Tonight, with the stunning Beaufort River as backdrop, Beaufort, SC native son Joe Frazier -- owner of boxing's most stunning left hook -- will receive South Carolina's highest civilian honor, the Order of the Palmetto.
Gov. Mark Sanford will present the award at Beaufort's Waterfront Park in a ceremony scheduled for 6 p.m.
Other recipients of the award include author Pat Conroy, singer James Brown, author James Dickey, the late Sen. and Gov. Strom Thurmond, and Gen. William Westmoreland, so Frazier will be in some heady company.
Former heavyweight champion Larry Holmes will be on hand at the ceremony, as will University of South Carolina gridiron legend George Rogers, winner of the 1980 Heisman Trophy.
Frazier grew up in a segregated Beaufort County back in the late 1940s and early 50s. He moved to Philadelphia as a teenager to pursue his career as a boxer.
I claim no impartiality when it comes to Frazier.
Frazier was my favorite fighter as a boy. Growing up in South Florida in the early 1970s, I had an early fascination with boxing. In fact, a friend of mine here in Beaufort dubbed me the "Fight Realtor" a few years back because I managed to impress -- and surprise -- him with my knowledge of the "sweet science."
Frazier possessed all the qualities I admired in a professional athlete -- humility, determination, courage. He was the anti-Muhammad Ali.
George Foreman, who knocked Joe out twice, called Joe the "bravest man" he had ever known after the second bout.
Frazier, of course, was best known for his three epic bouts with Ali. In addition to being the classic matchup of boxer vs. puncher, the rivarly was fueled by the intense and bitter hatred the two me had for each other.. The soft-spoken Frazier became a lightning rod for the motor-mouthed Ali, who was always looking for a verbal target.
ironically, Frazier was instrumental in helpng Ali get his boxing license reinstated in 1970. Ali had been stripped of his championship and boxing license after being convicted of draft evasion in the Vietnam Era. Frazier befriended Ali, trained with him, and then lobbied for the reinstatement prior to their first fight in Madison Square Garden, in 1971.
Frazier won a gold medal at the 1964 Olympics, and became heavyweight champion in 1970, when he knocked out Jimmy Ellis. For more information about Beaufort, SC, or the Beaufort, SC real estate market, visit www.ExploreBeaufortRealEstate.com.
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