Joe Frazier makes appearance at Saratoga

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Forty years ago, he was a sneering, intimidating brawler who would take five hard shots from Muhammad Ali to get in one of his own. Now, at 67, Joe Frazier likes to joke and sing, especially the 1950s rock 'n' roll classic "Shake, Rattle and Roll." He's noticeably thinner and walks haltingly with a black cane, but the old champ still draws an enthusiastic crowd.

Smokin' Joe was at Saratoga Race Course Friday to meet the media, sign autographs and present a trophy to a winning owner to commemorate the 40th anniversary of "The Fight of the Century" on March 8, 1971, in which Frazier won a unanimous decision from Ali to take the heavyweight championship.

That brutal battle between unbeatens at Madison Square Garden was one of the most celebrated events in the history of boxing. George Kalinsky, the Garden's official photographer for the past 45 years, could never forget it. "No event I ever photographed had the magnitude or the aura of 'The Fight of the Century,' " Kalinsky said Friday morning.

It was the first of three cosmic struggles between Ali and Frazier, with Ali taking the final two. Frazier pointed out the differences between him and his archrival in 1971.

"At that time, Muhammad was doing a lot of things besides fighting," Frazier said, referring to his conversion to Islam and refusal to be inducted into the military, which led to his 3½-year hiatus from boxing. "I didn't know anything but fighting."

Frazier was asked about George Foreman, who knocked him down six times in Kingston, Jamaica, in January 1973 to take his title belt. Frazier began singing "He ain't nothin' but a hound dog" before praising Big George as "a great guy, even if he did whup me up so bad.

"But I ain't scared of nobody. I'd take George on again," he added, drawing laughs. "He's in the kitchen now with his grill. I still have all of my movement. I could be back in shape in six weeks' time."

During Frazier's career, boxing was still a major sport. Commenting on its dramatic decline in popularity, Frazier said, "The game has the ability to carry on, but somewhere along the way our leadership sidestepped."

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Weather no factor in Travers

Hurricane Irene will not spoil Saturday's Travers Stakes, according to the Weather Channel's forecast for Saratoga County. Saturday's prediction is for mostly cloudy skies and a high of 82 degrees. No rain is expected until late in the evening, with the possibility of half an inch falling Saturday night into Sunday morning.

NYRA spokesman Dan Silver said no decision would be made on whether to run the Sunday card until Saturday afternoon.