Heavyweight champion Joe Frazier died Nov. 7, 2011, after a brief battle with liver cancer at the age of 67. Frazier famously handed Muhammad Ali his first defeat in March 1971.

Joe Frazier throws a left to the head of Germany's Hans Huber in their Olympic title bout in Tokyo on Oct. 23, 1964. Frazier, who fought the match with a broken right hand, won the fight and the Olympic gold medal.

Joe Frazier poses in his hospital bed in Philadelphia on Oct. 30, 1964 after he underwent surgey on his broken left hand. Frazier broke his hand during the Olympic semifinal fight in Tokyo and went on to to win the championship despite the injury.

Joe Frazier does a victory dance after knocking out Mel Turnbow in the first round of the scheduled eight-round bout in Philadelphia on Jan. 18, 1966. This was Frazier's fifth straight knockout since he turned pro.

Dave Zyglewicz rolls over on the canvas as Joe Frazier heads for a neutral corner in the first-round knockout of their championship fight in Houston, Texas, on April 23, 1969. Frazier ended Zyglewicz' dream of glory in 96 seconds of the first round.

Joe Frazier pauses after a workout at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Feb. 3, 1970.

Joe Frazier is interviewed by the press after he defeated Jimmy Ellis on Feb. 16, 1970, in New York.

Muhammad Ali stands outside Joe Frazier's gym in Philadelphia on Jan. 28, 1971. The two were preparing for a fight at New York's Madison Square Garden in March 1971.

Joe Frazier smiles as his blood pressure is taken during a physical in New York City on March 3, 1971. The physical was in preparation for his March 8 date with Muhammad Ali. Frazier's manager, Yank Durham, looks on from behind.

Joe Frazier works out on the speed bag before his March 8, 1971 title defense. Photographer John Shearer offers one explanation for Frazier's punishing training regimen: "Joe Frazier felt that he had a lot to prove. He really wanted to shut Ali up."

•See more pictures of the legendary fight in LIFE's slideshow.

Joe Frazier lands a punch on Muhammad Ali during their fight on March 8, 1971 in New York City. Frazier defeated Ali in 15 rounds.

Joe Frazier is directed to the ropes by referee Arthur Mercante after knocking down Muhammad Ali during the 15th round of their title bout in New York City on March 8, 1971.

Joe Frazier, left, belts out a tune as he joins his musical group, The Knockouts, during a performance in New York City on March 25, 1971. Frazier got a pass from a Philadelphia hospital for the performance. He was recovering from "athletes' kidney." At right is the group's leader, Les Pelamon.

"A Knockout combs and blacks [Frazier's] beard before a performance," read the caption that accompanied this John Shearer picture when it ran in LIFE. Music, one of the Knockouts said in the same article, "has brought Joe out, made him a little nicer to people, a little more comfortable to be around."

•See more pictures of the legendary fight in LIFE's slideshow.

Joe Frazier shakes hands with a patient as he leaves St. Luke's Hospital in Philadelphia on March 27, 1971. Frazier was hospitalized for 12 days after being diagnosed with fatigue and high blood pressure.

Boxer George Foreman, center, defeats Joe Frazier, upper right, in two rounds, and walks toward his corner as his manager Dick Sadler and other handlers rush toward him in Kingston, Jamaica, on Jan. 22, 1973.

Joe Frazier lands a right to the midriff of Muhammad Ali on Jan. 28, 1974, in New York. Ali won the match.

Florence Frazier kisses her husband Joe Frazier after the former heavyweight champ opened his song and dance revue at New York's Rainbow Grill on Jan. 31, 1977.

Former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier, left, hits Jumbo Cummings during their bout in Chicago on Dec. 3, 1981. The fight ended in a draw. The match was intended to be a comeback for Frazier, but instead it was his last fight and he officially retired.

Joe Frazier poses for a portrait on April 2, 2009, in New York.