Post by craig johnson on Nov 8, 2011 13:56:05 GMT
Joe Frazier has lost his fight against cancer.
Former world and Olympic heavyweight champion Joe Frazier has died of cancer, aged 67.
Frazier had been receiving hospice care after being diagnosed with the condition just over a month ago.
Frazier won Olympic gold in 1964 after going to the Games as a replacement for the injured Buster Mathis, who had beaten him in the trials.
He won the professional heavyweight title in 1970 by stopping Jimmy Ellis in the fifth round at Madison Square Garden and defended it successfully four times before losing it to George Foreman in 1973.
Frazier is best remembered for his three bouts with Muhammad Ali, the first of which saw him unify the world title when he inflicted Ali's first professional defeat in the 'Fight of the Century' in 1971.
But in two further fights, including the epic 'Thrilla in Manila' in 1975, it was Ali who was victorious.
Frazier retired in 1976 after losing a rematch against Foreman, and aborted an attempted comeback five years later after a draw with the unheralded Jumbo Cummings.
One of the all time greats when being boxing world champion meant something.
RIP
