The world mourns the death of boxing legend Joe Frazier. Last night, Frazier, 67, died in a hospice of liver cancer. During the height of his career and beyond, Frazier was forever linked to Muhammad Ali. The two fighters were the greatest at the sport and their battles in the ring were epic. In 1971, Joe Frazier won the Fight of the Century at Madison Square Garden in New York. It would mark Ali’s first loss – ever. But the century was hardly over before Ali and Frazier were set up for a rematch in 1975 in the Philippines dubbed Thrilla in Manila.
Ali would win in the 14th round but even his ego could admit shortly afterwards that Frazier was a great boxer.
“Joe Frazier, I’ll tell the world right now, brings out the best in me. I’m gonna tell ya, that’s one helluva man, and God bless him.”
Following his death Ali reminded the world of Frazier’s greatness, (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.”
Watch the 14th round of Ali and Frazier in Thrilla in Manila – RIP Joe Frazier
http://youtu.be/yRth-5w0Lt8
