As the son of a legendary Sports Illustrated boxing writer who covered Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier for 11 years, Mark Kram Jr. might have been genetically destined to become the author of "Smokin' Joe: The Story of Joe Frazier," a hot new book from Ecco Press.

Kram Jr. -- a nationally-celebrated sportswriter, himself -- joins us on this week's show to provide an inside peek at the life of the legendary heavyweight who handed Ali his first-ever professional loss in the 1971 "Fight of the Century," the first of three historic meetings of the all-time greats.

Kram Jr. also shares warm memories his late, great father, who brought him souvenirs from big fights at exotic venues, and worked closely with his son on a controversial book, 2001's "Ghosts of Manila," which detailed the stormy relationship between Frazier and Ali.

Our colorful interview with Mark Kram Jr. is preceded by a preview of the boxing scene in the United Kingdom for 2020, plus insight from expert analysts Travis Hartman and John J. Raspanti on upcoming fights, Eddie Hearn's cryptic threat to jack up subscription prices at DAZN, and Adrien Broner's ominous start to the new year, which, for the 30-year-old fighter, began with an online flirtation with a 16-year-old girl.


Dennis Taylor is host of The Ringside Boxing Show, editor/publisher of www.ringsideboxingshow.com, and co-author (with John J. Raspanti) of "Intimate Warfare: The True Story of the Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward Boxing Trilogy," an Amazon bestseller.