by Donn C. Irving
Don Fraser, 1987 Inductee into the World Boxing Hall of
Fame
in the category for managers and promoters,
is a man few current boxing fans may ever know. They are missing alot. His
resume' reads easily:
* 1950 - 55: Editor of KO Magazine,
a then popular Los Angeles
area
Boxing publication
* 1956 - 59: Public Relations Dir. , Hollywood
Legion Stadium
* 1959 - 67: Public Relations Dir., LA
Olympic Auditorium
* 1967 - 81: Dir. Boxing & Public Relations
Inglewood Forum
*1981 - 83: Appointed Exec.Officer, Calif.
Athletic Commission
*1983 - 84: Head Boxing Promoter for the
Olympic Auditorium
*1985 - 92: Promoter, Irvine Marriot Hotel,
Irvine,
California
Born in Blythe, California in 1927, Don Fraser's parents moved to south central LA by his 1st birthday. Motivated by his Scottish-born
father & mannered by his British-citizen mother (born in India) his interest was the written word,
wanting to be a sports writer. His writing skills were honed well and he graduated in 1946 from
Manual Arts High school, a school renowned for both academic & athletic programs. No wonder, it
was located near USC. He later attended LA City College.
During his 3 yrs. in the US Army, Don tried amateur boxing, achieving an astounding
record of losing all 5 of his bouts. As he now reflects, his fate was sealed
in his 1st effort, "I looked across the ring and this guy had a serious look, like he wanted to hurt me. So I ran for 4 rounds. I guess he won." After an experience like
that, most would stay away from anything having to do with boxing, opting for easier means of competition.
But Don was a very different kind of young man. He knew in his heart boxing, in any legitimate
form, was his calling. That sort of discipline would become a foundation in his
life's work.
While capturing the local Los Angeles boxing scene in picture and print in his
KO Magazine, Don earned the respect of fighters, trainers, managers and promoters and their trust.
He had a eye for a story, a good feel for the up-and-coming
young fighters. This kind of rare judgement made it easier for local promoters
to find the good fighters, those hungrier, tougher & more willing to put on good shows for the paying customer.
While working for the Hollywood Legion Stadium in early 1956, he was tabbed
to provide the publicity and marketing for the rematch of former Middle Wt. Champ Sugar Ray Robinson
and Carl "Bobo" Olson, the reigning Middle Wt. Champ. Working diligently,
he built a strong promotional approach, a sellout, for this 2nd match-up on May 18, 1956. With
expectations for a long hard fight, Sugar Ray threw that picture perfect left hook in
the 4th round, leaving the fans in awe, yet, a bit let down due to a short bout. Don wasted no time preparing for another
media blitz for yet other sellout fights. Sugar Ray Robinson remained close to Don long after his
own career wound down in the 1960's.
In 1959, Don was appointed Director of Public Relations of the Olympic Auditorium
by veteran Aileen Eaton & George Parnassus. For the next 8 years, Don's organizational talents and
reputation among managers and fighters paid off. Nearly every boxing show featured top names,
up-and-coming local fighters and many soon-to-be Champions. Sportswriters
often called the Olympic Auditorium a place where "wars were fought and
fans never went away empty."
During a boxing promotion at the LA Sports Arena, Don met the mega-sportsman
Jack Kent Cooke, owner of the Los Angeles Lakers(basketball)& Kings (ice hockey)teams and later
the Inglewood Forum. Beginning in 1967, Cooke wanted other promotions for fans,
and boxing seemed a natural, one that would use the talents, integrity & knowledge of Don Fraser. Don smiles at Cooke's style of delegation, one where he never questioned Don's "expenditures of thousands
of dollars on handshake deals & publicizing upcoming events but questioned me on a 2-dollar
expense account item for, say, a phone call."
Cooke's delegation style gave Don the confidence to promote a great match. One uneventful day
in 1973, he received a call from Bob Arum, the artful
boxing promoter. Arum confided in Don, "The guy in San Diego may not have the backing for Ken Norton and Muhammad Ali rematch..you might want to give Norton's people a call." With that,
Don, in his usual low keyed style, made a call and offered the use of the Forum for a rematch.
There was no rebuff, just a "thank you, we'll let you know."
Ever patient & confident, he made a 2nd call after following the events and struggles to get the
rematch signed and sealed. That call resulted in a quick offer, "Come up with a $50,000 cashiers check,
a no-return guarantee. We'll meet in NY with Ali's people the following day." Don met with Cooke,
told him of the deal. Cooke called his banker: "This afternoon, Don Fraser
will be down to pickup a cashier's check for $50,000. Thank you."
With flights arranged for that evening to NY, Don was on his way. The two sides met and closed the
deal. History was in the making. On September 10, 1973, the 2nd
Ali vs Norton fight took place. The fight set the record for the largest gate
receipts in California boxing history, one that still stand to this day. Don's reputation was
cast in bronze.
Obviously, Fraser's well-earned reputation among
boxing aficionados helped then-California Governor Jerry Brown to appoint him as Exec. Offcr. of the Athletic Commission in 1981. For two years, Don performed
a yeoman's job at the helm of a volatile organization,
fraught with political infighting and claims of corruption, much of which he dealt with effectively,
focusing on important public policies, the health of boxing and venues in
California. But his heart was in promoting boxing in the real world, at ringside, where the
action stood the tests of fan appreciation and fighters' willingness to perform under his promotion style.
In 1983, he returned to the Olympic Auditorium
as the head promoter. Shortly thereafter, he took on another opportunity
to put monthly boxing programs in the Irvine Marriot Hotel, a dinner &
boxing program. Using the hotel's large auditorium, a dinner fare was served to a well dressed audience
that would also enjoy several bouts between evenly matched & entertaining
fighters. Like a shepherd, he worked closely with managers and fighters to assure that each
date of contracted fights were met. Press Telegram sports columnist Doug Krikorian
called it "boxing for yuppies". His series of monthly successes for nearly 6 years were widely
publicized, providing
good money for the fighters, good money for the hotel and a well earned income
for Don. In 1992, Don decided to retire and he sold his boxing promotion organization to his
assistant.
Over the years, Don promoted fights for Emile Griffith, Danny "LittleRed" Lopez,
Ruben Olivares, George Foreman, Jose' Napoles, Carlos Zarate, Jaime Garza, Albert Davila and list
of up and coming fighters that shaped boxing venues long after he retired.
As sports columnist John Hall of the LA Times and later the Orange County Register,
said "Don Fraser is the most honest sincerely dedicated boxing promoter I've ever met. He has that
persisistence and persverance that paid off some of the best boxing promotions
I've ever witnessed. He just has the way about him and everyone trusts him and respects his
skills."
Today, Don and his wife Ruth, of 46 years, reside in their comfortable home
in North Hollywood. (Please note that this article was written before the passing of Don's wife)
Don has 3 daughters and 6 grandchildren. He devotes his time as the President
of the Golden State Boxing Assn. where old-time fighters and fans gather for luncheons on Tuesdays at the Spaghetti Factory in Hollywood. And the rich storiesof boxing lore are
revisited by all. Even here, Don brings people together for the right reasons. He is accorded
the highest respect among the fighters---it shows in their eyes when they
meet. Boxing needs more Don Frasers.
**Current Update:
1992 - 2007 Founder & President of the
California Boxing Hall of Fame
1992 - present (2006) Founder & President
of the California
Boxing Hall of Fame
2005 Inducted into the International Boxing
Hall of Fame - New York
2005 Received the "Dick Young' award from
the California Referee Association
