Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali’s “Fight of the Century” is now forever preserved in bronze.
The statue is expected to be displayed going forward at a planned sports museum in Pennsylvania, according to the Associated Press, while a mural honoring Frazier by artist Ernel Martinez is now viewable in North Philadelphia.
The AP shared a video of the unveiling of the 9-foot, 1,600-lb. statue during a ceremony in Feasterville, Pennsylvania — which included a speech from the late champion’s son, Joe Frazier Jr.
“In 50 years, it’s still the biggest event that has ever happened in the history of sports,” Frazier Jr. said. “It transcends all generations.”
“I have two 7-year-olds, an 18-year-old, I’ve watched the fight with them. They love it [and] they don’t know anything about boxing,” he continued. “But they just know what’s happening. They can see the passion.”
“Fight of Century” statue. Matt Rourke/AP/Shutterstock
“And I would say to everybody out there that you don’t have to be great to start — you have to start in order to be great,” Frazier Jr. added.
A plaque presented alongside the statue describes the fight, in which “two undefeated boxing Heavyweight Champions fought before the entire world for 15 rounds of gruesome combat” before Frazier won.
“There has not been a comparable sports contest since this event,” the plaque continues. “Early in the 15th round, Joe Frazier sent Muhammad Ali to the canvas. At the time, Joe Frazier lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Muhammad Ali in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Both fighters and their amazing fight lore are part of the great sports heritage of the Greater Philadelphia area.”
“In a time of civil unrest, these two gladiators united the country with their differing, but righteous, principles,” it concluded.
Frazier died at age 67 in 2011 after a battle with liver cancer, while Ali died almost five years later following his hospitalization for respiratory complications. He was 74.
Before Frazier’s death, his former competitor sent public prayers and well-wishes.
“The news about Joe is hard to believe and even harder to accept,” Ali said in a statement to CBS back in November 2011. “Joe is a fighter and a champion and I am praying he is fighting now.”
Saying he was keeping Frazier in his family’s “daily prayers,” Ali added, “Joe has a lot of friends pulling for him, and I’m one of them.”
News
Nicolas Cage Weighs in on the Possibility of a Face/Off Sequel
Nicolas Cage is ready for an onscreen rematch against former co-star John Travolta. As the actor exclusively revealed on the Jan. 9 episode of E! News, “I would love to get back into the Face/Off ring.” The 1997 sci-fi action flick starred Travolta as FBI agent…
“Heartbroken” Nicolas Cage Believes Ex Lisa Marie Presley Has Been Reunited With Son Benjamin After Death
After Lisa Marie Presley died Jan. 12 after a possible cardiac arrest, her ex-husband Nicolas Cage paid tribute to the singer by sharing his fondest memories. Nicolas Cage is paying tribute to his late ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley. One day after the 54-year-old singer…
Nicolas Cage Welcomes Baby No. 3, First With Wife Riko Shibata
Nicolas Cage is a girl dad! The Ghost Rider actor—who is a father to two sons Kal-El Coppola Cage and Weston Coppola Cage—welcomed his first daughter with wife Riko Shibata. Nicolas Cage has a new national treasure in his life! The actor…
Secrets About the National Treasure Franchise
ecrets About the National Treasure Franchise 1. The film was announced in 1999 and originally intended to be released in 2000, but original writer Jim Kouf‘s script was so complex that eight additional writers were hired between 1999 and 2003 by Disney…
Longlegs director teases an “unrecognizable” Nicolas Cage as a demonic serial killer in new horror movie
Exclusive: Director Osgood Perkins talks Nicolas Cage’s Zodiac-esque serial killer (Image credit: Neon) Longlegs director Osgood Perkins says Nicolas Cage is unrecognizable in the upcoming horror thriller – and we’re ready for the non-stop nightmares. “We derived the voice of…
‘The Rock’: THR’s 1996 Review
On June 7, 1996, Buena Vista unveiled Michael Bay’s blockbuster actioner, which paired Sean Connery with Nicolas Cage. Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage in ‘The Rock’ EVERETT On June 7, 1996, Buena Vista unveiled Michael Bay’s actioner The Rock, which paired…
End of content
No more pages to load