Eddie Futch - Training Joe Frazier

Training Joe Frazier

Eddie Futch was first hired by Frazier, and his chief cornerman and manager Yank Durham to help him prepare for a fight with Scrapiron Johnson in 1967. Shortly thereafter, he was informed by the duo that Joe Frazier had been legally blind in his left eye since a training accident in 1964. Throughout Frazier's entire career, the three men were the only ones who knew about this severe malady. Because of this, and Joe's lack of height and reach, Futch deemed it to be of the utmost importance for Frazier to develop an effective defensive style. He trained Frazier to constantly bob and weave, and create a sense of persistent motion and pressure, which also took advantage of Frazier's lack of size to make him an elusive target. This unique fighting style enabled him to get inside where his punches could reach his opponents without taking as much punishment as boxing with a more conventional fighting style would.

The tactic proved to be highly effective, and Frazier remained undefeated, winning the New York title from Buster Mathis, and WBA crown from Jimmy Ellis with devastating knockouts. All of which led to the inevitable showdown with Muhammad Ali in the bout promoters deemed "The Fight of the Century" which took place in March 1971 at New York's Madison Square Garden.