RIP Smokin' Joe. Sad news indeed.

Sad to see Joe go but I can't think of him without thinking of the classless way Muhammed Ali treated him, made all the worse by considering all the help Frazier extended to Ali when "The Greatest" couldn't get work due to his ban in boxing. Ali was banned from boxing because of his stance against the Vietnam War and refusing to serve. When he was down and out Frazier helped him with $$$ and so forth so Ali could support his family. He also put Ali on the fast track for a championship match instead of making him re work his way back up through the ranks. How did Ali repay these kindnesses? By calling Frazier an "ugly gorilla". Now I know there are people out there who will defend Ali by saying that was his way as a sportsman and showman to hype up the fight. He then further repaid the kindness by turning his back on Frazier when Joe was down on his luck. I'm saddened by seeing Ali in the condition he's in now considering what an incredibly colorful personality he was, but there's a part of me that will never forgive him for the way he treated a TRUE class act…Smokin' Joe Frazier.

Good night Champ, peaceful rest for you at long last.

RIP "Smokin' Joe"

Truly one of the greats.