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Up goes Frazier? Smokin' Joe overdue for statue in Philly
http://articles.philly.com/2011-06-1...i-three-fights
PHILADELPHIA has sent many of the country's greatest athletes into a myriad of sports, including boxing. Being called a "Philadelphia fighter" was among the greatest compliments a boxer could receive.
Two of our greatest athletes are Joe Frazier and Bernard Hopkins, whose skill, heart and competitive drive rival any athlete in any sport.
Frazier never has gotten the tribute and praise due him either nationally or, shockingly, even in Philadelphia. Joe has been given the Order of the Palmetto by his native South Carolina, the state's highest civilian award, but has received no tribute from the City of Philadelphia (in part my fault).
There is a statue of a Philadelphia heavyweight champion prominently displayed in front of our great Art Museum. Is it Joe? Nope, it's Rocky (apologies to Sly Stallone, who is also a great Philadelphian). So consider the paradox. We have a statue of a make-believe movie champ, but we have nothing for the Philadelphian who is clearly among the top 10 heavyweight champs of all time. Yo, Adrian, does that sound fair to you?
The Daily News recently wrote about plans for a statue of Penn and Eagles great Chuck Bednarik to be placed at Franklin Field, although the process has been slowed by a lack of funding. A philly.com poll with the story found that more than 20 percent thought Frazier was deserving of a statue; only Bobby Clarke got more support.
A group of Frazier's friends and former associates currently are trying to raise money to create a statue of Joe.
Frazier, 67, came to Philadelphia as a 16-year-old and lived in the 1300 block of North 13th Street. Joe told me that the PAL Center near his home kept him out of trouble and he credits the center with giving him his start. As a fighter, Joe was a knockout machine. In his career, he fought 37 times (32-4-1) and knocked out his opponents 73 percent of the time. (As a comparison, Hopkins has a 53 percent knockout rate.) Frazier's only losses were twice to Muhammad Ali and twice to George Foreman.
His three fights with Ali are unquestionably the best series in the history of boxing. The first fight in 1971 was dubbed the "Fight of the Century" and Joe scored a decisive unanimous decision. Ali won a unanimous decision in the second fight, and then came the "Thrilla in Manila," perhaps as tough and brutal a fight ever fought.
Two of our greatest athletes are Joe Frazier and Bernard Hopkins, whose skill, heart and competitive drive rival any athlete in any sport.
Frazier never has gotten the tribute and praise due him either nationally or, shockingly, even in Philadelphia. Joe has been given the Order of the Palmetto by his native South Carolina, the state's highest civilian award, but has received no tribute from the City of Philadelphia (in part my fault).
There is a statue of a Philadelphia heavyweight champion prominently displayed in front of our great Art Museum. Is it Joe? Nope, it's Rocky (apologies to Sly Stallone, who is also a great Philadelphian). So consider the paradox. We have a statue of a make-believe movie champ, but we have nothing for the Philadelphian who is clearly among the top 10 heavyweight champs of all time. Yo, Adrian, does that sound fair to you?
The Daily News recently wrote about plans for a statue of Penn and Eagles great Chuck Bednarik to be placed at Franklin Field, although the process has been slowed by a lack of funding. A philly.com poll with the story found that more than 20 percent thought Frazier was deserving of a statue; only Bobby Clarke got more support.
A group of Frazier's friends and former associates currently are trying to raise money to create a statue of Joe.
Frazier, 67, came to Philadelphia as a 16-year-old and lived in the 1300 block of North 13th Street. Joe told me that the PAL Center near his home kept him out of trouble and he credits the center with giving him his start. As a fighter, Joe was a knockout machine. In his career, he fought 37 times (32-4-1) and knocked out his opponents 73 percent of the time. (As a comparison, Hopkins has a 53 percent knockout rate.) Frazier's only losses were twice to Muhammad Ali and twice to George Foreman.
His three fights with Ali are unquestionably the best series in the history of boxing. The first fight in 1971 was dubbed the "Fight of the Century" and Joe scored a decisive unanimous decision. Ali won a unanimous decision in the second fight, and then came the "Thrilla in Manila," perhaps as tough and brutal a fight ever fought.
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