BY NOE GANDILLOT

Boxing has lost one of its greatest legends. Former heavyweight champ Joe Frazier died at age 67. NBC has the details:

“Boxing legend Joe Frazier has passed away after a brief battle with liver cancer. “Smoking Joe” was the first man to beat Mohammad Ali in the fight of the century at Madison Square Garden back in 1971 and the two famously slugged it out nearly to the death at the “Thrilla in Manila” back in 1975.”

Frazier’s most glorious feat remains his 1971 win over Ali, in what was called the “Fight of the Century” between the then undefeated heavyweight champions. But Ali would later take his revenge twice - in 1973 and 1974.Their final fight - the famous “Thrilla in Manila” - is considered one of the most brutal ever. Here’s CNN: 

“Frazier battled through 14 rounds before his corner stopped the fight, handing victory to Ali who’d say years later that Frazier was the toughest opponent that he had ever faced...”

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Hoffer says the boxing community never really got over these fights.

“Forever after, those run-ins became a catchphrase for an exaggerated style of competition, for when athletic urgency just went a little too far, got out of hand, produced something both awful and wonderful...We hear it to this day: It was good, but it was no Ali-Frazier.”

“Smoking Joe” was famous for his devastating left hook and his relatively small size for a heavyweight. Because of his spectacular boxing style, ESPN boxing writer Dan Rafael says He will be remembered as the “true warrior king” :

“Mohammad Ali will go down as the great boxer, you know, He had a great lightning speed. Joe Frazier though, was the guy who could get in there and just wanted to rumble and that’s why they made for such great fights together. But he was the one that led that dance, He was the one that is the kind of boxer that every fight fan wants to see."

Although the relationship between the two legends had always been tense, Mohammad Ali reacted  a short statement with deep emotion :

“I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration. The world has lost a great champion.”

(Image source : YouTube / JoeFrazierFilm)