Smoking Joe Frazier sadly passed away .

[Fatboyyid]

Boxing legend Smoking Joe Frazier has been diagnosed with liver cancer and is currently being treated in a hospice.

His family and friends have stated that whilst they hold out hope and are evaluating all options possible they admit that there are not many.

Personally I will be sad when he passes. He was truly one of the greats and was one of the few that the great Ali respected.

Good luck Joe.

[bradders]

a true legend and proper boxer. real shame

[Rev John Ripsher]

If Smoking Joe is in a hospice then he is receiving palliative care .

He will be gone in a few days .

Wonderful and brave fighter

[ctw01]

He was a real fighter, a brave man for sure.

[Rivron]

An absolute legend. I will also be sad when he passes. And let's be honest, if it's primary liver cancer, he's done.

I loved watching him and Ali hamming it up with Howard Cosell and taking the piss out of him.

[Fatboyyid]

Taken from the sky news mobile app.


Former heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier, known for his three epic bouts with Muhammad Ali, has been diagnosed with liver cancer.
The 67-year-old was diagnosed about a month ago and is now in a hospice in Philadelphia, his manager Leslie Wolff said.

"We are doing everything we can ... but I would be a liar if I did not tell you it is very serious," Mr Wolff said.

He said 'Smokin' Joe', who won the Olympic heavyweight boxing gold medal for the United States in 1964 in Tokyo and held the world heavyweight boxing crown from 1970 to 1973, was in a "very painful and serious situation".

But Mr Wolff added: "Joe is a fighter. Joe doesn't give up."

Frazier, who has 11 children, is eternally linked with Ali thanks to their trilogy of fights in the 1970s which rank among the most famous ever in the sport.

Frazier won the first and Ali took the next two.

The third fight against Ali was on October 1, 1975, in an encounter in the Philippines that famously became known as 'The Thrilla in Manila'.

Frazier retired in 1976 after losing to George Foreman for the second time in his career but came out of retirement for a fight in 1981 before ending his career for good.

[SuperPokeychenko]

Sad News
A true Legend of boxing history and one of the greats..when fighters actually deserved to be classed as great
May his final days be as painless as possible

[liam]

I'm really sad to hear this news.
I am far to young to "remember" Joe's career but most of my family (the males at least) are or have been amateur boxers at some point and I grew around the sport with Father and grandfather especially showing me video's of old fights. I have many fond memories of watching smoking Joe with my grandfather as Joe was one of my grandads favourite fighters of all time. These are memories I will cherish forever and for those memories I will always be grateful of "Smoking" Joe Frazier. I hope the however long he is with us are easy and painless days.

[SuperPokeychenko]

R.I.P. Joe Frazier
His fight is over..Sleep well champ

[Fatboyyid]

Sad update fellas. Smoking Jie has passed away.

Taken from sky news.

Frazier won Olympic gold in 1964 after going to the Games as a replacement for the injured Buster Mathis, who had beaten him in the trials.

He won the professional heavyweight title in 1970 by stopping Jimmy Ellis in the fifth round at Madison Square Garden and defended it successfully four times before losing it to George Foreman in 1973.

Frazier is best remembered for his three bouts with Muhammad Ali, the first of which saw him unify the world title when he inflicted Ali's first professional defeat in the so-called "Fight of the Century" in 1971.

But in two further fights, including the epic "Thrilla in Manila" in 1975, it was Ali who was victorious.

Ali, 69, said yesterday upon hearing of Frazier's illness: "The news about Joe is hard to believe and even harder to accept.

"My family and I are keeping Joe and his family in our daily prayers. Joe has a lot of friends pulling for him - and I'm one of them."

Smokin' Joe died in Philadelphia aged 67 - a month after being diagnosed with liver cancer.

A family statement said: "He transitioned from this life as 'One of God's Men', on the eve of November 7, 2011 at his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

"We thank you for your prayers for our father and vast outpouring of love and support.

"Our father's home going celebration will be announced as soon as possible."

More follows...

Can a mod please rename this thread @RiverWire @BlueCrew LA @Rev John Ripsher @thfcire

[bradders]

r.i.p one of the best fighters towalk this earth

[Rev John Ripsher]

Title now edited .


Smokin' Joe came and shone from a golden era of brutal heavyweights , Ali , Foreman , Norton , Ellis & Terrell .

[SweSpurs]

Rest in peace!

[liam]

Rest in peace Smokin Joe you where a legend in the truest sense of the word. the boxing world will never forget you thats for sure.

[Havocc]

RIP Smokin' Joe, the final bell has rung..