After a recent Philadelphia Art Commission approval vote, the statue of “Smokin’” Joe Frazier will be moved from South Philadelphia to Fairmount, writes Nick Kariuki for Billy Penn at WHYY.
Currently located in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex in front of Stateside Live!, the nine-foot bronze statue will soon be moved to the base of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps. The statue will replace the Rocky statue that has been in the space since 2006.
It was announced earlier this year that the Rocky statue will move to the top of the steps later this year, after it’s used in a new exhibition that will debut in late April.
“As we celebrate our 250th, visitors will come here seeking authentic stories about Philadelphia,” said Marguerite Anglin, the public art director for the city’s arts office. “Placing the Joe Frazier statue at the Art Museum allows us to share a more complete story about Philadelphia’s spirit, one rooted in real people, real work, and real pride in this city.”
In many ways, the Rocky Balboa character was inspired by the real-life Joe Frazier.
Anglin said the goal is to put the two statues in dialogue because Philadelphia is big enough “to celebrate both the real life story of Joe Frazier and the myth of Rocky.”
Read more about the Joe Frazier statue’s move in Billy Penn at WHYY.
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