Former Heavyweight Boxing Champion Joe Frazier, dead at 67

Joe Frazier

The first boxer to beat Muhammad Ali in 1971 in New York has died after battling liver cancer.

Known to many as Smokin' Joe, Frazier was a gold medalist in the 1964 Olympics as a replacement to boxer Buster Mathis.  He won the heavyweight title in 1970 after Ali was stripped of the title for refusing to fight in the Vietnam war.  Three of the great fights of Ali was with Frazier with "Rumble in the Jungle" and the epic "Thrilla in Manila" in 1975.  

Ali and Frazier was bitter rivals in and outside the ring but was said to be in better terms in recent years.  With regard to Frazier's death, Ali was quoted as saying "The world has lost a great champion.  I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration."

George Foreman, also former heavyweight boxing champ, tweeted "Goodnight Joe Frazier.  I love you dear friend."

Another boxing heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis told BBC Radio live:  "Without him, other boxing heroes wouldn't be great because they tested their talents against him."