Joe Frazier's Daughter, Jacqui Frazier Lyde, Challenges Muhammad Ali's Daughter, Laila, To A Boxing Match

Jet, Jan 10, 2000

Armed with boxing gloves and a will of steel, Jacqui Frazier Lyde is ready to follow in the footsteps of her famous father, former heavyweight boxing champ "Smokin' Joe" Frazier. The 38-year-old lawyer is ready to step into the boxing ring and already she has her eyes on Laila Ali, daughter of boxing great Muhammad Ali, for a match.

"It would be a great draw," Frazier Lyde told the New York Post. "It would establish Laila financially, and then I would establish her horizontally."

Laila at 5-foot-10, 168 pounds, made her professional boxing debut in October last year by knocking out her opponent in 31 seconds after the opening bell. The 21-year-old former nail technician has since been undefeated, knocking out each of the opponents in her three bouts.

Frazier Lyde recently sent in her Pennsylvania state boxing application while she prepares for a pro career. Her first match is set for February in Scranton, PA, against an unnamed opponent,

Laila had not made any comments about the challenge at JET press time. Her fiance and trainer, John McClain, told the newspaper, "We're not addressing it until Jacqui Frazier is a professional fighter."

A graduate of Villanova's School of Law, the 5-foot-9, 186-pound Frazier Lyde has not let the fact that she has yet to box professionally discourage her from wanting to meet face-to-face with Laila in the ring. She welcomes the chance to take on the daughter of her father's rival.

"It's about history, competition, family and legacy," Frazier Lyde said in the Chicago Sun-Times. "I love it. But don't get me wrong. I'm gonna love watching her go down."

Muhammad Ali and "Smokin' Joe" Frazier, during the '70s, fought three memorable bouts. Frazier won the first match--still considered one of the greatest of all time--while Ali was victorious in the second two bouts.

While Frazier Lyde is eager to even the score for her father, she admitted to the New York Post that at first he wasn't happy about her entering the ring.

"Your brains get shook, your money gets took and your name ends up in the undertaker's book," she told the newspaper of her father's response.

Ironically, "The Greatest" Ali had the same reaction to Laila's wanting to box. "I don't want you to get hurt," is what Ali reportedly told Laila.

"Ready to rumble" appears to be an understatement for Frazier Lyde who is hyped and isn't the least bit intimidated by Laila's undefeated record.

"I fight in court every day with people who are not the nicest," she explained. "Boxing? That is easy compared to who I really have to fight ... Laila will just be fun."