Smokin’ Joe Frazier diagnosed with advanced liver cancer

Legendary Philadelphia boxer Joe Frazier has been diagnosed with advanced liver cancer and is currently under hospice care, his business manager and friend Les Wolff confirmed.

Frazier, 67, won a gold medal at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo and was the Heavyweight Champion of the World in 1970. He’s best known for a trilogy of bruising fights with Muhammad Ali, from which a lifelong grudge emerged.

In recent months, there has been talk of building a statue to honor Frazier down by the stadiums. Former Gov. Ed Rendell said he was actively fundraising to make it happen.

Wolff said Saturday morning that it’s a serious situation and that he was receiving an outpouring calls from friends and supporters as news broke of Frazier’s life-and-death battle. He told the Associated Press that Frazier is currently receiving hospice care.

On Sunday night, rumors that Frazier had died were making the rounds on Twitter, but Wolff quickly set the record straight.

Frazier’s legendary gym at Broad Street and Glenwood Avenue was converted into a furniture store in August.