Ali, Jackson pay respects at Joe Frazier funeral

PHILADELPHIA - Family and friends of Joe Frazier arrived at a private funeral in Philadelphia to pay their respects to the former heavyweight champion on Monday. Celebrity guests included former champion and opponent Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes, boxing promoter Don King and Reverend Jesse Jackson, with former champion Mike Tyson, Donald Trump and actor Mickey Rourke sending videotaped messages of condolences.

The 67-year-old Frazier died last week after a short battle with liver cancer. A two-day public viewing was held at the Wells Fargo Center at the sports complex in South Philadelphia.

Jackson gave stirring remarks, asking fans to stand and "show your love" for Frazier.

For the only time in the more than two-hour service, Ali rose and vigorously clapped for his fallen rival. Wearing a dark suit and sunglasses, Ali held hands for assistance in and out of the Baptist church.

Frazier and Ali squared off in a trio of legendary fights, including the Thrilla in Manila in 1975. Ali won that epic contest, calling it the "closest thing to dying that I know of."

Four years earlier at Madison Square Garden, "Smokin' Joe" successfully defended his title and became the first man to defeat Ali. He was elected to the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.

Boxing champ Joe Frazier passes away at 67
PICTURES: Smokin' Joe Frazier 1944 - 2011
Sporting world reacts to Joe Frazier's passing

Frazier's family and friends are also planning a memorial service for the former heavyweight champion in his hometown of Beaufort. Family friend John Trask said a service will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Bethesda Christian Fellowship Temple on St. Helena Island with a public memorial service at noon at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in Beaufort.

Frazier may forever be linked with Philadelphia, but he never forgot his roots in South Carolina. Friends say he built his strength stacking crates at the Coca-Cola plant and practiced his devastating left hook on bags stuffed with rags, corncobs and moss on the family's 10 acres of land.