Boxing Giants Attend Frazier Funeral

Muhammad Ali helped in and out of the service
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 14, 2011 4:47 PM CST
Muhammad Ali Among Boxing Great at Joe Frazier Funeral
Former boxing champion Muhammad Ali leaves after a memorial service for boxing legend Joe Frazier at the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, in Philadelphia.   (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Muhammad Ali and several boxing greats attended the funeral of former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier in Philadelphia today. Ex-champs Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks joined the crowd at a north Philly baptist church, where condolence videos were shown from Mike Tyson, Mickey Roarke, and Donald Trump, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Jesse Jackson stirred the crowd by asking them to "show their love" for Frazier, who died last week after a battle with liver cancer, reports the AP.

At Jackson's call, Ali stood and clapped vigorously for his former rival—his only time standing during the 2-hour service. Otherwise, the former champ was given assistance entering and leaving the church. During Jackson's remarks, the civil rights activist criticized Philadelphia for having a statue of fictional character Rocky Balboa, but none for Frazier. "Tell them Rocky wasn't a champion," Jackson said. "Joe Frazier was." (More Joe Frazier dead stories.)

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