THE boxing world paid homage yesterday to ring legend Joe Frazier, who has
died at 67.
Fearsome US fighter Frazier — known as Smokin’ Joe — lost the battle of his
life against liver cancer.
Tributes were led by his old foe Muhammad Ali, with whom he had three
legendary bouts in the 1970s.
Ali, 69, was brimming with emotion as he said: “The world has lost a great
champion. I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration.”
The rivalry between Ali and Frazier at their peaks was the most famous in
boxing history.
After Ali won their last encounter in the Philippines in 1975 — the renowned
“Thrilla in Manila” — he said of Frazier: “He is the greatest fighter of all
times… next to me.”
And beaten Frazier praised his rival’s strength and staying power by saying he
had hammered Ali with punches “that would have knocked a building down”.
Frazier endured constant verbal taunts from Ali when their titanic heavyweight
battles wowed the world almost 40 years ago.
Handsome, mouthy Ali — known as the “Louisville Lip” — promoted their three
fights by insulting “ugly” Frazier, a granite-tough bruiser who quit school
at 13.
Frazier won the world heavyweight title in 1970 after Ali had been stripped of
it for refusing to fight in Vietnam.
All hell broke loose when the pair clashed for the first time in 1971 in New
York in a bout billed as “The Fight of the Century”.
Frazier won on points after flooring Ali with a crashing left hook in the 15th
round — but both men ended up in hospital.
Their second clash in 1974 had no title at stake but the pair still managed to
come to blows in a TV studio as they promoted it.
By their third clash in 1975 Ali was again world champion and was defending
his title, winning controversially in the 14th round.
Despite their differences Ali’s respect for Frazier grew and he said: “If God
ever calls me to a Holy War I want Joe Frazier fighting beside me.” Frazier,
who made millions from boxing but lost them in bungled business ventures,
died in a hospice surrounded by his family in his home city of Philadelphia.
George Foreman, who defeated him twice, said after learning of his death:
“Good night Joe Frazier. I love you dear friend.”
Other boxing stars of past and present saluted Frazier yesterday.
Ex-world supermiddleweight champ Chris Eubank said: “Muhammad Ali could not
have been the mammoth character, fighter and man he became without Joe
Frazier. The operative word is ‘great’ and indeed Frazier was.”
Five-time world champion Floyd Mayweather added: “RIP Smokin Joe. We lost an
all-time great.”
British boxing promoter Frank Warren said: “He was part of that era when we
had the best heavyweights there had ever been.”