Ali praying for old foe Frazier, 67, as former heavyweight champion fights cancer

By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER Updated: 11:27 EST, 7 November 2011

Former world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali says he is praying for Joe Frazier following the news of his great rival's battle against cancer.

It emerged over the weekend Frazier, 67, is fighting liver cancer and he is reported to be in hospice care.

In his prime: Frazier lands a left to the chin of Ali in the 15th round of their heavyweight title fight at New York's Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971

Fight of his life: Joe Frazier

Ali, 69, said: 'The news about Joe is hard to believe and even harder to accept. Joe is a fighter and a champion and I am praying he is fighting now.

'My family and I are keeping Joe and his family in our daily prayers. Joe has a lot of friends pulling for him - and I'm one of them.'

Frazier beat Ali on points in the so-called 'Fight of the Century' in 1971, Ali's first professional defeat. But in two further fights, including the epic 'Thrilla in Manila' in 1975, it was Ali who was victorious.

The pair have had a fractious relationship over the years, stemming from the Ali's taunting of Frazier in the run-up to their famous trilogy of fights.

Ali called his rival a 'gorilla' and 'Uncle Tom', taunts which Frazier found difficult to forgive, though the pair were reported to have been on better terms in recent years.