The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Son of Angus named Ali ‘The Greatest’
boxing: Famous promoter who gave Ali his nickname has Arbroath roots
He is the legendary boxing promoter who worked with some of the sport’s biggest names and christened Muhammad Ali ‘The Greatest’.
‘Dandy Don’ Fraser was a master publicist responsible for promoting many fights, including the 1973 rematch between Ali and Ken Norton. He also promoted bouts featuring Hall of Famers Sugar Ray Robinson, Ruben Olivares and George Foreman.
But few people are aware that ‘Dandy Don’ is a son of Angus. His father, Ernest, was from Arbroath and he is part of the famous Fraser family.
Douglas Fraser and Sons from Arbroath was established in the early 1830s before expanding the business into Argentina, where it produced jute-soled shoes called Alpargatas. The business in Argentina took off and spawned sister companies in Uruguay and Brazil, becoming a vast enterprise.
Don is a grandson of Douglas Fraser II, a son of the Douglas who founded the Arbroath business.
His father, Ernest Fraser, left Angus and, having worked in India and marrying a lady with a British Army background, settled in LA after the First World War, where Don was born.
Simon Fraser, whose grandfather Norman was Douglas Fraser’s youngest son, said: “The enthusiasm of his daughters, plus their invitation to attend their father’s 90th party, was the catalyst for my recent month-long trip to California.
“At the party, there were lots of people from the world of boxing and various tributes were paid to Don. Most memorably, it was remembered that it was he who had given Muhammed Ali, then Clay, the soubriquet of ‘The Greatest’.
“Don pinned a notice, with this title, to Clay’s chest at a function, and Clay took to it – in a big way.”
Don was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005. He lives in California with his daughter Denise, who said: “I can confirm that this is all true.” ‘Dandy Don’ said: “I’m very proud of my Scottish roots.”