Joe Frazier dead: East Lancashire boxing fraternity hail legend (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Joe Frazier dead: East Lancashire boxing fraternity hail legend

9:45am Wednesday 9th November 2011 in Boxing By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter

BLACKBURN lightweight Graeme Higginson believes a tribute should be made to boxing legend Joe Frazier ahead of his first fight for six months on Saturday.

Former world heavyweight champion ‘Smokin’ Jo Frazier’ died from liver cancer in the early hours of yesterday morning and tributes have been pouring in from the East Lancashire boxing fraternity.

Higginson fights his 24th professional bout on Saturday against Middlesbrough’s Paul Truscott at the Sports Centre in Oldham, which is on the undercard of the Commonwealth welterweight title fight between Denton Vassell and Samuel Colomban.

With the Sky Sports cameras in attendance at Oldham, Higginson, a member of Ricky Hatton’s stable, believes a tribute should be paid to Frazier ahead of the fights.

“Frazier’s death is a great loss to boxing,” said Higginson. “He was the first man to beat the greatest, Muhammad Ali, and was involved in one of the greatest fights of all time.

“He was a one of a kind, with a very unique style and movement. I don’t think we will ever see anybody box in the same style as Smokin’ Jo.

“I would like to think something will be done on Saturday, in some way night to honour Frazier. It would be the right thing to do.

“ I’m sure people who turn up at Oldham would love to pay their respects. It would make it a special night, but it’s all up to Sky Sports and the organisers to make it happen.”

Frazier, who won Olympic gold in 1964, became world champion in 1970 after Muhammad Ali had been stripped of his titles in 1967 for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War.

When Ali tried to reclaim his belts, Frazier beat him, winning their much-hyped clash in 1971. It was Ali's first loss as a professional, but a defeat he avenged.

Frazier and Ali met a further two times in the ring, Ali winning both contests, including the epic "Thrilla in Manila" in 1975.

Brian Roche, who fought for British and Commonwealth titles, said Frazier was a real inspiration – and he even mastered the art of Smokin’ Joe’s devastating body punch.

“Joe was not the biggest of heavyweights so he was a real inspiration to the smaller guys in their weight categories,” said the head coach of Burnley-based Roche Boxing Club. “He had the most devastating of body blows and that was something I copied when I was in the ring.

“He was a great fighter and will rightly be remembered up there with the likes of Muhammad Ali.”

Yaqoob Hussain, president of the North West Region ABA and also head coach of Blackburn with Darwen Police ABC, said Frazier inspired him as a young fighter.

“Joe worked incredibly hard and that is what inspired people like me when I was boxing,” said Hussain who is also an England Major Panel referee and judge. “ He wasn’t so much a boxer but a fighter. He didn’t get the recognition he deserved at first but he certainly did after those legendary fights with Ali.

“He will be a sad loss but he will go down as one of the all-time greats.”

Michael Jennings, a Chorley welterweight, described Frazier’s death as a huge loss to boxing.

He said: “It is so sad. He is a legend and there will never be someone like him again. I think we have to celebrate his life rather than mourn his death.