The City of Brotherly Love has long been famous for its boxing. Who do readers, and some boxing fans in Philadelphia and around the region, think is the best heavyweight in the city?
J. Russell Peltz, the International Boxing Hall of Fame promoter in Philadelphia, said the following: “('Smokin' Joe) Frazier had the best career, but the outstanding (Sonny) Liston was unbeatable!”
At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Frazier won the gold medal, defeating competitors from Uganda, Australia, Russia, and Hans Huber of Germany. At the Olympic Trials, after stopping three competitors, he lost twice to Buster Matthysse. In the second game, Mathis broke his thumb, so Frazier replaced him.
In March 1968, Frazier entered the professional ranks and became NYSAC World Champion. He stopped Matthysse 23-0 in eleven rounds and improved his record to 20-0. After four defenses, he stopped former WBA champion Jimmy Ellis 27-5, adding the vacant WBC title. After two defenses, he defeated former world champion Muhammad Ali 31-0 at Madison Square Garden. He will lose to Ali in their next fight.
After defeating Ali, he lost his title, being stopped by “The Big One” George Foreman, 37-0, twice. He finished his career 32-4-1 with 27 shutouts.
In September 1962, Liston won the world title, defeating Floyd Patterson, 38-2, again in a rematch. Then he lost twice to Ali. He 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 Martin was on the canvas in fourth place.
Jimmy Young of Philadelphia, 35-18-3 with 11 shutouts. After being stopped by Ernie Shavers, 42-2, he went on to win six straight matches and tied with Shavers in the rematch. He then defeated Ron Lyle by a score of 30-1-1 and then Foreman by a score of 45-1. Then, after two more wins, he lost to WBA-WBC champion Ali, 50-2, in a close fight.
Young would lose to champion Mike Dux, 14-0, Gerry Cooney, 22-0, champion Greg Page, 18-0, champions Tony Tubbs, 14-0, and Tony Tucker, 24-0, among others.
Others are 1984 Olympic gold medalist Terrell Biggs, who won his first 20 bouts before being stopped by “Iron” Mike Tyson, 31-0. He went 10-20, and finished his career with losses to future WBO champion Francesco Damiani, 21-0, Riddick 'Big Daddy' Bowe, 21-0, Lennox 'The Lion, Lewis, 17-0, Tubbs, 36-5, Buster Mathis Jr. 12 -0. He ended up 30-10 with 20 stops.
“Terrible” WBC and WBA champion Tim Witherspoon, 55-13-1 with 38 stoppages. He lost a disputed decision at 15-0 to WBC champion Larry “The Easton Assassin” Holmes, 42-0, and a 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 and Frank Bruno 28-1.
Others on the UK-born list are Phoenixville's Joe “Big” Thomas, who was 23-2-1 with 19 stoppages but lost to KAZ, and future WBC champion Russian 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. Stopped by Reggie Gross 15-3. Olympian defeated Clarence Hill, 17-2-1, of Bermuda. He lost to 3-time Olympic gold medalist Teofilo Stevenson of Cuba in gloves, defeating Michael Dukes. He beat Greg Paige for the Golden Gloves title. He lost to Michael Dukes for the AAU title.
Son of Frazier Marvis, 19-2 with eight stoppages and 54-2 in the amateurs. Lost at the 1980 Olympic Trials, stopped by James Broad after defeating Mitch Green. Split with Taps.
So, you have Frazier, Liston, Witherspoon, and Martin, along with Marvis Frazier, Clark, and Thomas. Who do you think was the best in Philly?
