Thaindian News

New York, Nov 8 (IANS) “Smokin” Joe Frazier, former heavyweight champion and boxing legend Muhammad Ali’s fiercest rival, lost his battle against liver cancer at the age of 67.

Frazier, also the Olympic champion of the 1964 edition in Tokyo, breathed his last Monday night in a Philadelphia hospice a month after being diagnosed with liver cancer.

Frazier, who was born in South Carolina and took up to boxing at a very young age, held the heavyweight title from 1970 to 1973 and will be best remembered for his battles with Ali.

Frazier became the first man to beat Ali on March 8, 1971 in what was billed as the “fight of the century” organised at the Madison Square Garden here. Ali took the three next two fights between them in the 1970s and their rivalry in the ring would go down as one of the greatest in the sport’s history.

Both Ali and Frazier were contrasting personalities and detested each other inside and outside the ring. But there was no dearth of mutual respect between the two champions and that showed when Ali got to know about Frazier’s death.

“I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration. My sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones,” Ali said in a statement.

Frazier won the world heavyweight title in 1970, beating Jimmy Ellis, after Ali’s crown was taken away following his refusal to fight in the Vietnam war.

He later lost his title to George Foreman in a fight in 1973. His second loss to Foreman came in 1975 after which he decided to retire.

Frazier came out of retirement in 1981 but could not make much of an impact.

Frazier’s career record comprised 32 wins, four losses and a draw. He only lost to Ali and George Foreman in his career.