost to history and time. Awesome sticker though.
Panini actually used the same image of Frazier for the 1968-69 Panini - Campioni Dello Sport - Joe Frazier, but they tweaked the crap out of it.
Now it's really pissing me off that I can't find the photo to match up with the 1968 Mira Tuttosport - Joe Frazier, because I saw the photo a few years back and I can't remember where I saw it. I love this set and this is a really rare sticker.
2010 Ringside Boxing Round One - Authentic Memorabilia - Gold #/9 - Joe Frazier.
1970-71 Dayton Daily News - Bubblegumless Card - Joe Frazier. This card is extinction-level rare, I've never seen one surface anywhere. These were cutouts from the Dayton Daily News newspaper in Dayton, Ohio, they were featured regularly as an ongoing series. They ran consistently in the newspaper for a span of nine months throughout 1970 and returned again during stretches in 1971.
This is an awesome Joe Frazier art print that I ran across, with his gloves smokin'.
2023 Presidents Choice - Jumbo Memorabilia - Logoman #1/1 - Joe Frazier. It's a crying shame that the seller of this card neglected to upload a back scan, a mixture of Joe Frazier and Michael Jordan, it's awesome.
1981-91 Klector's Cab Cards - 2M25- Joe Frazier. These are fascinating cards, the legend behind Klector's Cab Cards is that, in the 1980's, there was a NYC cab driver named Bernard Kleckner who would take black and white photos and colorize them using chalk, and then type the details of the card on the back with a typewriter. Kleckner printed the cards on glossy stock at Soloman Printing, and would give them to his cab fares so as to encourage them being repeat customers. The story goes that 400 of each card was printed, and those with Kleckner's NYC Taxi medallion number "2M25" are more valued as they were made while he was still driving his cab.
1971 Manama Stamp - Great Olympic Champions - Joe Frazier.
Just want to say goodbye to two more of our troops killed because of this pointless war going on, 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan 25, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzalez, 19.
Sgt. Angel Rampersad, 28, and Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30. Thank God I didn't vote for this in 2024.
Really cool photo of Joe Frazier sitting on his Harley.
1992 Fight Night Faces - Joe Frazier. This is an awesome card, I wish we had a back scan, I really like this set.
1999 JF Sporting Collectibles - World Heavyweight Boxing Champions - Joe Frazier. I love this set.
1973 Panini - Campioni Dello Sport - Joe Frazier. I'll tell you what, finding the photos that match up with his Panini stickers is brutal, I haven't had any luck, Panini kicked my a$$.
I guess I've gone about as far with the Joe Frazier cards as I can go, it's frustrating that I couldn't pin down some of the photos to match up with his cards. This is one of my all-time favorite boxing photos and it really captures why Frazier was so great. In sports, as in life, you have to have the work ethic, the determination, the drive to be successful. This photo shows Joe Frazier, in freezing cold weather, pitch dark outside, putting in that work, and besides his skills, this is what made him so great, his determination, his drive, his work ethic. He's one of the greatest to ever do it, "Smokin' Joe" Frazier ladies and gentlemen.
Billy Conn was a generationally great boxer, a brilliant light heavyweight champion, and one of the finest defensive and tactical fighters of the 1930s and 1940s. He finished his career with a record of 63 wins, 11 losses, and 1 draw, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Known as "The Pittsburgh Kid", Conn was famous for his blazing-fast footwork, sharp intellect in the ring, and exceptional counterpunching. He won the world light heavyweight title on July 13, 1939, by beating Melio Bettina. He never lost that 175-pound crown in the ring, choosing to vacate it to move up in weight. His resume included elite wins over legends and champions like Fred Apostoli, Young Corbett III, Teddy Yarosz, Solly Krieger, Bob Pastor, Lee Savold, Eddie "Babe" Risko, Gus Lesnevich, Fritzie Zivic, and Tony Zale. On June 18, 1941, Conn—weighing only about 174 pounds—challenged the dominant heavyweight champion of the world, Joe Louis, who weighed 199½ pounds. Relying on his speed, Conn bewildered the "Brown Bomber" and was ahead on the scorecards going into the 13th round. Seeking a knockout instead of coasting to a decision, Conn traded punches with Louis in the 13th and was dramatically knocked out. It remains one of the most famous and thrilling fights in boxing history. All-time great fighter. We'll start off with my favorite card of his, the 1948 Leaf Gum - Billy Conn.
1946 Propagandas Montiel - Billy Conn. This is a tough card to find.
1940-70 Boxing News Photos - Billy Conn.
1991 All World - Billy Conn.
Wicked image of Billy Conn on the cover of the CD for "Boxers." If you're not familiar with it, "Boxers" is a 1995 single by English singer Morrissey, released on January 16, 1995, that peaked at number 23 on the UK Singles Chart. It reflects Morrissey's fascination with the sport of boxing.
And yes, here is the original photo. It's an image of Billy Conn after the fight with Joe Louis in 1941.
1951 Topps Ringside - Billy Conn.
1991 Kayo - Billy Conn. I can't believe I'm having trouble finding the photo to match up with this card, trouble with a 91' Kayo? This is embarrassing.
Gosh, what a great boxing photo, Billy Conn getting water thrown in his face after the Louis knockout in 1941. Conn had him, he had him, he came within a hair of beating a prime Joe Louis. He lost because he abandoned his winning move-and-box strategy to trade punches. While leading on the scorecards after 12 rounds, Conn tried for a knockout in the 13th round and elected to trade with the greatest puncher the sport has ever known and Louis caught him. Billy Conn began his career at welterweight, and over the years he slowly moved up in weight and almost, almost beat arguably the greatest Heavyweight ever in his prime. I don't think people understand just how great of a pound-for-pound fighter Billy Conn was.
Music break. A classic from the Golden era of hip-hop.
Late 1930s Adam Hats Premiums - Billy Conn. There's not really much to show here, the original Cosmopolitan studio photo pictured at the very top is pretty much the same as the premiums pictured, but we'll show it anyway.
1955 Fantomen Comics - Masters of the Ring - Billy Conn.
Awesome photo sequence of Billy Conn wearing shades and hitting the speed bag. I actually own the photo on the bottom.
The great Billy Conn, aka "The Pittsburgh Kid." Jesus, watching these highlights, he was something else. It's just a beautiful and fascinating sport, it's deeply technical and scientific.
A YouTuber in the comments section of this video really nailed it about Billy Conn:
"Conn really had a brilliant (and near complete) fighting style that integrated both defense (distance and head control/clinch work) with attack (mostly the lead left hook but also great two fisted body punching) seamlessly."
Up next, Ezzard Charles. I honestly don't even know where to begin with him. I just want to start off by saying, hardcore boxing fans know what I'm talking about when I say that I would have no argument whatsoever if someone were to say he's the greatest fighter that ever lived. A pound-for-pound monster that slayed all-time greats across three weight divisions, middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight. His resume gives any fighter in history a serious, serious run for their money, Greb, Robinson, Langford, Armstrong, Ezzard Charles is right there with them. This is where the Megalodon sharks go to talk boxing, the most hardcore, educated boxing fans on this planet. These guys breathe, sleep, eat and $hit boxing, their ability to break a fighter down and put his career under a microscope is scary. I learn so much from boxingforum24 and I want to show my appreciation to the place. Let them tell you about how great "The Cincinnati Cobra" was.
https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/a-deeper-dive-on-ezzard-charles-greatness.710390/
https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/how-good-was-ezzard-charles-resume.732846/
https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/educate-me-on-ezzard-charles.706072/
We'll start off with the 1951 Berk Ross - Hit Parade of Champions - Ezzard Charles.
Helmar Brewing Company - All Our Heroes - Ezzard Charles. This is my favorite Ezzard card, beautiful artwork. This image of Ezzard Charles is my favorite, wearing the heavyweight title belt with a scowl on his face, I use it as my forum avatar. My forum name is also a tribute to him, so under appreciated, you hardly ever see his name atop the GOAT lists, when in reality, he just might be the GOAT. Such a pound-for-pound monster, his resume is loaded like a 12-gauge shotgun.
Another scan of the card, it really pops with beautiful color.
1979 Quelcom, S.A. - Ases Mundiales Del Deporte - Small Variation - Ezzard Charles. This is one of my favorite cards.
1956 Adventure Gum - Charles - - - All-Star Athlete - Ezzard Charles.
1947-66 Exhibits - Ezzard Charles. This copy is signed by Ezzard himself, an absolute savage card.
2019 Edward Vela Art Cards #/50 - Ezzard Charles. Great choice of image for a card.