BoxRec

PHILADELPHIA

Legendary boxer Smokin’ Joe Frazier is in the final fight of his life.

Frazier, who gave the boxing world the “Thrilla in Manila,” and many other classic memories, is deathly ill with advanced liver cancer.

"He’s in serious shape, we’re looking for a miracle," a source close to the former heavyweight champ told The New York Post. "They’re only giving him a short time to live. We need to have as many people as possible praying for Joe right now."

A fierce and smothering fighter with a devastating left hook, Frazier, 67, is considered one of the great gentlemen of the sport outside of the ring.

His captivating bouts with Muhammad Ali put boxing in the spotlight for a new generation of fans as the sport truly became The Main Event. The “Thrilla in Manila,” the third fight of their epic encounters, was one of the greatest fights of them all.

raylawpc wrote:Terrible news. My prayers are with Joe and his family.

JAHamilton77 wrote:I just read this on the crawler at the bottom of my screen. Its sad to hear, since he has been placed on Hospice which means a doctor has declared that he is within 6 months of the end of his life. Don't give up complete hope though, I have seen people go on an off hospice several times...... Hope and Prayers with Joe and his family.

BoxBuzz wrote:

JAHamilton77 wrote:I just read this on the crawler at the bottom of my screen. Its sad to hear, since he has been placed on Hospice which means a doctor has declared that he is within 6 months of the end of his life. Don't give up complete hope though, I have seen people go on an off hospice several times...... Hope and Prayers with Joe and his family.

My wife has cancer, she was told on Feb 3rd that she had 2 weeks minimum and 5 months max to live.....that was over 9 months ago and today she is on a positive glide ramp up. We know that everyday is a gift and a blessing....AND we know that DR's can only guess about these things. We are operating like Moore did after his knockdowns against Durelle, and we are staying "in it to win it". My guess is that Joe may also do much better than his Dr's are predicting. Nevertheless we know first hand what news like this can do to one's spirit upon first hearing such words.

I send Joe, (a man I met on a few occasions) the very best prayers and good energy......and I know just how powerful this can be. May I suggest we all send Joe the very best prayers/healing energy we all have. At it's best it may turn the trick, at it's worst it can do no harm. Hang in there Joe!

raylawpc wrote:

BoxBuzz wrote:

JAHamilton77 wrote:I just read this on the crawler at the bottom of my screen. Its sad to hear, since he has been placed on Hospice which means a doctor has declared that he is within 6 months of the end of his life. Don't give up complete hope though, I have seen people go on an off hospice several times...... Hope and Prayers with Joe and his family.

My wife has cancer, she was told on Feb 3rd that she had 2 weeks minimum and 5 months max to live.....that was over 9 months ago and today she is on a positive glide ramp up. We know that everyday is a gift and a blessing....AND we know that DR's can only guess about these things. We are operating like Moore did after his knockdowns against Durelle, and we are staying "in it to win it". My guess is that Joe may also do much better than his Dr's are predicting. Nevertheless we know first hand what news like this can do to one's spirit upon first hearing such words.

I send Joe, (a man I met on a few occasions) the very best prayers and good energy......and I know just how powerful this can be. May I suggest we all send Joe the very best prayers/healing energy we all have. At it's best it may turn the trick, at it's worst it can do no harm. Hang in there Joe!

Buzz, I was unaware that your wife had cancer. I am sure all of us on the board will keep you and her in our prayers. I am glad to hear she is doing well.

BoxBuzz wrote:
My wife has cancer, she was told on Feb 3rd that she had 2 weeks minimum and 5 months max to live.....that was over 9 months ago and today she is on a positive glide ramp up. We know that everyday is a gift and a blessing....AND we know that DR's can only guess about these things. We are operating like Moore did after his knockdowns against Durelle, and we are staying "in it to win it". My guess is that Joe may also do much better than his Dr's are predicting. Nevertheless we know first hand what news like this can do to one's spirit upon first hearing such words.

I send Joe, (a man I met on a few occasions) the very best prayers and good energy......and I know just how powerful this can be. May I suggest we all send Joe the very best prayers/healing energy we all have. At it's best it may turn the trick, at it's worst it can do no harm. Hang in there Joe!

PHILADELPHIA -- Former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier is battling the liver cancer that has put him under hospice care.

The 67-year-old boxer sleeps for most the day but is coherent when awake, his personal and business manager said. Leslie Wolff, who has been the fighter's manager for seven years, said Frazier has been flooded with get-well messages from former boxers and fans. Wolff tells The Associated Press some fans have offered to donate a liver.

"There is evidence that there are certain people that fight much harder than other people, and in doing so, they last longer," Wolff said Monday. "They have the heart of a champion. Joe ain't no quitter. Even in this struggle, he's showing people you don't give up."

Frazier was diagnosed last month with the disease. His manager said the boxer had been in out and out of the hospital since early October and has been receiving hospice treatment the last week.

The documentary "Joe Frazier: When the Smoke Clears" will be screened Tuesday night at the DocNYC festival in New York.

"No matter what happens, we must make sure his legacy stays alive," Wolff said.

Wolff said doctors have not yet told Frazier how long he has to live. Wolff, who dismissed false reports all weekend that Frazier had died, denied a story that said he wanted to send Frazier to Russia for treatment. Wolff said he contacted doctors there only for ideas on other possible treatments.

"We just want to see what's out there to see what can be done here," he said.

Frazier was the first man to beat Muhammad Ali, knocking him down and taking a decision in the so-called Fight of the Century in 1971. He would go on to lose two more fights to Ali, including the epic "Thrilla in Manila" bout.

Frazier won the heavyweight title in 1970 by stopping Jimmy Ellis in the fifth round of their fight at Madison Square Garden. He defended it successfully four times before George Foreman knocked him down six times in the first two rounds to take the title from him in 1973. Frazier would never be heavyweight champion again.

Frazier has not allowed anyone to see him except immediate family and associates.

"He's in no shape to have any visitors, nor does he want any," Wolff said.