Alí will remember Frazier

There was a time when Muhammad Ali mercilessly mocked Joe Frazier, called him ugly and questioned his most memorable manhood.

After his opponent died on Monday night, Ali overflowed in words of praise for Smokin Joe. "The world lost a great champion. Joe will always remember with respect and admiration, "Ali said in a brief statement. "I send my love to your family and loved ones."

Frazier died at age 67 after a short battle with liver cancer. Frazier and Ali will be linked forever, two heavyweight champions and bitter enemies in the ring who fought in three epic bouts.

Frazier won the first match at Madison Square Garden in what is called Fight of the Century. Ali said the last two.

Outside the ring, Ali called Frazier as a gorilla. Within the ring, fought almost to death in his third fight in Manila.

"Good night Joe Frazier. I love you, dear friend, "he wrote on his Twitter account the former world champion George Foreman, who hammered Frazier to win the title. Manny Pacquiao said that boxing has lost a "great champion" and a "great ambassador." Serena Williams saw it as an icon and a pioneer. "We will miss your presence," he wrote on Twitter.

Joe Frazier has Cancer

Joe Frazier, former heavyweight world champion and famous for his trilogy of fights with Muhammad Ali, has liver cancer and was terminally ill.

The former boxer -67- was diagnosed four or five weeks ago, and he is in a hospice, told the AP personal adviser Leslie Wolff.

He said that doctors have told how lifetime Frazier's left.

"There are medical experts analyzing all possible alternatives," said Wolff. "There are very few possibilities, but that does not mean we stop looking. "

Frazier was the first fighter who defeated Ali to overthrow then won a decision of the judges in the so-called Fight of the Century in 1971.

He lost twice to Ali, including his legendary battle in Manila.

"Smokin Joe" was a small but fierce fighter who overwhelmed his opponents with a stream of hits, including his famous left hook.

It was that blow that knocked down Ali in the 15th. assault on the "Fight of the Century" in 1971 at Madison Square Garden, in which each boxer won an unprecedented $ 2.5 million.