Family, friends, city leaders, boxing fans and contemporaries gathered to celebrate the unveiling of world heavyweight champion Joe Frazier’s statue, now placed at the Philadelphia Art Museum steps.
Photo: Webster Riddick

By Napoleon F. Kingcade

On June 29, thunderous cheers rose from the bottom of the Philadelphia Art Museum’s steps as an impressive 12-foot-tall bronze statue of Smokin’ Joe Frazier was unveiled after being moved from South Philadelphia. Upon the statue’s installation in its new permanent location, enthusiastic onlookers gave their overwhelming approval.

Mayor Cherelle Parker, local leaders and hundreds of boxing fans celebrated the special moment with members of Frazier’s family. A number of famous boxers — super middleweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis; former middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins; former heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon and former super cruiserweight champion Nate “Mailman” Miller — were among the celebrants.

Jacquelyn Frazier-Lyde, Esq., the daughter of Joe Frazier, shares a little history about her legendary father’s statue with the audience.
Photo: Webster Riddick

The Frazier statue replaces the famous “Rocky Balboa” statue, which was moved inside the museum for an ongoing exhibition that runs through August, before being placed at the top of the steps. The Philadelphia Art Commission voted in favor of Creative Philadelphia’s proposal to move Frazier’s statue during its February meeting. An estimated $150,000 was spent on the statue’s relocation.

Interpretive panels will be added to educate visitors about Frazier’s life and legacy.

The statue relocation was also made possible by members of Joe Frazier’s family, the Smokin’ Joe Frazier Championship Foundation, Joe Hand Promotions and the statue artist Stephen Layne who created the statue in 2015 when it was displayed outside Xfinity Live.

During the ceremony, Joe Hand Jr. talked about how he and his dad Joe Hand Sr. developed a special relationship with Joe Frazier during the boxer’s legendary career.

From left: Nate Miller, Tim Witherspoon, Bernard Hopkins, unidentified guest, Joe Hand Jr., Pete Lyde and Sam Staten Jr.
Photo: Webster Riddick

“Standing here today and looking at this beautiful statue at its new home, I can’t think of a better description of Joe Frazier,” Joe Hand Jr. said.

“Today, it’s not about a moving [of] a statue — it’s about putting one of Philadelphia’s greatest champions exactly where he belongs. Many of you know Joe Frazier as the heavyweight champion of the world. He’s the man who defeated Muhammad Ali in the “Fight of the Century,” the Olympic Gold medalist, the fearless fighter whose heart seemed bigger than any opponent he ever faced. I knew him simply as Joe.”

“Our family’s relationship with Joe goes back to the beginning, years before he became heavyweight champion of the world,” Joe Hand Jr. continued. “A small group of Philadelphia businessmen came together, and they believed in a young fighter from South Carolina who came to Philadelphia looking for an opportunity. They not only invested in a boxer, [but they also] invested in a man. My father often said joining that group changed the course of his life. Watching Joe Frazier become champion eventually led my father to build our current company, Joe Hand Promotions.”

SUN publisher and Phila. Local NAACP president Catherine Hicks holds an early fighting match poster between Joe and Muhammad Ali, (a possibly rare one using Ali’s former name ‘Cassius Clay’).
Photo: Webster Riddick

The Hand family admired how hard Frazier worked in the gym to become a world champion. His work ethic was unreal, Hand Jr. said.

“My father said he never knew any athlete who worked harder to become a better version of themselves than Joe Frazier,” Joe Hand Jr. said. “It wasn’t about talent; it was about character. Joe earned everything — nothing was handed to him. That’s why the City of Philadelphia loved him so much. Joe Frazier wasn’t only a heavyweight champion; he was one of us.”

Joe Hand Sr. said that after Frazier passed away in 2011, he and others led the charge to create a statue to honor the former heavyweight boxing champion.

Councilmember Jeffrey Young Jr. (D- 5th Dist.), who also spoke at the event, shared similar thoughts about Frazier, who worked hard to become a world boxing champion.

“This is a special day, because we are putting a Philadelphia legend where he belongs,” Young said. “Joe Frazier wasn’t a movie character — he was the real deal. He was a Black man who came from humble beginnings who put the work in. He took his hits and got back up. He was one of the greatest heavyweight champions that this world ever seen.”

Mayor Cherelle Parker and SUN photographer Webster Riddick hold up an enlarged photo of Joe Frazier with fledgling boxers at a gym.
Photo: Webster Riddick

“Long before these steps became famous, Smokin’ Joe was running on them,” Young continued. “He was training here. He was building himself here. The city was part of his journey, and he became part of the soul of this city. Joe fought hard in the ring. He fought just as hard for his community. He understood that success doesn’t mean much if you don’t respect and bring somebody else with you.”

“For young people across North Philly and across this city, Joe Frazier’s life is proof that where you start does not determine where you finish,” Young concluded. “One of our own stood on the world stage and became a champion. Great things come from North Philadelphia. Your story can become one of them.”

The Honorable Jacquelyn Frazier-Lyde, Esq., the daughter of Joe Frazier, shared a similar story about her legendary father.

Philly champs honor Joe’s legacy–From left: Dave Wilkes, Bernard Hopkins, Simon Carr, Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Nate Miller.
Photo: Webster Riddick

“This is about honoring World Heavyweight Champion Smokin’ Joe Frazier,” Frazier-Lyde told the crowd. “He was not just a champion but a man who worked hard, stayed grounded and gave back to his city. Our family is proud that his legacy will be shared in a place of cultural significance that reflects everything that he stood for.”

During her time at the microphone, Parker spoke briefly about the importance of repurchasing, rebuilding and saving the Joe Frazier Gym.

“We understand the assignment,” Parker told the crowd. “And now we are asking you all to help us to get the second part of this done. We need to raise the capital so that we can make Joe Frazier’s gym the golden training facility in the city.”

After the unveiling of the statue, many people remained and greeted each other. Some took pictures with the statue, while others shared happy memories about the former heavyweight boxing champion.

One of the interpretive panels displaying a young Joe winning a gold metal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
Photo: Webster Riddick

“I thought it was a nice turnout and that some of the boxing champions came to the ceremony,” said Dave Wilkes, promoter of “The Salute of Philly Boxers.” “It was nice that some of the Philly boxing champions showed up… . It allowed the hometown fans to see them. I know if Joe Frazier was still alive, he would have been happy to see the people and fans that showed up to honor him. I know Joe Frazier was smiling. It was such a beautiful event.”