“A Real Fighter”

The Statue

Ask the average person who’s the most famous boxer from Philadelphia and they’re likely to reply with “Rocky Balboa.” In fact, it was the real-life heavyweight champion Joe Frazier who ran up the Art Museum steps and boxed raw meat sides at a slaughterhouse. We examine who is remembered when we build monuments to our heroes, and who gets left out — and visit the places around Philadelphia where Smokin’ Joe’s legacy lives on.

Show Notes

• The Fight of the Century
• Mark Kram Jr., Smokin’ Joe: The Life of Joe Frazier
• Official Joe Frazier website
• Brent Leggs and the National Trust for Historic Preservation
• James Shuler Memorial Boxing Gym
• Joe Frazier and the Knockouts on the Ed Sullivan Show