The Fighter Dies

Late last evening Joe Frazier died.  For those of you who barely know who Joe Frazier is, he was a fighter, who his biggest skill was his determination.  He wouldn't stop moving forward.  His battles against Muhammed Ali were epic.  They were 15 rounds of war in a ring.  Frazier was the opposite of Ali in every way.  Ali was flash and speed, hit and get out.  Frazier was move forward and slug it out.  Outside the ring Ali was the consummate communicator, while Frazier was awkward and I suspect found talking in front of the media the thing he liked the least.  There is a song from that era by Simon and Garfunkel called The Boxer and the last verse describes Joe Frazier perfectly

In the clearing stands a boxer 
And a fighter by his trade 
And he carries the reminders 
Of ev'ry glove that layed him down 
Or cut him till he cried out 
In his anger and his shame 
"I am leaving, I am leaving" 
But the fighter still remains