Ex-heavyweight champ Joe Frazier has died

[UrbScotty]

Source: WPVI

Former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier has lost his battle with liver cancer, his family tells Action News.

Late Monday night, the family of Smokin' Joe Frazier issued this statement:

"We The Family of the 1964 Olympic Boxing Heavyweight Gold Medalist, Former Heavyweight Boxing Champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame Member Smokin' Joe Frazier, regrets to inform you of his passing. He transitioned from this life as "One of God's Men," on the eve of November 7, 2011at his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We thank you for your prayers for our Father and vast outpouring of love and support.

Respectfully, we request time to grieve privately as a family. Our father's home going celebration will be announced as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding."

Read more: http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/sports&id=8422638

[chollybocker]

1. Fist.

RIP, Smokin' Joe.

[Renew Deal]

2. Wow. I'm sad to hear it.

:cry:

[maddezmom]

3. very sad news

RIP :(

[DearAbby]

4. Safe Journey Smokin Joe

[tawadi]

5. He was one of the great ones

RIP Joe Frazier.

[emilyg]

6. RIP

[bigdarryl]

7. Floyd Mayweather said he will pay for his funeral

[DaDeacon]

10. First stand-up thing that kid has done in a while!

[RamboLiberal]

8. RIP Smokin Joe

[demosincebirth]

9. R.I.P. Joe.

[shanti]

11. RIP, smoking joe

[Rhiannon12866]

12. Oh, no! So sad to hear.

We've lost a legend. ;(

[Archae]

13. Very similar to my Dad.

Got the diagnosis, liver cancer, 2 days later he died.

RIP Joe. Say hi to my Dad for me.

[Wisconsinite]

14. That sucks!

R.I.P. Joe

[jakeXT]

15. Rocky is dead

Boxing legend Joe Frazier, who had a cameo in Rocky and later said he was the inspiration for the iconic scenes where Sylvester Stallone is seen running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, died Monday night in Philadelphia after a brief battle with liver cancer. He was 67.

...

"I was the drain man. My job was to make sure the blood went down the drain," he said. "But sometimes, early in the morning, I'd go down that long rail of meat and work on my punching. That's how Stallone got the same idea for Rocky -- just like he used the story about me training by running up the steps of the museum in Philly."

But Frazier said he never earned a cent from the backstory.

"He never paid me for none of my past," the boxer said. "I only got paid for a walk-on part. Rocky is a sad story for me."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/boxer-joe-frazier-muhammad-ali-rocky-258563

[dipsydoodle]

16. BBC Link with nice picture of him.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15632665

[BeyondGeography]

17. A truly unforgettable fighter

Rest in peace, champ.

:patriot:

[msanthrope]

18. Joe Frazier Has Died.

Source: KYW 1060 Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Joe Frazier, the former heavyweight champion who handed Muhammad Ali his first defeat yet had to live forever in his shadow, died Monday night after a brief final fight with liver cancer. He was 67.

The family issued a release confirming the boxer’s death.

Frazier, who took on Ali in three momentous fights in the 1970s — including the epic “Thrilla in Manilla” — had been under 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.”



Read more: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2011/11/07/former-heavyweight-champion-smokin-joe-frazier-has-died/

---

Goodbye, Joe. You gave us some of the best boxing matches, ever.

[dipsydoodle]

19. That's twice today then

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x5051791

[Jim__]

20. RIP Joe.

[BeyondGeography]

21. Such a great fighter and what a journey...Nice write-up on his life from his hometown paper

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/20111108_Final_bell_for_Philly_legend.html?cmpid=125219969

[FreeStateDemocrat]

22. Just like what they said about another Joe, Joe Louis, "He was a credit to his race the human race."

[The Wizard]

23. Unchallenged legacy(NT)

[tclambert]

24. I still want to learn how he threw that great left hook.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZCvCxirJic&feature=related

[lunatica]

25. Rest in peace

[sarcasmo]

26. R.,I.P.