RIP Smokin' Joe

Only 67, he passed away from liver cancer. RIP to a sports legend and sincere condolences to his family.

 

Great SI cover. I was too young (don't get to say that much these days :roll: ) to see him box (have seen the classic Ali fights), but he comes from a time where boxing's biggest stars were icons. The fact he kept his illness out of the public eye until the end matches who he was as a fighter.

 

Honestly, I'm not a big boxing fan, but i think Dan Patrick had a good story on it this morning on his show. He pointed out that Frazier was heavyweight champ when it actually meant something. In that era, heavyweight champ meant you were basically king of the world. It was well before the Tyson era of you don't have to actually fight anyone good. He obviously went into more detail. but great little reminder about what boxing was.

 

Great fighter from a grand era as others have pointed out. Condolences. Great SI cover.

"I smoke on the mic, like Smokin' Joe Frazier..."