Smokin' Joe Fraser dies after fight with cancer.

[nickdnz]

Joe Frazier, the former heavyweight champion who handed Muhammad Ali his first defeat but had to live forever in his shadow, has died after a brief final fight with liver cancer. He was 67.
The family issued a release confirming the boxer's death on Monday night.
Frazier, who took on Ali in three momentous fights in the 1970s - including the epic Thrilla in Manila - had been in home hospice care after being diagnosed just weeks ago with the cancer that took his life, a family friend said.
Until then, Frazier had been doing regular autograph appearances, including one in Las Vegas in September.
Smokin' Joe was a small yet ferocious fighter who smothered his opponents with punches, including a devastating left hook he used to end many of his fights early.
It was the left hook that dropped Ali in the 15th round at Madison Square Garden in 1971 to seal a win in the so-called Fight of the Century.
Although he beat Ali in that fight, Frazier lost the final two and, for many years, was bitter about the role Ali forced him to play as his foil.

http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/news/article/-/11483838/joe-frazier-dies-after-fight-with-cancer/

One of my favourite boxers of all time. RIP.

 

[Sam Owen]

R.I.P Joe. A good champion and a good example of hard work and dedication.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

RIP Smokin Joe

 

[j-dawg]

Give em' a left hook for me, Joe.

 

[JW.]

RIP, grew up watching replays of those great fights! Not born when they were live. All about hard work.

 

[Manuel_Williams]

RIP, the guy was a legend.