Former world heavyweight champion leads tributes to Frazieru00a0-- the man who handed him his first defeatu00a0-- after the 67-year-old lost his battle with cancer Muhammad Ali yesterday paid tribute to his great rival Joe Frazier, saying: "The world has lost a great champion." Frazier, who had been suffering from liver cancer, died overnight at the age of 67, his family confirmed in a statement. <img alt="" src="/imagedata/2011/nov/joe-frazier.jpg" border="5" /> Joe Frazier This morning tributes poured in from throughout the world of boxing and beyond. But it is his fights with Ali for which Frazier is best remembered. <img alt="" src="/imagedata/2011/nov/Frazier.jpg" border="5" /> Epic battle: Joe Frazier knocks out Muhammad Ali at the Madison Square Garden, in New York in 1971. Pic/AFP Frazier beat Ali on points in the so-called 'Fight of the Century' in 1971, but lost in two further meetings including the epic 'Thrilla in Manila' in 1975. <img alt="" src="/imagedata/2011/nov/ali.jpg" border="5" /> Muhammad Ali Ali said: "The world has lost a great champion. I will always remember Joe with respect and admiration. My sympathy goes out to his family and loved ones." The pair had an at-times fraught relationship, dating back to taunts Ali directed at his rival in the build-up to their famous trilogy of fights. But they were reported to have been on better terms in recent years.

Joe vs Ali in words!

Former world heavyweight champion leads tributes to Frazier -- the man who handed him his first defeat -- after the 67-year-old lost his battle with cancer

Ali leads tributes for Joe Frazier

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Ali leads tributes for Joe Frazier

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