Joe Frazier Dies At 67, Losing Battle To Liver Cancer

Floyd Maywether Offers To Pay For Joe Frazier's Funeral

The death of Joe Frazier, one of the best boxers of his generation, has resonated with casual sports fans and the boxing community. On Tuesday night Floyd Mayweather, world welterweight champion and one of boxing's biggest stars, offered to pay for Frazier's funeral.

Mayweather tweeted, "My condolences go out to the family of the late great Joe Frazier. #TheMoneyTeam will pay for his Funeral services." He added, "We lost an all time great tonight."

Frazier passed away on Monday evening after a battle with liver cancer at 67 years old. He had struggled financially since his boxing career ended. Via the Los Angeles Times:

He made public appearances to earn income, such as one just this summer at Saratoga Race Track in New York to commemorate the 40-year anniversary of the first fight in his epic trilogy against Muhammad Ali. Those who were there were concerned by how frail Frazier looked. On Saturday, word came he was receiving hospice care -- near death.

For more on Frazier, check out our comprehensive Joe Frazier StoryStream and visit boxing blog Bad Left Hook.

Joe Frazier Dies At Age 67, Leaves Career Full Of Highlights

"Smokin" Joe Frazier passed away on Monday night after a brief battle with liver cancer.

Frazier was 67 years old.

Born in Beaufort, South Carolina in 1944, Frazier won gold at 1964 Olympics in Tokyo before turning pro the following year. Frazier had a career record of 32-4-1, winning 27 bouts by knockout, and won Muhammad Ali's vacated WBA Championship in 1970.

Frazier successfully defended his title against Ali in the "Fight of the Century" at Madison Square Garden in 1971, the first of three epic matches between the two boxing legends that culminated in Ali's win over Frazier in the "Thrilla In Manila" in 1975.

"I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration. My sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones," Ali said in a statement released on Monday night.

Scott Christ, Founder and Managing Editor of Bad Left Hook, had this to say of Frazier when word of his passing spread on Monday night:

"I'm not someone who is old enough to truly romanticize this era of boxing, but as much as I don't want to do the cliche, "They don't make fighters like that anymore" sort of thing, this much is true: Joe Frazier was a special fighter. He was humble, he was true to himself and what he believed, he was powerful, relentless, and he had no fear between the bells."

Joe Frazier Passes Away At 67

Joe Frazier, the Hall of Fame boxer, has passed away. The first man to defeat Muhammad Ali entered hospice care over the weekend after a short battle with liver cancer.

Joe Frazier Battling Liver Cancer, Has 'Short Time To Live,' According To Report