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R,I.P. Joe Frazier

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 08:03:00 AM EST
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"Smokin' Joe" Frazier, 67, passed away Monday of liver cancer.

The two-time heavyweight champion was diagnosed with liver cancer last month and spent this week in a hospice.

Joe Frazier was a symbol for a generation,” promoter Lou DiBella said. “His death is resounding for what he meant: He was the heavyweight champion when being the heavyweight champion was the most famous man on earth. He was a giant of the sport, a legend and also one of the most accessible people there was. It’s sad when the giants start disappearing. It’s a sad day for boxing.”

A documentary called “Joe Frazier: When the Smoke Clears” will screen tomorrow at the DocNYC festival.

R.I.P. Joe Frazier

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    R,I.P. Joe Frazier | 11 comments (11 topical)

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    Ali said of him (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Edger on Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 06:56:28 AM EST
    that he was the only guy who talked back in the ring...

    RIP Joe....

    A true champion... (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by kdog on Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 08:41:26 AM EST
    Rest in peace Smokin' Joe.

    Frazier was class all the way...he was slippin' his rival Ali cash when the government took his livelyhood away, and the Nation was turning their back on Ali.

    Then Ali went and talked that all that nasty trash about Joe when he was allowed to fight again...calling him a gorilla and what not.  Ali being Ali I guess, but I think he went way below the belt with that nonsense, so uncool to do to Joe, they say it really hurt him.  

    Ali was a great champion as well, and his resistance to being drafted is to be admired...but I think Smokin' Joe was a better human being, with the bigger heart, and tons more class.

    Joe carried the additional burden of being preferred by whites and Ali preferred by his fellow African Americans, generally speaking....couldn't have been easy for the champ.  

    Watch this doc if you can (none / 0) (#3)
    by Dadler on Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 10:03:52 AM EST
    From a couple years ago, dealt with that relationship in depth.  Perhaps you saw it. (LINK)

    Parent
    Yep... (none / 0) (#4)
    by kdog on Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 10:19:07 AM EST
    great doc, and that is where I learned of a lot of the Ali/Frazier backstory.

    Parent
    Really was enlightening (none / 0) (#5)
    by Dadler on Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 10:34:22 AM EST
    Though I recall Joe taking a little too much pleasure in Ali's physical deterioration.  I understood it, but it told me Joe was still bottling up way too much, that he probably needed to let it all go and forgive.  As we all must at certain points in our lives.  Still, he was a great champ, with a great personality.  I'll always remember him serenading Robin Quivers on Stern years ago, he really wanted a date with her.  

    RIP champ.

    Parent

    Jeez, I had forgotten all about that! (none / 0) (#6)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 11:06:02 AM EST
    I'll always remember him serenading Robin Quivers on Stern years ago
    Classic!

    Parent
    Easier said than done... (none / 0) (#7)
    by kdog on Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 11:16:03 AM EST
    Ali really went way beyond the realm of decency with his verbal attacks against Joe.  I certainly can't blame Joe for any sour grapes...he got a raw deal in the court of public opinion and a slap in the face from a guy he helped feed his kids.

    Parent
    Can't disagree (none / 0) (#8)
    by Dadler on Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 11:30:23 AM EST
    Ali has a lot to answer for.  

    BTW, just ordered my TL t-shirt to take with me to FL.  Final table attire.  Thinking positively.  

    Parent

    that was Ali's schtick (none / 0) (#9)
    by jondee on Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 12:52:18 PM EST
    back then: he was "the people's champion", and his opponents, particularly Frazier, were all great white hopes (even if they weren't white themselves.)

    Ali unfortunatley contaminated his legitimate grievances with a lot of divisive, secondhand, Nation of Islam b.s. That was then, and those were, to a large extent, the times.

    He changed his tune later.

    Parent

    "Facing Ali" (none / 0) (#10)
    by jondee on Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 01:44:56 PM EST
    was the Doc that really blew me away. If George Chuvalo's story doesn't break your heart, well, you just don't have one..

    RIP Joe.

    Parent

    RIP Frazier (none / 0) (#11)
    by CST on Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 05:21:13 PM EST
    and also Heavy D who passed away today at the age of 44.

    For those wondering who Heavy D is - he was one of the original big hip-hop artists when it first started to blow up in the late 80s/early 90s.

    "He is known for hit songs like "Nuttin But Love" and "Now That We Found Love." He also recorded theme songs for the television series "In Living Color" and "MADtv." In recent years, D recorded a series of reggae fusion albums." Link

    R,I.P. Joe Frazier | 11 comments (11 topical)

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