Joe Frazier, 32-4-1, 27 KOs -- Frazier threw the left hook like it was drawn up, a thing of beauty that involved perfect timing and brought his entire force behind his punch.

A bumpy journey to ring immorality began on the 12th January, 1944; born Joseph William Frazier, the 7th of 13 children on a vegetable plantation in Beaufort, South Carolina.

With the possible exception of David vs. Goliath, the greatest rivalry in the history of individual human combat was the three-fight trilogy staged by Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier from 1971-75.

“I told Frazier that once. I called it the Philadelphia Left Hook.” Frazier, Izenberg says, threw that punch better than Ali, Rocky Marciano and Joe Louis.

It was 40 years ago, Oct. 1, 1975, and the ''Thrilla in Manilla'' was just that. Neither fighter gave an inch as Frazier relentlessly pursued Ali, and Ali responded by unleashing the fury of his ...

Less than a minute into the final round, Frazier uncorked a left hook to Ali’s jaw that briefly floored The Greatest. 12 Frazier stands above Ali during the 15th round of their first fight, also ...

He's got left-hook-itis," his reputation took a hit. But maybe that was undeserved. Frazier, while Ali was in exile for refusing induction into the armed services, loaned Ali cash on a couple ...

Joe Frazier, left, puts Muhammad Ali on the ropes during the fourth round of their heavyweight title fight in New York on March 8, 1971. (Associated Press) Advertisement ...

Former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier is inextricably linked to the life and legacy of arch-rival Muhammad Ali. However, the legendary left hooker has a very special legacy of his own.

Appeal to the mayor, appeal to the City Council, there should be a statue of the likeness of Joe Frazier in downtown Philadelphia. God Bless, and long live the legacy of, Joe Frazier.” – Rev. Jesse L.

It was, Muhammad Ali would later say, the closest thing to death he had ever known. He and Joe Frazier had gone 14 brutal rounds in stifling heat of a Philippines morning before Frazier’s ...