In a career that lasted almost 20 years, Frazier compiled a 32-4-1 record. He won two heavyweight titles, while facing off against the likes of Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Oscar Bonavena, and Jerry Quarry.
He's best known for his three bouts with Ali during the 1970s.
Frazier won their first meeting in 1971 at Madison Square Garden by decision. It was billed as "The Fight of the Century" and an estimated 300 million people worldwide tuned into the fight via closed-circuit television.
"The Vietnam War stopped for several hours so the military could listen," said Wolff. "Troubles between the Protestants and Catholics in Belfast stopped so the Irish could see it. This man is an important figure in history."
Ali and Frazier went on to fight twice more: again at the Garden and later in the Philippines in the "Thrilla in Manila," with Frazier losing both.
A native of South Carolina, Frazier moved to New York City as a teen, and then to Philadelphia. He started his career by rattling off 29 straight wins before losing his heavyweight title and undefeated record in 1973 to Foreman by knockout.
More then just a ferocious puncher, Frazier was a humble man, said longtime friend and Philadelphia boxing promoter Joe Hand Sr.
Hand grew close with Frazier after the boxer returned from winning a gold medal as a heavyweight at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo.
A former Philadelpia police officer, Hand had bought a share of stock in Cloverlay Inc., a group formed by local businessmen to help propel Frazier's career. Now the owner of the world's largest distributor of closed-circuit boxing matches, Hand said he owes the whole thing to Frazier.
