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 said the following: “(‘Smokin’ Joe) Frazier had the best career, but a prime (Sonny) Liston was unbeatable!“
In 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, improving his record to 20-0. After four defenses, he stopped former WBA champ Jimmy Ellis 27-5, adding 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, being stopped by ‘Big’ George Foreman, 37-0, twice. He ended his career 32-4-1 with 27 stoppages.
Liston, in September of 1962, won the world title, 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 stoppages. After being stopped by Earnie Shavers, 42-2, he went on to win six straight and draw with 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 champ 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 others.
Others are 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, ending his career by losing future champs WBO champ 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 ended up 30-10 with 20 stoppages.
WBC & WBA champ ‘Terrible’ Tim Witherspoon, 55-13-1 with 38 stoppages. He lost a disputed decision when he was 15-0 to WBC champ Larry ‘The Easton Assassin’ Holmes, 42-0, majority decision to WBC champ Pinklon ‘Pink’ Thomas, 24-0-1, stopped by WBA champ James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith, 18-5, former WBO champ Ray ‘Merciless’ Mercer, 23-4-1, former WBA champ Greg Page 55-14-1. He defeated Tubbs, 21-0, Frank Bruno, 28-1.
Others on the list born in the UK were Phoenixville’s ‘Big’ Joe Thomas, who was 23-2-1 with 19 stoppages but lost to KAZ, and Russian future WBC champ 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 stoppages. 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 stoppages 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?
