Boxing Legend [Smokin] Joe Frazier Dies At 67
Author: peter Date: 14 November, Category: Fact, Visits 3069
[Joseph William [Joe] Frazier (January 12, 1944 – November 7, 2011), also known as Smokin Joe, was a former Olympic and Undisputed World Heavyweight boxing champion, whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976, with a brief comeback in 1981.
Frazier emerged as the top contender in the late 1960s, defeating the likes of Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Buster Mathis, Eddie Machen, Doug Jones, George Chuvalo and Jimmy Ellis en route to becoming undisputed heavyweight champion in 1970, and followed up by defeating Muhammad Ali on points in the highly-anticipated [Fight of the Century] in 1971. Two years later Frazier lost his title when he was knocked out by George Foreman. He fought on, beating Joe Bugner, losing a rematch to Ali, and beating Quarry and Ellis again.
Fraziers last world title challenge came in 1975, but he was beaten by Ali in their brutal rubbermatch. He retired in 1976 following a second loss to Foreman. He made a comeback in 1981, fighting just once, before retiring for good. The International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO) rates Frazier among the ten greatest heavyweights of all time. He is an inductee of both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
Frazier was diagnosed with liver cancer in late September 2011 and admitted to hospice care. He died November 7, 2011]. – Wikipedia

The world heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier, before his fight with Joe Bugner. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images). 18th June 1973
Joe Frazier an American Boxer who lost his championship title to George Foreman on a technical knockout, is seen here in training. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images). 19th June 1973
Joe Frazier, World Champion Heavyweight boxer models clothing at Leicester Square Empire Ballroom. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images). 26th June 1973
Joe Frazier, the former world heavyweight champion, after a hard-won victory over Joe Bugner in a world title eliminator at Earls Court. (Photo by Leonard Burt/Central Press/Getty Images). 3rd July 1973
Boxer Joe Frazier hits the punching bag. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images). 19th June 1976
Muhammad Ali outpoints Joe Frazier in New York. (Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK/ALLSPORT). 1974
Joe Frazier, the former Heavyweight Champion of the World poses for a portrait at his boxing gym on March 18, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)