By Tonya Whitaker
NDG Staff Writer
Joe Frazier, the rugged heavyweight boxer who became synonymous with his rivalry with Muhammad Ali, died Monday from liver cancer, his family said in a statement. He was 67.
The legendary boxer was diagnosed with liver cancer in September.
Frazier, a Philadelphia native, was the first fighter to defeat Ali in the ring. Later billed as the “Fight of the Century,” Frazier took down Ali in a unanimous decision at Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971.
The men were rivals inside and outside the ring. According to USA TODAY, in the day leading up to the epic 1971 fight, Ali 
Although the two men met in the ring two more times after the 1971 battle, including the historic “Thrilla in Manila” in 1975 where Ali scored the victory, their war of words continued. Just recent as two years ago, during an interview with USA Today writer Erik Brady, Frazier said Ali’s was afflicted with Parkinson’s disease because Ali is a practicing Muslim.
Despite their disagreements, Frazier and Ali were not always enemies. In 1967, Ali lost his boxing license and was stripped of his title for refusing to fight in the Vietnam conflict. In protest, Frazier refused to participate in the heavyweight tournament to crown a new champion.
Ali said in a statement on Frazier’s death, “The world has lost a great champion. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.”
The 5-foot, 11-and-a-half inch tall Frazier finished his career with 32 wins, four losses, and one draw. George Foreman and Ali handed the fighter his for losses. He retired in 1976 after the second loss to Foreman. In 1981, he attempted a comeback, fighting a 10-round draw against Floyd “Jumbo” Cummings in Chicago.
Joseph William Frazier was born Jan. 12, 1944, in Beaufort, S.C. He was one of 13 children born to Rubin and Molly Frazier. At 15, he left home to become an amateur boxer. His efforts gained Frazier a spot on the 1964 United States Olympic boxing team. Frazier won a gold medal in the heavyweight division in Tokyo.
He is survived by 11 children, six daughters and five sons. One of his sons, Marvis, followed in his dad’s footsteps and became a heavyweight fighter. Marvis Frazier tallied a record of 19 wins and two losses. Marvis is now a preacher and oversees the operations of the Frazier gym.
