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On a Somber Note: Smokin' Joe Frazier Has Liver Cancer, In Hospice Care

By
Real Estate Agent with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox and Roach Northfield DRE#1008764
Truly sad news, this man is a true legend...

Former heavyweight boxing champion Smokin' Joe Frazier has liver cancer. He is now under hospice care.

Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, Philadelphia, PA...

 

SSSSSMOKIN'!!!



Maybe Joe Frazier didn't hit the status of other champs like Muhammad Ali, but he put a HUGE hurt on some of the world's best in a career full of highlights.

  The 67-year-old boxer was diagnosed with liver cancer four or five weeks ago, Frazier's personal friend and business manager said on Saturday. Leslie Wolff said doctors have not yet told Frazier how long he has to live.

''We have medical experts looking into the all the options that are out there,'' Wolff said. ''There are very few. But that doesn't mean we're going to stop looking.''

Wolff, who has been Frazier's manager for seven years, said the boxer had been in out and out of the hospital since early October and receiving hospice treatment the last week.

''We appreciate every prayer we can get,'' Wolff said. ''I've got everybody praying for him. We''ll just keep our fingers crossed and hope for a miracle.''

Frazier was the first man to beat Muhammad Ali, knocking him down and taking a decision in the so-called Fight of the Century in 1971. He would go on to lose two more fights to Ali, including the epic ''Thrilla in Manila'' bout. Allegedly,Frazier had been bitter for many years about the way Ali treated him back then. Recently though, he said he had forgiven Ali for repeatedly taunting him.

Smokin' Joe was a small yet ferocious fighter who smothered his opponents with punches, including a devastating left hook he used to end many of his fights early. TRULY magical! It was that same left hook that dropped Ali in the 15th round of their ''Fight of the Century'' at Madison Square Garden in 1971 to seal a win in a bout where each fighter earned an unheard of $2.5 million. (Back then, that was a TON of money!)

As HUGE as that fight was, Ali and Frazier put on an even better show in their third fight, held in a sweltering arena in Manila as part of Ali's world tour of fights in 1975. Frazier still wanted to go out for the 15th round of the fight but was held back by trainer Eddie Futch in a bout Ali would later say was the closest thing to death he could imagine. Frazier was nearly blinded by Ali's punches, but he would NOT go down voluntarily.

Frazier had won the heavyweight title in 1970 by stopping Jimmy Ellis in the fifth round of their fight at Madison Square Garden. Smokin' Joe defended it successfully four times before George Foreman knocked him down six times in the first two rounds to take the title from him in 1973. Unfortunately, Frazier would never be heavyweight champion again.

In the recent past, Frazier had been doing regular autograph appearances, including one in Las Vegas the weekend of a Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight in September.

''I was very sad to hear the news. It's a tragedy,'' leading British promoter Frank Warren said. ''He's one of the greatest fighters of his generation and one of the best heavyweights in history. It's a sad thing and I know everyone in boxing will be wishing him well.'' This man TRULY was, and still is, an example of "never say die." Persistence in its finest form...

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Comments (12)

Fred Hernden, CMI
Superior Home Inspections - Greater Albuquerque Area - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque area Master Inspector

I believe that Joe Frazier is a legend. He had some epic battles with many of the legendary fighters of that time! My heart goes out to him and his family.

Nov 06, 2011 12:02 AM
Wale Adewoyin
1st Crown Realty Corporation 503-512-6200 - Saint Helens, OR

I pray for Gods will in his life. We will all go sometime when our time is up. He is a real legend.

Nov 06, 2011 12:04 AM
Christine Gerbehy
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox and Roach Northfield - Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Making waves, one home at a time...

Fred, I remember watching those fights when I was real young when we would stay at my grandparents on a Saturday night overnight in the Bronx, good times!  He never failed to impress!

Nov 06, 2011 12:22 AM
Christine Gerbehy
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox and Roach Northfield - Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Making waves, one home at a time...

Wale, I had the opportunity to meet him a few years back, a truly nice guy!  Praying for him also, and when he does go, it will be going out as a winner...  ;0)

Nov 06, 2011 12:24 AM
Jim Crawford
Long & Foster - Fredericksburg, VA
Jim Crawford Broker Associate Fredericksburg VA

Thanks for the post.  I pray that he is comfortable, blessed and strong in this final bout.

Nov 06, 2011 01:02 AM
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Hi Christine -

I was not aware Smokin' Joe was sick.  Cancer....ugh!  May the Lord show Joe His love and grace with little pain wrapping His loving arms around him as he prepares to take Joe home.

Best regards from the Q

Nov 06, 2011 01:32 AM
Dick Greenberg
New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO
Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Christine - Sad news. Joe Frazier was, and always will be, a legendary champion. I used to watch his fights with my grandmother, who was an amazing boxing fan - we spent many Friday nights in front of her TV, and Smokin' Joe was one of her favorites.

Nov 06, 2011 04:09 AM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

I didn't know this either. Thanks for sharing it with us Christine. It's sad news. I too am a boxing fan - well used to be - and have fond memories of watching these legends as a kid.

 

Nov 09, 2011 03:44 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Christine, May Joe Frazier rest in peace, he had an amazing career!

Nov 10, 2011 02:51 AM
Christine Gerbehy
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox and Roach Northfield - Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Making waves, one home at a time...

@Jim I'm sure he is, his suffering is over.  :0)

@John Amen that...  What a life he had!  Lived to the fullest, and such a GREAT guy.  I met him, he was just FULL of life!

@Dick Aaaaahhh, memories!  We had to watch the bouts on UHF channels at like 11:00 at nite, lol!

@Deb Wasn't it great?  To think, we saw some of the most FAMOUS matches of a lifetime, and we had NO idea, lol!

@Wanda ABSOLUTELY!  Truly a legend!

Nov 10, 2011 03:18 AM
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

None will ever fill the boxing gloves of Smokin' Joe! 

Nov 19, 2011 04:05 AM
Not a real person
San Diego, CA

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving and that your Black Friday won't get too stressful and mess up the rest of your weekend!

Happy Black Friday!

Nov 25, 2011 03:04 AM