Joe Frazier the Singer: Boxing Great’s Soul-Funk Knockouts

Joe Frazier, boxing champion, died Monday following a brief battle with liver cancer. The man who clashed with Muhammad Ali three thrilling times — winning once — had only just begun his fight with the disease a month ago, but his manager says the boxer’s condition deteriorated quickly and he had to be admitted to hospice care last week. He was 67. Like many athletes that followed, “Smokin’ Joe” liked to tinker in the music business, and over the years released several soul-funk records under the Joe Frazier and the Knockouts banner.