Oct. 19, 1964 - Heavyweight Joe Frazier of Philadelphia had to climb off the canvas tonight to score a third-round Olympic boxing knockout over Athol McQueen of Australia.
By his victory, the 20-year-old slugger became the second U.S. boxer to reach the semifinal round. Flyweight Robert Carmody of Paterson, N.J., also moved into the semis by beating Otto Babisch of Germany.
Frazier looked as if he might end the bout in the first minute when he floored the rangy McQueen with a stunning left hook to the jaw. But the plucky Australian fought back well and, seconds later, dropped Frazier to one knee with a right to the head, although the referee did not rule it an official knockdown.
McQueen caught Frazier later in the same round with a straight right to the chin, and Frazier dropped on his haunches for a mandatory eight count.
Frazier — a late substitute for 300-pound Buster Mathis — quickly regained his composure and forced the action the rest of the way. He dropped McQueen in the second round with a sizzling right to the body.
Frazier connected with another vicious hook to the body in the early seconds of the last round, and McQueen sank to the canvas.
The referee, K. Kokubo of Japan, appeared to try to assist the fallen Aussie to his feet. When McQueen arose, the dazed fighter turned his back and walked to his own corner, apparently thinking the referee had stopped the contest. At that point, Kokubo did call a halt.
Frazier will now box Vadim Yemelyanov of Russia in the semifinals.
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