Muhammad Ali and a host of boxing greats were in attendance at the funeral of former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier in Philadelphia on Monday. The likes of Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson and civil rights leader Jesse Jackson also turned out to pay their respects at the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church. Frazier won the Olympic gold medal in 1964 and was a heavyweight world champion from 1968 to 1973. But Frazier will be eternally linked with Ali thanks to their 1970s fights. In a series of three bouts, 'Smokin' Joe Frazier won the first fight before Ali took the second and third in a series of matches ranked among the most famous in the history of the sport. And in a moving tribute, Reverend Jackson made a case for the city of Philadephia to honour Frazier, comparing him to a boxing film legend, portrayed in movies by Sylvester Stallone, of whom there is a statue in the city. "Rocky is an imaginary figure who never existed," said Jackson. "Rocky never tasted his own blood. Rocky never faced Ken Norton. He never faced Ali. He never faced Larry Holmes. "Joe paid real dues and he is a guy who we can emulate because of his sense of family, an ordinary Joe with extraordinary things.Read Full: Optimum Sports Marketing: Greats Gather for Frazier Farewell
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
Optimum Sports: Greats Gather for Frazier Farewell
Muhammad Ali and a host of boxing greats were in attendance at the funeral of former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier in Philadelphia on Monday. The likes of Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson and civil rights leader Jesse Jackson also turned out to pay their respects at the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church. Frazier won the Olympic gold medal in 1964 and was a heavyweight world champion from 1968 to 1973. But Frazier will be eternally linked with Ali thanks to their 1970s fights. In a series of three bouts, 'Smokin' Joe Frazier won the first fight before Ali took the second and third in a series of matches ranked among the most famous in the history of the sport. And in a moving tribute, Reverend Jackson made a case for the city of Philadephia to honour Frazier, comparing him to a boxing film legend, portrayed in movies by Sylvester Stallone, of whom there is a statue in the city. "Rocky is an imaginary figure who never existed," said Jackson. "Rocky never tasted his own blood. Rocky never faced Ken Norton. He never faced Ali. He never faced Larry Holmes. "Joe paid real dues and he is a guy who we can emulate because of his sense of family, an ordinary Joe with extraordinary things.Read Full: Optimum Sports Marketing: Greats Gather for Frazier Farewell