Joe Frazier “THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY“
Joe Frazier - Limited Edition of 250 by Patrick J Killian
Title: Joe Frazier - The Fight of the Century ~ Edition: of 250
Medium: Limited Edition Art Print
Size: 11'' x 14''
Finish: Mounted
Signed by Artist: yes
Price: £60
Title: Joe Frazier - The Fight of the Century ~ Edition: of 25
Medium: Canvas
Size: 25" x 31"
Finish: Framed
Hand Embellished: Yes
Signed by Artist: Yes
Price: £595
This Fine Art Print shows Joe in boxing stance and throwing the classic left hook in the 15th round in the first fight with Ali that was named ''Fight Of The Century''
Joseph William ''Joe'' Frazier (January 12, 1944 – November 7, 2011), also known as Smokin' Joe, was an American professional boxer, Olympic gold medalist and Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion, whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976, with a one-fight comeback in 1981.
Frazier emerged as the top contender in the late 1960s, defeating opponents that included Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Buster Mathis, Eddie Machen, Doug Jones, George Chuvalo and Jimmy Ellis en route to becoming Undisputed Heavyweight Champion in 1970, and followed up by defeating Muhammad Ali on points in the highly-anticipated ''Fight of the Century'' in 1971. Two years later Frazier lost his title when he was knocked out by George Foreman. He fought on, beating Joe Bugner, losing a rematch to Ali and beating Quarry and Ellis again.
Frazier's last world title challenge came in 1975, but he was beaten by Ali in their brutal rubbermatch. He retired in 1976 following a second loss to Foreman. He made a comeback in 1981, fighting just once, before retiring for good. The International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO) rates Frazier among the ten greatest heavyweights of all time. He is an inductee of both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
Frazier's style was often compared to that of Henry Armstrong and occasionally Rocky Marciano, dependent on bobbing, weaving and relentless pressure to wear down his opponents. His best known punch was a powerful left hook, which accounted for most of his knockouts.
After retiring, Frazier made cameo appearances in several Hollywood movies, and two episodes of The Simpsons. His son Marvis became a boxer — trained by Frazier himself — although was unable to recreate his father's success. Frazier continued to train fighters in his gym in Philadelphia. His later years saw the continuation of his bitter rivalry with Ali, in which the two periodically exchanged insults, interspersed with brief reconciliations.
Frazier was diagnosed with liver cancer in late September 2011 and admitted to hospice care. He died November 7, 2011.
Meet the artist Patrick J Killian...
Patrick J. Killian was born in 1974 and studied at Carmarthenshire College of Technology & Art and graduated with a distinction in FineArt/ Illustration in 1995. His initial work was published as a range of greeting cards by top International Publishers Royle Publications and Gluvian Galleries. With his passion for boxing in his teens and early 20's he started producing a range of boxing paintings which were published as a range of Limited Edition Prints in 2005. Soon after this he went into self publishing, producing his own Limited Editions for various Sporting Events and Testimonials.
As an amateur, he started late and had his first amateur contest at 18 in Newbridge in 1993, stopping his apponent in the 3rd round. A young man called Joe Calzaghe also boxed on the same bill!! Patrick's record was 45 senior bouts winning 35, stopping more than 15 inside the distance of 3 to 5 rounds (5x2min rounds in Championships 1997). He seriously considered turning pro with the Calzaghe camp after winning the then ABF (Amateur Boxing Federation) title in 1997, disillusioned with the politics surrounding the sport and the amateur scene at that time he persued his dream of becoming a professional Artist.
He was commissioned in 2006 by James J. Houlihan the American Curator of the successful World Tour Exhibition - The Fighting Irishmen. The Exhibition has been travelling since its inception in New York in 2006, The South Seaport Museum, New York in 2007, Boston College 2008, Ulster American Folk Park Museum 2009, Dublin Croke Park Museum in 2010 and now Limerick, Ireland in April 2011 before heading to London for the 2012 Olympics. The exhibit now includes 4 of his paintings.
Over the last few years he has painted on many sporting and charity events raising over £35,000 for various charities through his paintings. In December 2009 his Amongst Legends painting of Jenson Button raised £6,000 for the Make a Wish Childrens Charity. He has worked with some of the biggest names in sport over the last few years including: Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Nigel Mansell, Henry Cooper, Tony Jacklin, Naseem Hamed, Jamie Robinson, Shane Warne and Gary Player to name a few.
Patrick is open to paint all subject matter and always willing to take on new commissions
