Joe Frazier Statue Takes Rightful Spot at Art Museum Steps
Joe Frazier Statue Takes Its Rightful Spot at the Art Museum Steps
Joe Frazier Statue Takes Its Rightful Spot at the Art Museum Steps
The legendary “Smokin” Joe Frazier is finally right where he belongs. In a massive moment for Philly sports history, a 12-foot statue of the beloved heavyweight champion was officially unveiled at its new, permanent home at the base of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps. The move brings real-life boxing royalty to one of the city’s most famous landmarks. Frazier, a hometown icon and Olympic gold medalist, famously became the first man to defeat Muhammad Ali during 1971’s legendary “Fight of the Century.”
The impressive bronze monument captures Frazier mid-punch, throwing the massive left hook that knocked down Ali. Since 2015, the statue had been standing outside Stateside Live in South Philadelphia. City crews carefully relocated the piece last week, placing it exactly where a fictional Rocky Balboa statue used to stand. While the movie character Rocky made running the museum steps famous on the movie screen, Frazier’s family is quick to remind everyone that “Smokin” Joe did it in real life while training in the city. In fact, iconic moments, like Rocky punching sides of meat in a slaughterhouse, were directly inspired by Frazier’s real life.
During the ceremony, it was shared that actor Sylvester Stallone fully supported the move saying, “That is what is supposed to happen!” With Philly currently gearing up for huge America’s 250th birthday celebrations along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, millions of tourists will now get a taste of true Philly grit. The original Rocky statue has been moved inside the museum for a temporary exhibit and will eventually find a new home at the top of the steps.
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