JOE FRAZIER HAS PASSED AWAY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 08 Nov 2011
?Smokin? Joe Frazier, one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all-time whose epic trilogy with Muhammad Ali was capped by the famous ?Thrilla in Manila? on October 1, 1975, has passed away at the age of 67.
Manila Standard learned that the 67 year old Frazier who was diagnosed with liver cancer only weeks ago died in his hometown in Philadelphia.
Pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao?s strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza said Frazier?s passing ?is hard to bear. It's painful and is a big loss to boxing.?
Frazier battled Ali in three memorable fights winning the first in what was billed as the ?Fight of the Century? when he dropped Ali in the 15th round with his thundering left hook but lost the second and was stopped in the 14th round in the third held at the Araneta Coliseum.
With his left eye swollen shut Ali, was peppering Frazier with stinging combinations forcing Frazier?s renowned trainer Eddie Futch to inform referee Sonny Padilla at the end of the 14th round that they were quitting because Frazier couldn?t see.
Some years ago Frazier was featured in an award-winning documentary that was telecast several times by HBO Sports in which the bitterness he had towards Ali who taunted him by referring to him as a ?gorilla? before the Manila championship bout surfaced, However, some months later Frazier indicated he had forgiven Ali and was quoted as saying if he was in an elevator alone with Ali and had a loaf of bread, he would give Ali half.
Frazier had a career record of 32-4-1 with 27 knockouts.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Gladiator Management Fighters In Action This Fall
Thu, 06 Nov 2025NBA Daily: Doncic Shines as Lakers Topple Wembanyama and the Spurs 118-116
By Reylan Loberternos, Thu, 06 Nov 2025Jellie Ann Magro wins 6 straight, Quezon City down Isabela in PCAP
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 06 Nov 2025Carlos De Leon Castro Stays Perfect with Explosive TKO Win in Orlando on DAZN
Thu, 06 Nov 2025Donaire in historic bid
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 06 Nov 2025BROADCAST DETAILS ANNOUNCED FOR CMH2: BADOU JACK VS. NOEL MIKAELIAN
Thu, 06 Nov 2025Top prospect Marco Romero A victim of dramatic changes in Today’s professional boxing world
Thu, 06 Nov 2025Closing of registration on Nov. 15 for SDSPPO TWG-PAGPTD Run in Tandag
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 06 Nov 2025Rafael Espinoza-Arnold Khegai & Tenshin Nasukawa-Takuma Inoue Blockbuster Cards to Stream LIVE on Top Rank Classics FAST Channel
Thu, 06 Nov 2025JUSTIN LACEY-PIERCE OUTLASTS COURTNEY PENNINGTON IN DETROIT
Wed, 05 Nov 2025The José Sulaimán Boxers’ Fund continues supporting fighters worldwide
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 05 Nov 2025NBA Daily: Sans Injured Young, Hawks Still Dominate Magic 127-112
By Reylan Loberternos, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Kamatyas FIDE Rapid chess on Nov 8
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 05 Nov 2025WBC lifts the suspension imposed on Ryan Garcia
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Siargao pug bags silver in Batang Pinoy
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 05 Nov 2025