The sports world lost a true icon on Monday night when boxing legend Joe Frazier lost his battle with liver cancer.
Many athletes are described as warriors, but few have ever embodied the term quite like Frazier, the former heavyweight champion of the world.
Steven, for one, took note of Frazier and his legacy.
“You can’t help but marvel at his body of work,” he said. “Great athletes not only display great talent — they provide inspiration as well.”
When the term “fighter’s mentality” is used to describe someone’s mindset, Frazier — 5’11”, 205 lbs. in his prime — is often the fighter they speak of. He was never much for words. He spoke with his actions. During his three fight series with Muhammad Ali, it was Ali that did all the taunting. Frazier waited for fight day, and made his presence known with his fists.
In their first fight — often referred to as “The Fight of the Century” — Frazier relentlessly chased Ali for 15 rounds, toe-to-toe, punch-for-punch, culminating in a stunning victory. Frazier, who hailed from Philadelphia, was the source of several scenes in the film Rocky, including the iconic training run up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
That was who Joe Frazier was, in the ring and out: a champion and a true professional, a man with strength of body and character.
“I was too young to see him fight,” said Steven. “But those legendary fights lived on through my father and fight fans alike. The passion he displayed in his bouts and the humanity he showed to Muhammad Ali, helping him restart his career, are lessons that should live on for generations to come.”