Frazier tributes

The biggest names from boxing have paid tribute to Joe Frazier after he lost his battle against cancer.

Boxing mourns former heavyweight champion

The biggest names from boxing have paid tribute to Joe Frazier after the former heavyweight champion lost his battle against cancer. Frazier, who won the Olympic and world heavyweight titles, died at 67 - just a month after being diagnosed with liver cancer. Frazier will be best remembered for his trilogy with Muhammad Ali, while he also fought George Foreman during a golden era for the heavyweights. And following news of his death at his home in Philadelphia, a number of boxing's top names have hailed the impact Frazier had on the sport.

Muhammad Ali

The world has lost a great champion. I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration. My sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones.

George Foreman (via Twitter)

Good night Joe Frazier. I love you dear friend.

Lennox Lewis

I am extremely saddened at the news of the passing of former world heavyweight champion Smokin' Joe Frazier. He made history in the greatest era ever of heavyweight boxing and his contributions to the sport are profound and immeasurable.
My deepest sympathies go out to the Frazier family during this time of loss and grief and I would like them to know that they are in my prayers. He will be missed but never forgotten. May he rest in peace.

Floyd Mayweather (via Twitter)

RIP Smokin Joe. My thoughts and prayers go out to to the Frazier family. We lost an all time great tonight.
My Condolences go out to the family of the late great Joe Frazier. #TheMoneyTeam will pay for his Funeral services.

Manny Pacquiao

Boxing lost a great champion, and the sport lost a great ambassador. My prayers go out to his family."

Oscar De La Hoya (via Twitter)

I will miss you my friend. R.I.P. Joe frazier

Shane Mosley (via Twitter)

Joe Frazier one of the greatest heavy weight champion (sic) ever. RIP.

Vitali Klitschko

He was a huge fighter, huge champion, huge personality. I didn't have a chance to see his fights live because in 1971 I was just born, when Joe Frazier beat Muhammad Ali.
In the Soviet Union professional boxing was forbidden but we studied and listened about this fighter a lot, and after that we had a chance to see the fights. It was a great lesson for all new generations.
I didn't have a chance to meet him personally but I listened about him so much and that's why he will be always in the memory of the new generations.
He was a great fighter and for me and my brother I want to say sorry for the whole of boxing because he died and together with him died a big era of great champions.

Joe Bugner

Joe Frazier was relentless. Here was a man about 5ft 10, he weighed about a stone lighter than myself, but he was so courageous and ferocious, you had to literally hit him with a sledgehammer to put him away.
In 1973 I was 23 years old. I became a man after that fight because I realised you can't go through a career like boxing without seeing and feeling the power of the greats.
I happened to have the privilege of fighting Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali and a few others but those two to me were the greatest.
Joe took everything away I thought I had and made me realise I needed more, if I was going to succeed I needed a lot more.
I'm so proud I fought him and I'm so proud he came to my birthday last year. It hit me like a lightning bolt when I heard he died.

Bernard Hopkins

There's no way in the world you should come to Philadelphia and not recognize who Joe Frazier is. It's the perfect time to build the biggest statue in appreciation for all the heart and love he gave to Philadelphia. It's just to say how we regret when it's not there to touch and see. We didn't realise we had a super special person amongst us that we all in a way took for granted. I said this when he was living, I say this now. That's the only thing.

Frank Warren

He was part of that era of the best heavyweights there have ever been. The trilogy of fights that he had with Muhammad Ali, the tough fight he had with George Foreman and the good wins on the way - he was one of the most exciting heavyweights ever.
People talk about Mike Tyson at the age of 21 - Joe Frazier, when he was a young fella, was every bit (as good as), if not better than, Mike Tyson.

Bob Arum

Joe Frazier should be remembered as one of the greatest fighters of all time and a real man. He's a guy that stood up for himself. He didn't compromise and always gave 100 per cent in the ring. There was never a fight in the ring where Joe didn't give 100 per cent.