TWEET IT: Philadelphia Boxing Legend Joe Frazier statue to be unveiled at @XFINITYlive о
Седам 12 during free open-to-the public ceremony #JoeFrazierDay
Statue artist Stephen Layne recreated Frazier in mid-punch, depicting the moment after Frazier landed the punch that knocked down Muhammad Ali in the 15th round, он Марцх 8, 1971. Frazier was the first fighter to defeat Ali.
“I found my inspiration in a photo of Frazier flooring Ali with his powerful left hook,” Layne said. “The moment captured in the sculpture reflects the work ethic of Frazier and the city he called home.”
Frazier won the 1964 Olympic gold medal in Tokyo and later finished with a professional record of 32-4-1, са 27 нокаута. Two of the losses were epic rematches with Ali, укључујући “Тхрилла ин Манила” у 1975. Frazier also participated in the first sporting event ever at the Spectrum, октобар 17, 1967, winning with a knockout over Tony Doyle.
The City of Philadelphia commissioned Layne as the sculptor of the Joe Frazier Memorial Statue. He began with a 12-foot tall clay model, and upon approval, constructed a silicone mold. He then began the highly skilled bronze foundry work, finishing the over 1,200-pound bronze monument in 14-months. The process was proudly produced, created and constructed in the United States by Stratton Sculpture Studios of Philadelphia.
The new Frazier statue joins five other iconic Philadelphia sports moments, including Philadelphia Flyers’ Gary Dornhoefer’s overtime playoff goal against the Minnesota North Stars in 1973; longtime Flyers’ good luck charm Kate Smith singing her iconic version of God Bless America; 76ers legend Julius Erving taking a signature shot, Flyers’ greats Bobby Clarke and Bernie Parent hosting the Stanley Cup commemorating of the team’s 1974 и 1975 Цхампионсхипс, and Flyers all-time winningest coach Fred Shero.
XFINITY Live! Филаделфија
XFINITY Live! Philadelphia is a dining and entertainment district centered in the heart of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. The one-of-a-kind venue features over a dozen restaurant and entertainment choices, укључујући: Broad Street Bullies Pub, PBR Bar & Решетка (Professional Bull Riders), Philly MarketPlace, Victory Beer Hall and the first-ever NBC Sports Arena. XFINITY Live! is a joint partnership between Philadelphia-based Comcast Spectacor and Baltimore-based The Cordish Companies.