Although I'm not a boxing fan, I'm a huge fan of Joe Frazier. When I lived in the US in the late 70's my local university, UCLB (Long Beach) held a fundraiser to raise some cash for one of the colleges boxing (and rugby) squad who'd suffered brain damage in a training accident. My rugby club paid for a table at the fundraiser/auction with Smokin' Joe guest of honour and chief after dinner speaker. He was funny, much more articulate than I'd imagined and as well as his guest of honour duties privately contributed a hefty amount to assist the kids rehabilitation. After the formalities he (and Suger Ray Leonard) worked the room like the pro's they were and shook hands with nearly every person in the room, swapping anecdotes and jokes at every table. I had my picture taken with the great man and Sugar Ray which was sadly lost in the move.
'Smokin' Joe Frazier was one of the last of the hard men in a sport that's sadly sunk to the lows of idiot pretenders like Anthony Mundine. Godspeed big guy!