| 08 November 2011
Boxing lost a great one yesterday when Joe Frazier passed away at age 67 following a battle with liver cancer. It was a bit of a stunner in the sense that his ailment was only revealed to the world at large a short time ago, and just like that, he was gone.
The former world heavyweight champion was best known for his rivalry with Muhammad Ali, one that saw him hand Ali his first career loss before dropping the second and third fights in the trilogy. The final bout, known as the "Thrilla in Manilla," is quite simply one of the most famous boxing matches of all time.
Though I've seen those fights and Frazier's bouts with George Foreman on video, I'm hardly the right person to write about him or put his career in perspective. Most of Smokin' Joe's career took place literally before my time.
But in the wake of his death, many knowledgeable boxing scribes and personalities are weighing in, so I can at least point you in the direction of all the good stuff:
- ESPN's Dan Rafael says Ali would never have become The Greatest if it wasn't for Frazier.
- Frazier defined what being a fighter meant, says Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports.
- Mark Kriegel of Fox Sports hopes Frazier put hate behind and found peace.
- Floyd Mayweather Jr. has offered to pay for Frazier's funeral services.
- Vitali Klitschko paid tribute on behalf of both Klitschko brothers.
- Sean Gregory of Time gives a nice summary of Frazier's career and his relationship with Ali.
- Michael Ventre of NBC Sports goes further than some and says Frazier should be remembered as Ali's equal.
- On SI.com, Richard Hoffer explores the paradox that Frazier was both ruined and elevated by his losses to Ali.
- Can't forget about where Frazier was from, so here's an exploration of his ties to Philly by Don Steinberg.
R.I.P. Smokin' Joe.
