Muhammad Ali was among the nearly 4,000 people who packed the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Philadelphia for a two-hour “joyful celebration” of Joe Frazier’s life. The boxer died last week of liver cancer; he was 67.
Frazier’s championship belt and a pair of gloves were draped over his casket.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson asked mourners to rise, put their hands together and for one last time “show your love” for the former heavyweight champion.
Muhammad Ali – wearing a dark suit and sunglasses, frail and trembling because of a long battle with Parkinson’s disease – stood up and clapped for “Smokin’ Joe,” the fighter who handed Ali his first loss, reports the AP.
During the height of their respective careers, a bitter rivalry initiated by Ali destroyed the friendship between the fighters as Ali took personal jabs at Frazier to promote their epic 1971 fight in New York City – a fight that Ali would lose.
The two would meet again a few years later for the “Thrilla in Manilla,” – where Ali referred to Frazier as a gorilla.
Ali would later apologize for his tactics and slurs against Frazier and ask for forgiveness – saying that his actions were merely to create buzz and publicity for their battles.
Ali was accompanied by members of his family and wife, Lonnie, who rubbed his back while he was seated and held his hands as he entered and left the church.
Jackson delivered a stirring eulogy, describing Frazier as someone who “came from segregation, degradation and disgrace to amazing grace.”
Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.