The City of Brotherly Love has long been known for its boxing. Who do readers, some Philly and area boxing fans think is the city’s best heavyweight?
International Boxing Hall of Fame promoter Philly’s J Russell Peltz had the following to say: “(‘Smokin’ Joe) Frazier had the best career, but a top class (Sonny) Liston was unbeatable!
At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Frazier won the gold medal, stopping opponents from Uganda, Australia, Russia and Hans Huber of Germany. In the Olympic trials, after stopping three opponents then, he lost twice to Buster Mathis. In their second match, Mathis broke a thumb, so Frazier replaced him.
In March 1968, Frazier entered the pro ranks and became the NYSAC World Champion. He stopped Mathis 23-0 in eleven rounds and improved his record to 20-0. After four defences, he stopped former WBA champion Jimmy Ellis 27-5 and added the vacant WBC title. Two defenses later, he defeated former world champion Muhammad Ali 31-0 at Madison Square Garden. He would lose to Ali in their next fight.
After defeating Ali, he lost his title and was stopped by ‘Big’ George Foreman, 37-0, twice. He finished his career 32-4-1 with 27 shutouts.
In September 1962, Liston won the world championship, stopping Floyd Patterson 38-2 and again in a rematch. Then lost twice to Ali. Then won fourteen by stoppage before being stopped by Philly’s Leotis Martin, 30-5, in nine rounds for the vacant NABF title. Martin suffered a detached retina and retired. Liston had Martin on the canvas in the fourth.
Philly’s Jimmy Young, 35-18-3 with 11 stops. After being stopped by Earnie Shavers, 42-2, he went on to win six straight and tie Shaver in a rematch. Then defeated Ron Lyle, 30-1-1, and then Foreman, 45-1. Then, after two more wins, he lost to WBA-WBC champion Ali, 50-2, in a close fight.
Young would lose to champ Mike Dokes, 14-0, Gerry Cooney, 22-0, champ Greg Page, 18-0, champs Tony ‘TNT’ Tubbs, 14-0, and Tony ‘TNT’ Tucker, 24-0, among .a. other.
Others include 1984 Olympic gold medalist Tyrell Biggs, who won his first 20 fights before being stopped by ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, 31-0. He went 10-20 and finished his career losing to future WBO champion Francesco Damiani, 21-0, Riddick ‘Big Daddy’ Bowe, 21-0, and Lennox ‘The Lion, Lewis, 17-0, Tubbs, 36 -5 , Buster Mathis, Jr. 12-0. He finished 30-10 with 20 stops.
WBC & WBA champion ‘Terrible’ Tim Witherspoon, 55-13-1 with 38 stoppages. He lost a controversial decision when he was 15-0 to WBC champion Larry ‘The Easton Assassin’ Holmes, 42-0, majority decision to WBC champion Pinklon ‘Pink’ Thomas, 24-0-1, stopped by WBA champion James ‘Bonecrusher ‘ Smith, 18-5, former WBO champion Ray ‘Merciless’ Mercer, 23-4-1, former WBA champion Greg Page 55-14-1. He defeated Tubbs, 21-0, Frank Bruno, 28-1.
Others on the list born in Great Britain were Phoenixville’s ‘Big’ Joe Thomas, who was 23-2-1 with 19 stoppages but lost to KAZ, and Russian future WBC champion Oleg Maskaev, who was 4-0 in his last fight. Maskaev was the 1981 National Golden Gloves champion.
Coatesville’s Jimmy Clark, 18-1, with 16 stops. He was stopped by Reggie Gross, 15-3. He defeated Olympian Clarence Hill, 17-2-1, of Bermuda. He lost three times to Cuban 3-time Olympic gold medalist Cuban Teofilo Stevenson in the gloves, defeating Michael Dokes. He beat Greg Page for the Golden Gloves title. He lost to Michael Dokes for the AAU title.
Frazier’s son Marvis, 19-2 with eight stops and 54-2 in amateurs. Lost in the 1980 Olympic trials, he was stopped by James Broad after beating Mitch Green. Split with Tubbs.
So you have Frazier, Liston, Witherspoon and Martin along with Marvis Frazier, Clark and Thomas. Who do you think was Philly’s best?
