The Last Round! Muhammad Ali Says His Final Goodbye At ‘Smokin’ Joe Frazier’s Funeral (PHOTOS)
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Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes, Don King and Reverend Jesse Jackson were among the many friends who came to say their final goodbye’s to former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier.
Joe passed away last week after a bout with liver cancer at the age of 67.
Ali was among the nearly 4,000 people who packed the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Philadelphia for a two-hour “joyful celebration” of Frazier’s life.
STORY: Muhammad Ali Fights For Joe Frazier!
Jackson delivered the eulogy, describing Frazier as a man who “came from segregation, degradation and disgrace to amazing grace.”
Jackson continued:
“Tell them Rocky was not a champion. Joe Frazier was. Tell them Rocky is fictitious, Joe was reality. Rocky’s fists are frozen in stone. Joe’s fists are smokin’.
Rocky never faced Ali or Holmes or Foreman. Rocky never tasted his own blood. Champions are made in the ring not in the movies. There deserves to be a statue of Joe Frazier in downtown Philadelphia.”
Mike Tyson sent a videotaped message of condolence and so did real estate mogul Donald Trump and actor Mickey Rourke.
Joe Frazier was the best fighter Philadelphia ever produced and he will be greatly missed.
See more photos from the funeral in the accompanying gallery.
