JOE FRAZIER vs. OSCAR BONAVENA (Site) 

Description : Here we have a mega piece of heavyweight boxing history, a rare vintage onsite poster from the 1960's featuring Joe Frazier & Oscar Bonavena.

To fill the vacancy, left open due to Muhammad Ali being stripped of his world title for refusing the draft to serve in Vietnam, the New York State Athletic Commission held a bout between Frazier and Buster Mathis, with the winner to be recognized as "World Champion" by the state of New York. Although the fight was not recognized as a World Championship bout by some, Frazier won by a knockout in the 11th round and staked a claim to the Heavyweight Championship.

He closed 1968 by again beating Oscar Bonavena via a 15-round decision in a hard-fought rematch. Bonavena fought somewhat defensively, allowing himself to be often bulled to the ropes, which let Frazier build a wide points margin. Ring magazine showed Bonavena afterwards with a gruesomely bruised face. It had been a punishing match.

The groups that historically had recognized boxers as champions included the New York State Athletic Commission, the National Boxing Association, the European Boxing Union and the British Boxing Board of Control, but these groups, for the most part, lacked the all-encompassing "international" status they boasted of.

Postage: Shipped Flat/Ask 4 quote ... International: Shipped Flat/Ask 4 quote...