Boxing
Smokin’ Joe Frazier statue moved to the base of the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Published
3 months agoon
On Wednesday, the Philadelphia Art Commission voted unanimously to move the statue of heavyweight champion Joe Frazier from outside Stateside Live in South Philadelphia to the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art – to the same place where the Rocky statue has stood since 2006.
The three-foot bronze statue, created by artist Stephen Layne and installed in 2015, depicts Frazier landing the left hook that dropped Muhammad Ali in the 15th round of the “Fight of the Century” at Madison Square Garden in 1971.
The decision comes after the commission voted in January to move the Rocky statue to the top of the steps. Rocky will first enter the museum for an exhibition running from April to August, and then be permanently installed at the top – near where it was originally unveiled at the end of “Rocky III.” A replica of the Rocky statue loaned by Sylvester Stallone will be returned to the actor.
The Frazier statue is expected to be in place in spring 2026. The relocation cost is estimated at $150,000. Interpretive panels will be added to educate visitors about Frazier’s life and legacy.
Real Rocky Philadelphia
Frazier moved to Philadelphia from Beaufort, South Carolina at age 15 and began boxing in the Police Athletic League. He won a gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, became the undisputed heavyweight champion and was the first man to defeat Muhammad Ali, winning a unanimous decision in a fight at the Garden in 1971. He finished his professional career 32-4-1 with 27 knockouts.
Frazier’s training habits – running up the Art Museum stairs and punching beef in the meat locker – directly inspired details of the Rocky character. Stallone gave Frazier a cameo in the first Rocky film and was considering him for the role of Clubber Lang in Rocky III before a sparring session convinced Stallone otherwise.
Frazier founded Joe Frazier’s Gym on North Broad Street in 1968 and mentored local youth and amateur boxers there for more than 40 years. He died in Philadelphia in 2011 at the age of 67.
The family’s reaction
Frazier’s daughter and former boxer Jacqueline Frazier-Lyde took part in the vote. “My father taught staircase training at the Art Museum,” she said. “We come from the great tradition of boxing and the sporting tradition of Philadelphia. We are very elated to celebrate reality so that inspiring truth can truly inspire everyday people.”
Frazier’s two granddaughters expressed concerns during the public comment session about why the real champion would be at the bottom of the stairs while the fictional boxer sat at the top. Gabrielle Gibson told the commission: “The story of these stairs is well known to those who know it, and it is not the Rocky Staircase. It is Joe Frazier’s Smokin’ Staircase.”
The commission noted that tourists approaching the museum would first encounter the Frazier statue, and the statue’s larger footprint made the base a more practical location. The monument will be surrounded by reading rails displaying historical information about Frazier, and directions to the Frazier monument will be provided in the Rocky store at the foot of the stairs.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker supported the move. “The placement of the Joe Frazier statue in the Museum of Art reaffirms Philadelphia’s commitment to honoring real-life achievements combined with cultural mythology,” Parker said.
The Rocky statue attracts approximately 4 million tourists to the museum each year. The city hopes that a statue of Frazier in the same busy location will finally give one of boxing’s greatest champions the visibility his legacy deserves.
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Boxing
Bob Arum wonders if Lomachenko needs money to pay back
Published
53 minutes agoon
May 15, 2026
“Well, again, I don’t know what his financial situation is. He earned a lot of money from us. But, you know, he lives in Ukraine and there are a lot of problems there, maybe he needs money, or maybe he just wants to get away from home,” Arum said in an interview with Fighthype.
Arum’s comments drew attention because promoters rarely speculate publicly on whether a returning fighter might be financially motivated. Lomachenko hasn’t fought since stopping George Kambosos Jr. in May 2024. in the fight for the IBF lightweight title, and then left boxing.
The former three-division world champion is now 38 years venerable and has shown signs of decline in the later stages of his lightweight career. Losses to Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney, as well as a complex stretch at 135 pounds, have raised questions about how much Lomachenko has left in his long absence from the ring.
Arum admitted he doesn’t know what version of Lomachenko will return if the comeback continues.
“I don’t know what, if anything, Lomachenko has lost after his two-year retirement. So it would be wrong to hypothesize how he would fare against all these younger guys. We’ll just have to see,” Arum said.
The interviewer asked Arum if Lomachenko would still be able to compete with younger names like Shakur Stevenson, Abdullah Mason and Raymond Muratalla, but Arum avoided making predictions.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the return, Arum continued to praise Lomachenko as one of the best fighters promoted by Top Rank during his career with the company.
“Loma represents the best of boxing. So I wish him all the best because he has been a great fighter for us and he truly embodies the best of boxing,” Arum said.

Robert Segal is a boxing reporter at Boxing News 24 with over a decade of experience covering fight news, previews and analysis. Known for his first-hand reporting and in-ring perspective, he delivers trustworthy coverage of champions, challengers and emerging talent from around the world.
The Dubois family has already produced two world champions. Now another name is starting to attract attention in British boxing.
Daniel Dubois and sister Caroline turned the family name into one of the most celebrated names in British boxing, but now a different Dubois is quietly emerging from the amateur ranks.
According to many, including Stanley’s father, Solomon Dubois may finally become the best of them all.
Another Dubois appears
The 13-year-old turned heads at national tournaments as he developed under the Dubois umbrella. Stanley, the man who helped shape Daniel and Caroline into world champions, is overseeing his second son’s progress.
Daniel himself has publicly endorsed Solomon to one day become a major force in the sport as the youngest member of the fighting family continues his rise.
This naturally creates expectations.
Over the years, a lot has been written and said about the Dubois family, but not all of it was positive. Family feuds, public disagreements, pressure and media attention have followed the name for much of Daniel and Caroline’s career.
Fresh chapter
However, in Solomon’s case, there is already a feeling that boxing could be the beginning of a fresh chapter.
As Daniel and Caroline gradually enter the final stages of their careers, Solomon is just beginning his own journey.
The pressure is already on, but he is following in the footsteps that will be able to impart significant knowledge.
When a family has already produced two world champions, expectations arise long before title fights or professional contracts emerge.
That’s what makes Solomon’s situation so fascinating, because the noise around him isn’t the result of random social media hype designed to produce the next substantial thing.
This belief clearly exists within the family itself.
Stanley has long suggested that Solomon may naturally possess an agility and raw ability that simply cannot be taught.
The pressure comes early
At the same time, there is an obvious danger in placing too much expectation on someone so newborn.
The history of boxing is full of prospects who faced pressure before they were physically and mentally ready to handle it.
For now, Solomon remains a student learning his craft with one of the most recognizable names in British boxing.
A professional move and a likely collaboration with Frank Warren will almost certainly come later if he continues to make progress.
However, at the moment it’s simply a matter of keeping his feet on the ground as the attention around him continues to grow.
Because if the Dubois family’s beliefs prove correct, British boxing may finally discover that the most talented Dubois was the youngest all along.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.
Boxing
Keyshawn Davis vs. Nahir Albright 2 Saturday night, live on DAZN
Published
3 hours agoon
May 15, 2026
In October 2023, rising contender Keyshawn Davis entered the ring for an intense fight against Nahir Albright. In the first round of the fight, Albright used his feints and changed levels with his jab.
In the first round, Davis managed to land a well-timed right hand. Over the next few rounds, Keyshawn Davis established range and as a result, started landing his combinations.
Halfway through the 10-round fight, Davis was in complete control, consistently launching counterattacks. During the final three rounds of the fight, Albright found success in punching with his right hand.
Albright was competitive but didn’t seem to be doing enough to win rounds. At the conclusion of the 10-round contest, Davis was declared the winner by majority decision.
Two weeks later, Keyshawn Davis was confirmed to have tested positive for marijuana. Davis received a 90-day suspension and his majority victory over Nahir Albright was changed to a no-contest.
Following his match with Keyshawn Davis, Nahir Albright’s boxing career came to an end after a 19-month hiatus. In June 2025, Nahir Albright stepped back into the squared circle to face Keyshawn’s older brother, Kelvin Davis.
Albright was very aggressive as he hurt Davis in the second and fourth rounds. Albright set the pace of the fight and won a convincing victory.
After the fight ended, Keyshawn and his younger brother Keon jumped Albright backstage. According to Albright, the Davis brothers entered his locker room and Keyshawn headbutted him, leaving a lump on his right eye.
Following the incident, police escorted Keyshawn Davis from the arena. Davis was initially scheduled to headline the event, but he weighed 4.3 pounds over the legal weight limit and was stripped of his WBO world title.
After this embarrassing incident, Keyshawn Davis redeemed himself in January 2026 when he dominated Jamaine Ortiz. Now Davis is ready to take care of unfinished business on Saturday night.
Keyshawn “The Businessman” Davis didn’t look like a pro on Friday afternoon when he weighed in at 140.2 pounds. Davis stripped down to his bare essentials and weighed 140.1 pounds.
After his second failed attempt, Davis was given two hours to reach the 140-pound limit. A tiny time later, Davis returned to the scale and weighed 140 pounds.
Performance wise, Keyshawn Davis is a striking boxer who has poise, timing, a solid jab and a high ring IQ, is an elite counter puncher, has excellent punch placement and is deadly when landing body shots.
His opponent, Nahir Albright, has a quick jab, is elusive, has good footwork, uses head movement regularly, is tough and used to throwing a series of punches.
The grudge match will be held on Saturday evening, May 16, at the Scope Arena. Norfolk native Keyshawn Davis wants to make a statement to his hometown fans, but his opponent, Nahir Albright, plans to play the role of spoiler.
Sports and entertainment writer. She was born and raised in Up-to-date Orleans. He attended college at PURDUE UNIVERSITY
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