WIN, LOSE ORDRAW... Frazier to retire after Clay fight

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32460, 21 November 1970, Page 48

WIN, LOSE ORDRAW... Frazier to retire after Clay fight

(N.Z. Press Association— Copyright!

DETROIT.

The world heavy-weight champion, Joe Frazier, will have his last fight against Cassius Clay, “win, lose or draw,” his manager (Mr Y. Durham), said yesterday, United Press International reported.

Although Frazier, himself, did not agree with his manager, the 6ft, 15st 71b champion was quickly put in his place. Mr Durham has' insisted all along that Frazier will fight only until he builds up enough money to retire, and a bout with Clay would do that, providing a $2 million pay-off. “After Clay, Joe will, retire, win, lose or draw,” Mr Durham said. He stressed that losing and drawing were not the outcome he expected from the bout that is tentatively scheduled for February. “I don’t know about that,” Frazier said. “I’d like to. fight another year or so. I don’t know what that talk about losing to Clay is either.

There’s no notion in my mind that I might lose?’ “It doesn’t make any difference whether Joe wants to quit or not,” Mr Durham replied. “If I don’t let him fight, he don’t fight. It’s in the contract.” However, before a showdown is possible between Clay and Frazier, two more obstacles must be overcome. Clay must beat Oscar Bonavena on December 7 and then avoid going to gaol to serve a five-year sentence for draft evasion. He has appealed against the sentence to the Supreme Court. DAILY TRAINING Frazier, who knocked out the world light-heavyweight champion, Bob Foster, in the second round in the heavyweight title fight at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night, will not be taking a rest. ■‘l'm going to keep training every day to keep my weight down,” the 26-year-oid Frazier said. “If the fight does come up against Clay, I’ll be ready.” A bout with Clay would provide the biggest money attraction in sports history, but Frazier insisted: “I don’t care if I ever fight Clay. It’s not a personal matter, or pride or nothing, to fight him, but just another pay-day. "If I fight two other guys. I might make as much as I

would fighting Clay. I’ve got this job for the money, but if the Clay fight never comes off, I won’t mope around. I’ll just pick up and fight somebody else.” But Clay must mean more than a mere pay-day to Frazier. Ever since Frazier turned professional after winning the heavyweight gold medal in the 1960 Olympic Games, there has been talk of Clay. "After my first fight, a preliminary, reporters came in the dressing room and asked when I was going to be ready for Clay. He was the champion,” Frazier said. "Now people tell me he’s better than I am to make me mad, but none of that bothers me. I know I’m ready now.”