AceShowbiz -

Stuart Scott, a longtime anchor at ESPN, passed away on Sunday morning, January 4. The sports presenter famous for his catchphrases like "Boo-Yah!" lost battle with cancer, which he had fought for seven years. The sportscaster was 49.

"He inspired his colleagues with his sheer talent, his work ethic and his devotion to his daughters, Taelor, 19, and Sydni, 15. He defied convention and criticism to help bring this network into a new century," ESPN said in a statement.

Scott first fought off cancer in 2007, but it returned in 2011. Again, he underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments, but the disease came back in January 2013. During those years, he was determined to lead a normal life. He continued working until "Monday Night Football" this season when he was absent from his on-site anchor role.

Aside from the medical treatment, he also did rigorous exercises that included mixed martial arts to fend off cancer. "I never ask what stage (cancer) I'm in," he told New York Times. "I haven't wanted to know. It won't change anything to me. All I know is that it would cause more worry and a higher degree of freakout. Stage 1, 2 or 8, it doesn't matter. I'm trying to fight it the best I can."

Last July shortly before his 49th birthday, Scott accepted at the ESPYs Jimmy V Perseverance Award, named after Jim Valvano who also died of cancer. "When you die, that doesn’t mean you lose to cancer," he said. "You beat cancer by how you lived and in the manner in which you lived. So live. Live. Fight like hell."