Former heavyweight and 1964 Olympic champion Joe Frazier is inextricably tied with 'The Greatest'. He won a lot of fights and an Olympic gold medal during his career but unfortunately he lost his battle against liver cancer and passed away at age 67 last night.
Muhammad Ali said in a statement that the "world has lost a great champion." "I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration. My sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones."
The South Carolina born Frazier became an icon in his adopted hometown of Philadelphia, PA and a legendary fighter as well thanks to his unforgettable battles with Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. .
Then undefeated Joe Frazier beat a then undefeated Ali in the heavily promoted March 8, 1971' Fight of The Century' at New York's Madison Square Garden. He won in a unanimous decision after stunning Ali with a hard left hook in the 11th round and knocking him down in the 15th round to defend his heavyweight title.
He'd picked it up after Ali was stripped of it and suspended for three years for his refusal to be inducted into the Army. After boycotting the WBC tournament held in protest of the decision, he beat Jimmy Ellis in a 5th round TKO to claim the title.
Frazier eventually lost his unbeaten record and his WBA and WBC titles to an unbeaten George Foreman in a January 22,1973 bout in Kingston, Jamaica when he was knocked out in the second round by my fellow Houstonian.
Frazier would clash with Ali in two more bruising fights in a January 1974 bout in New York and the legendary October 1, 1975 'Thrilla In Manila' before he eventually retired from boxing with a 32-4-1 record in 1981.
In later years he owned a boxing gym in which he trained his own son Marvis and his once white hot rivalry with Ali mellowed over time. He was also awarded the Order of the Palmetto in his Beaufort, South Carolina birthplace in 2010.
As 'The Greatest' said about Frazier, we have lost a great champion.
Rest in peace 'Smokin' Joe'.
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