Former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier has died of cancer aged 67.
Frazier won the heavyweight championship in 1970 after defeating Jimmy Ellis with his trademark left hook, but his title lasted for just four fights before George Foreman defeated him in 1973 in Jamaica.
He was most famous for becoming the first man to defeat Muhammad Ali, in the fifteenth round of the 'Fight of the Century' at Madison Square Garden in 1971.
Frazier fought Ali on two further occasions - twice in New York and once in the Philippines at the so-called 'Thrilla In Manilla', a brutal contest fought over 14 rounds in which Frazier had to be held back by trainer Eddie Futch from going out in the final round. Battered and bleeding, Frazier was unable to see. But still he wanted to fight on.
"Closest thing to dying that I know of," Ali said after the fight.
Although a great champion Frazier found it difficult living under Ali's shadow, and was bitter for many years about the pre-match goading, taunts and insults thrown at him by his nemesis. After Ali lit the Olympic torch in Atlanta in 1996 Frazier said that "they should have thrown him in".
Only recently, at the 40th anniversary of his win over Ali in New York earlier this year, did Frazier say he forgave Ali.
"I forgive him," Frazier said. "He's in a bad way."
Frazier's death was announced in a statement by his family, who said that they would announce "our father's homecoming celebration" soon.
Manny Pacquiao said: "Boxing lost a great champion, and the sport lost a great ambassador."
Don King, who promoted the Thrilla in Manila bout, was described by a spokesman as too upset to talk about the death.