RIP Joe Frazier

Damn near cried toward the end when Sam Cooke came on:

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Floyd Mayweather is apparantly paying for the funeral services. Good on him.

 

My heart is broken.

There just isn't more to say.

 

It is a very sad day for us true fans of the sport. Joe Frazier represented what we all love about the game as spectators based on his fan friendly style, but to me...a former fighter myself he represents more. When one talks about a fighter with heart and determination, Joe fraziers fights should serve as the example. If you want to know the true meaning of "gutting it out", put on a frazier fight. You want to know the true meaning of relentless...again Joe frazier is the example that to me is the standard. I remember listening to Eddie futch telling everyone that when he wanted to stop ali-frazier III, his reasoning to frazier was that frazier couldn't see him. Futch stated that fraziers response was something like "dont stop this fight I CAN STILL VISUALIZE HIM!" After all that he went through, he wanted one more shot at the "butterfly". I always sensed that Frazier fought because he just LOVED to be in the war. He was not fake, and was no premadonna. No one claims that Frazier was the best fighter, but if you take the word "fighter" at its truest meaning, there has never been better. Joe always came to fight. May God Bless Joe frazier!

 

I was visiting friends in Philly over the weekend when I heard about how bad he was doing on the local news. I hadn't been there in over 20 years... except for just passing thru a few times. Anyway, while looking at the Rocky statue I couldn't stop thinking that there should be a Joe Frazier statue and maybe even a Bernard Hopkins statue as well.

Frazier was great. He only lost to other greats (Ali 2 out of 3 and Foreman x2). Prior to facing Foreman in 1973 he had gone 29-0 (25) overall and 10-0 (8KO) in HW World title fights He beat among others- Muhammad Ali W15, Bob Foster KO2, Jimmy Ellis x2 KO5 and KO9, Jerry Quarry x2 KO7 and KO5, Oscar Bonavena x2 W10 and W15, George Chuvalo KO4, Doug Jones KO6, Eddie Machen KO10, Buster Mathis KO11, and Joe Bugner W12.

 

RIP Smokin Joe.....

God Bless Joe Frazier

 

Joe Frazier was a solid man, he was a man's man. He will be missed but always remembered. His heart was as big as Chicago ...RIP CHAMP & GOD Bless...Joe Louis, Marciano and Dempsey are waiting for you by the gates

 

Terribly saddening news. Great man in every sense of the word.

RIP Smokin Joe, your legend will never die.

 

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
--the Apostle Paul.

THE SILENT WARRIOR
There lives a great fighter named Joe
who took his share of blows.
They ranged from high to low.
He traveled around the globe,
and walked the long road home.
His pain no man could know.

There lives a great champion named Joe
who kept his head held high.
He fought the best of men
and proved his strength would not die.

There lives a great man named Joe
who was belittled by a loudmouth foe.
While his rival would taunt and tease,
Joe silently bore the stings.
And then fought like a gladiator in the ring.

As the years passed swiftly by
The rounds diminished with time.
But Joe's trouble no man could know,
and his shame no man would find.

No matter how cruel the lyric,
No matter how painful the strike,
Joe was proud to be Joe.
His pride no man could take down.
His dignity rose with his crown.

Long after the final bout ended,
After the last bell rang,
News reached Joe's old opponent
of the pain his family had suffered.

The blows weren't intended to hit home
But his family still remembers the anguish
Their hurt had never ended.
Now Ali could feel Joe's pain,
And Ali's sorrow could not be relieved.

So today Joe stands a great warrior,
marked with respect and pride.
For all that life has dealt him,
He never let strength subside.

The two men who fought great battles,
became blood brothers in time.

For every struggle that Joe survived,
For every dispute he endured, to rise.
Joe will go down in history
as a model for champions to come.

While Frazier was a man of few words,
Ali was a world of mouth,
but he found his place in history.
Now his heart can express him well.

Joe Frazier was a silent warrior,
whom Ali silently admired.
One could not rise without the other.

--Muhammad Ali, in "Soul of a Butterfly."

* * *

Joe, I love you. Thank you for everything. Your spirit will continue to inspire me through all my own difficult times; your joy in your work will inspire me in my own and your kindness will be an example to me of what true greatness is all about. My condolences to your lovely family. Godspeed and respect, dear champion.

 

Holy hell.

“You don’t win fights by talking. You win fights by fighting.” - Joe Frazier

“If God ever calls me to a holy war, I want Joe Frazier fighting beside me.” - Muhammad Ali

Sleep now, Mr. Frazier. No more pain, no more suffering. Rest in peace, Sir.

 

Aww man, humbling news. Probably the biggest set of steely balls a boxer could ever have. Rest in peace champ!

 

Some really excellent words being said in the classic for the great man. I'm a bit choked.

I didn't realise he had so little time left. Sad news.

RIP Smokin' Joe. Thanks for the fantastic memories you gave us Champ.

 

My favourite boxer of all time.

 

Gone to the great squared circle in the sky

RIP Champ

 

One of the greatest to ever enter the ring, RIP champion