Boxing great Joe Frazier, who went head to head three times with Muhammad Ali, among them the famous “Thrilla in Manila” fight, is seriously ill with liver cancer and is in a hospice, his personal manager and business, said Saturday.

Frazier, 67, is in downtown Philadelphia, director Leslie Wolff said. The former champion was diagnosed as four or five weeks.

Joe fraizer suffer with liver cancer

“It’s a real gentleman,” said Wolff. “With Muhammad Ali, (is) one of the recognized athletes in the world.”

Frazier, the nickname “Smokin ‘Joe”, he uses his devastating left hook with impunity throughout his career, retiring with a record of 04.01.32.

Frazier, the son of a sharecropper in South Carolina, in cash during the glory days of the heavyweight division, is against the great George Foreman, Oscar Bonavena, Joe Bugner and Jimmy Ellis.

But it’s three high-profile fights against Ali that helped seal his legend.

Frazier beat Ali in 1971 the “fight of the Century” at Madison Square Garden. In the 15th round, Frazier dropped probably the most famous left hook in history, catching Ali on the jaw and the champion fell count of four, according to bio Frazier in Hall of Fame International Boxing. Frazier left the ring is still the champion after handing Ali his first professional defeat.

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Ali won a decision over 12 rounds in a rematch of January 1974, setting the stage for the classic “Thrilla in Manila” on the outskirts of the capital of the Philippines in 1975.

Ali took the early rounds, but Frazier was recovered before losing the last five laps. At the end of the 14, Frazier’s eyes were swollen almost shut, and his corner stopped the fight, according to the biography.

Later, Ali said: “It was the closest I came to death.”

Fans and supporters are encouraged to publish their thoughts and prayers to joefrazierscorner.com.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/05/sport/joe-frazier-cancer/index.html?hpt=isp_t3