Joe Frazier, Olympic boxing gold medalist and world heavyweight champion from 1970 to 1973, died Nov. 7, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. He was 67.
Frazier died from liver cancer, which was originally diagnosed in Oct. 2011. He spent his final days in hospice care in a Center City apartment in Philadelphia.
"The world has lost a great champion," boxing legend Muhammad Ali said. "I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration."
Known as "Smokin' Joe," Frazier defeated German Hans Huber in the 1964 Olympics to achieve the gold medal. His greatest victory came in 1971, when Frazier defeated Ali in the highly-touted "Fight of the Century" at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
A private funeral took place on Nov. 14 at the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Frazier is survived by his daughter Renae and his sons Hector, Brandon, Derek, Joseph Rubin and Joseph Jordan.
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