RIP – JOE FRAZIER

EXPIRED: 11/07/11 – Joe Frazier, 67, the son of a bootlegger beat Muhammed Ali on points in boxing’s so-called ‘Fight of the Century’ in 1971, Ali’s first professional defeat.

But in further fights, including the ‘Thrilla in Manila’ four years later, it was Ali who won. The pair were never friends. Ali called Frazier an ‘Uncle Tom’. Frazier wanted to throw Ali into the fire at the Olympics. The rivalry was half the fun of watching two World Heavyweight Champion’s duke it out.

But Ali, now suffering from Parkinson’s, was over-the-top cruel. And Frazier was just down home nice. It was just the show, done to promote the fights.

But then it got real. In September of this year Frazier was diagnosed with liver cancer. It was quick and the former World Heavyweight Champ was down for the count.

READ THE OBIT

RIP – JOE ROLLINO

EXPIRED:  01/11/10 – Joe Rollino, 104, was, at one time, the strongest man on earth. He didn’t eat meat, didnt smoke and didn’t drink. He ate oatmeal daily and swam in the ocean off of the Brooklyn seashore year round. And he’d walk 5 miles every morning, rain or shine.

That’s what got him in trouble.

When crossing the street on his way to a deli to buy the morning paper, something he did every day, he was no match for a speeding minivan.

RIP – FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ

EXPIRED: 11/22/09 – Francisco Rodriguez, 25, was a national Golden Gloves champion in 2001 and continued to fight as a bantamweight, based out of Chicago. He went pro in 2005 and had won the Golden Gloves several times.

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Rodriguez was known as “El Nino Azteca” and was loved in the Chicagoland area.