[Dion]

Frazier, who was known as “Smokin’ Joe,” was the first fighter to defeat Ali, putting the loquacious “Louisville Lip” on the canvas with his signature vicious left hook during their first fight, the so-called “Fight of the Century” in Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971, one of the most epic ring battles of all time. Frazier went on to win by unanimous decision.

Both fighters were paid an unheard of sum of $2.5 million, far more than any boxer had ever been paid for a prize fight.

Frazier and Ali came into the match undefeated. Ali had gotten under Frazier’s skin leading up to the fight, called him such names as “Uncle Tom,” “ugly,” “chump,” “ignorant” and “dumb.”

It was racial taunting at its worst, and it would affect Frazier for the rest of his life. Ali made it worse by continuing to taunt Frazier throughout their careers, calling Frazier a “gorilla” before their final fight in Manila.

In an interview with USA TODAY’s Erik Brady two years ago, Frazier’s bitterness came out in the form of religious bashing. Frazier believed Ali’s Parkinson’s Disease was God’s judgment for Ali’s Muslim beliefs.

“Regardless of who you are, you have to think one way, and the right way, to be accepted by the man above,” Frazier said. “He calls the shots.”

Asked if he could ever forgive Ali for gorilla, Uncle Tom, and the rest, Frazier said, “Sure . . . but the Man above, you’d better ask Him. . . . (Ali) must not pray. If you prayed, you’d have a better life than you have now. I’m 65 and I’m as strong as two bulls. So he must not bend down to the good Man above.”

http://www.suntimes.com/8680637-417/...zier-dead.html