VARIOUS FILE: BOXING - Joe Frazier, who earned boxing immortality with three epic battles against Muhammad Ali, dies of cancer at the age of 67

Record ID: 858685

  • Title: VARIOUS FILE: BOXING - Joe Frazier, who earned boxing immortality with three epic battles against Muhammad Ali, dies of cancer at the age of 67
  • Date: 9th November 2011
  • Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (MARCH, 1971) (REUTERS) FRAZIER WEIGHING-IN AHEAD OF HIS FIRST MEETING WITH MUHAMMAD ALI MEDIA FRAZIER SHOWING HIS MUSCLES MANILA, PHILIPPINES (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (SEPTEMBER 13, 1975) (REUTERS) FRAZIER SINGING AT NEWS CONFERENCE AHEAD OF TITLE FIGHT AGAINST ALI
  • Embargoed: 24th November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Australia, Philippines, Usa
  • City:
  • Country: Usa Philippines Australia
  • Topics: Obituaries,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVADTGNSPJH45QQN0R0SQKA3XU9S
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  • Story Text: The sports world paid tribute to former heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier on Monday (November 7) after the warrior whose toughness resonated with the blue collar everyman died at the age of 67.
    "Smokin' Joe" fought with fearless aggression that belied his modest size and packed a powerful left hook that helped him rule the world heavyweight division from 1970 to 1973. Frazier, the first boxer to beat Muhammad Ali, died in Philadelphia a month after being diagnosed with liver cancer.
    "The world has lost a great champion," Ali said in a statement on Monday. "I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration. My sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones."
    Frazier, who won the world heavyweight title in 1970 after Ali had been stripped of the championship in 1967 for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War, also won the Olympic heavyweight boxing gold medal for the United States in 1964 in Tokyo.
    Three years later he lost his crown to George Foreman, but he will forever be remembered for three epic encounters with Mohammad Ali. In the first, billed as " The Fight of the Century", Frazier handed Ali his first professional defeat in a bruising encounter over 15 rounds at Madison Square Garden in March 8, 1971 . In the second, also at Madison Square Garden, Ali was the winner over 12 rounds in Januaray 28, 1974. The third and most famous encounter became one of the the most famous sporting events of the 20th century, a brutal encounter in the Philippines known as the "The Thrilla in Manila", which Ali won on a technical knockout when Frazier's trainer would not allow him to come out for the 15th round.
    Frazier retired in 1976 after again being beaten by Foreman. He then made an unsuccesful comeback in 1981, fighting only once before ending his career for good.
    Factbox * Born Jan. 12, 1944, in Beaufort, South Carolina.
    * Won the Olympic heavyweight boxing gold medal for the United States in 1964 in Tokyo.
    * Won the world heavyweight title in 1970 after knocking out champion Jimmy Ellis.
    * Hands Muhammad Ali the first defeat of his pro career on March 8, 1971, winning a 15-round bout at New York's Madison Square Garden billed as "The Fight of the Century."
    * Lost his title in 1973 to hard-hitting George Foreman.
    * Frazier loses second fight with Ali, again at Madison Square Garden, in a 12-round decision on Jan. 28, 1974.
    * In one of the most famous sporting events of the 20th century, Frazier lost to Ali in a brutal encounter in the Philippines known as "The Thrilla in Manila" on a technical knockout when trainer Eddie Futch would not allow Frazier to fight the 15th round.
    * Inducted into International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.
    * Frazier retired in 1976 before staging an unsuccessful return in 1981.
    * Career record of 32-4-1 with 27 knockouts.
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