Marvis Frazier, the son of legendary world champion heavyweight boxer Smokin’ Joe Frazier…was a professional boxer who retired with a career record of 19 wins 2 losses…who is best remembered for two fights….in which he unfortunately experienced both with first-round knockout losses….albeit both were against future heavyweight boxing legends in Larry Holmes (1984) and Mike Tyson (1986).
After his loss to Holmes, Frazier continued to fight and won his next six bouts….including victories over future world cruiserweight champion Bernard Benton….heavyweight contenders Jose Ribalta and James “Quick” Tillis…..as seen in this video herewith….and future champion James “Bonecrusher” Smith. With the exception of a first-round knockout in his first fight after losing to Holmes, all of Frazier’s fights went the full ten round distance with him winning unanimous or majority decisions in each fight…..which set up the fight with the 24-0 Tyson….when Frazier quickly proved to be no match for the future champion as Tyson came out firing….and just fifteen seconds into the fight….Tyson scored with a huge uppercut that knocked Frazier senseless and then Iron Mike hit him with a combination as Frazier slumped to the canvas unconscious….and as Referee Joe Cortez started to count while looking at Frazier….but immediately waved off the fight once he saw that Frazier was out cold….as the bout only lasted thirty seconds…. which proved to be Tyson’s quickest knockout of his career.
Meanwhile, James “Cowboy” Tillis had just finished scored four wins in a row….when Cowboy challenged future two-time world champion Tim Witherspoon in September 1983 for the vacant North American Boxing Federation title. Tillis was shockingly bombed out in one round, apparently slipping on a wet spot in the ring as Witherspoon hit him….when after the fight….Tillis’ trainer Angelo Dundee left him and advised him to retire, as he had just suffered his third defeat in thirteen months.
Tillis got a new team and put together four wins in 1984….just before challenging Carl Williams in a world title eliminator…when after having decked Williams twice in the opening round….Tillis tired and was outpointed in a split decision….then In 1985, under the guidance of trainer Drew Bundini Brown, he fought Joe Frazier’s son and top contender Marvis Frazier….where in a recurring theme….Cowboy had Frazier down in the second round….but again ran out of gas and was outpointed.
This was a good fight between two pretty darn good heavyweight boxers….who just unfortunately fought during the golden age of boxing (1964 – 1995)….which was a time that was “jammed full” of super great to legendary heavyweight boxers….so these guys got lost in an age of vast unique excellence in the hearvyweight division of boxing.
