The City of Brotherly Love has long been known for its boxing. Who do readers, Philly and area boxing fans think is the best heavyweight in town?
J Russell Peltz, promoter of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, 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 Germany’s Hans Huber. In the Olympic trials, after stopping three opponents then, he lost twice to Buster Mathis. In his second game, 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 champion 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 finished his career 32-4-1 with 27 stoppages.
Liston, in September 1962, won the world title, stopping Floyd Patterson, 38-2, and again in a rematch. He then 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 had Martin on the canvas in the fourth.
Philly’s Jimmy Young, 35-18-3 with 11 stopups. After being stopped by Earnie Shavers, 42-2, he went on to win six straight and draw with Shaver in a rematch. He then defeated Ron Lyle, 30-1-1, and then Foreman, 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 Dokes, 14-0, Gerry Cooney, 22-0, champion Greg Page, 18-0, champions Tony ‘TNT’ Tubbs, 14-0, and Tony ‘TNT’ Tucker, 24-0 , among others.
Others include 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, finishing his career losing to future WBO champions 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 finished 30-10 with 20 stoppages.
WBC & WBA Champion “Terrible” Tim Witherspoon, 55-13-1 with 38 stopups. He lost a contested decision when he was 15-0 to WBC champion Larry ‘The Easton Assassin’ Holmes, 42-0, a majority decision to WBC champion Pinklon ‘Pink’ Thomas, 24-0-1, signed by the 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 beat Tubbs, 21-0, Frank Bruno, 28-1.
Others on the UK-born roster were Phoenixville’s “Big” Joe Thomas, who was 23-2-1 with 19 stopups but lost to KAZ, and future Russian WBC champion Oleg Maskaev, who was 4-0 in his last fight. Maskaev was the 1981 National Golden Gloves Champion.
Jimmy Clark of Coatesville, 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 Cuban Olympic gold medalist Teofilo Stevenson in the Gloves, defeating Michael Dokes. He defeated Greg Page for the Golden Gloves title. He lost to Michael Dokes for the AAU title.
Frazier’s son, Marvis, 19-2 with eight stopups and 54-2 in the amateurs. Lost in the 1980 Olympic trials, he was signed 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?
