Joe Frazier Dead: Mourning for Ali's toughest opponents

Joe Frazier was a beast in the boxing ring. Painful, that had to learn also Muhammad Ali in legendary battles. "Smoking Joe" is now dead, and even his hatred opponent mourns a "major championship".

There's only a battle which Muhammad Ali never look at: his third and epic battle against Joe Frazier in the Philippines, the "thriller from Manila". Heat and high humidity and the intensity of fights in 1975 brought the two warriors to the brink of collapse. "I want to see the hell again", says Ali. The two fighter hated so much that they probably prefer would be died in the ring than lose to after all the trash talk, racist abuse, mutual scorn and derision.

Frazier coach Eddie Fuch broke off finally - the brutal fight against Frazier will - after the 14th round, because "Smoking Joe" could no longer see sight to geschwollenen. Winner Ali later said that he had come closest to death in this fight. Frazier then hung up his gloves on the nail. His career was and will be forever associated with Ali.

Reconciliation in the age?
Joe Frazier died in his hometown of Philadelphia at the age of 67 of liver cancer on Monday evening (local time). According to rumors Ali subscribed by Parkinson and Frazier in the age to have reconciled himself. 1996 Frazier had wanted but still, that Ali may burn when the ignition of the Olympic torch is.

Now mourn the former rival Ali in any case and turned to Frazier family: "The world has lost a great champion," said the former heavyweight world champion. "I will remember always with respect and admiration Joe." "My sympathy is his family and friends."

Poster of the precipitation of Ali in the gym
Frazier was in 1971 in New York's Madison Square Garden, managed teach the apparently unbeatable Ali in the "fight of the century" in the 15th round's first defeat as a professional. In the einstimmingen victory, he had sent Ali with a left Schwinger on the boards. A poster of this career peak he had pride in his box gym. The second fight against "Butterfly" Ali lost Frazier however - as also the third in Manila.

Nevertheless, there were many highlights for Ali's most famous opponent: as first heavyweights Frazier won 1964 Olympic gold medal in his colorful career in Tokyo (by the way against the Regensburg Hans Huber). in 1970, he was heavyweight champion and defended the title four times, until 1973, George Foreman inflicted a severe defeat him and took the title. With the words "Good night Joe Frazier." "I love you, my good friend", George goodbye "Big" of the former adversaries.

Frazier inspired Stallone in Rocky
Frazier had inspired also the screenwriter of Sylvester Stallone. In the film Rocky, in which the Boxer in a short guest role is to see the protagonist with frozen beef halves - train just as it had done the slaughterhouse workers Frazier as a teenager.

Frazier balance sheet as a professional: 32 WINS, four losses (two each against Ali and foreman) and a draw. Frazier was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Rest in peace, Joe Frazier.