Who was the best Philly & Area heavyweight?

The city of brotherly love has long been known for boxing. What do the readers, some boxing fans in and around Philly, think who is the best heavyweight in town?

International Boxing Hall of Famer Philly J Russell Peltz had this to say: “(‘Smokin’ Joe) Frazier had the best career, but the main (Sonny) Liston was unbeatable!’

At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Frazier won the gold medal, stopping opponents from Uganda, Australia, Russia and Hans Huber of Germany. In the Olympic trials, after stopping three opponents then, he lost twice to Buster Mathis. In their second match, Mathis broke his thumb and was replaced by Frazier.

In March 1968, Frazier turned professional 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 the title, being stopped by ‘The Great’ George Foreman, 37-0, twice. He finished his career 32-4-1 with 27 shutouts.

Liston won the world title in September 1962, stopping Floyd Patterson, 38-2, and again in the 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 had a detached retina and retired. Liston had Martin on the canvas in the fourth.

Philly’s Jimmy Young, 35-18-3 with 11 shutouts. After being stopped by Earnie Shavers, 42-2, he reeled off six straight wins and tied Shaver in the rematch. He then beat 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, champion Tony ‘TNT’ Tubbs, 14-0, and Tony ‘TNT’ Tucker, 24-0, among other.

The other is 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, ending his career with losses 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 shutouts.

WBC & WBA Champion ‘The Terrible’ Tim Witherspoon, 55-13-1 with 38 stoppages. He lost by decision when he was 15-0 to WBC champion Larry ‘The Easton Assassin’ Holmes, 42-0, by majority decision to WBC champion Pinklon ‘Pink’ Thomas, 24-0-1, he was stopped by WBA champion James ‘ Bonecrusher Smith, 18-5, former WBO champion Ray ‘Merciless’ Mercer, 23-4-1, former WBA champion Greg Stranica 55-14-1. He defeated Tubbs, 21-0, Frank Bruno, 28-1.

Others on the UK-born roster included Phoenixville’s ‘Big’ Joe Thomas, who was 23-2-1 with 19 stoppages but lost to KAZ, and Russia’s future WBC champion Oleg Maskaev, who is in his last fight had 4-0. Maskaev was the 1981 Golden Gloves national champion.

Coatesville’s Jimmy Clark, 18-1, with 16 shutouts. He was stopped by Reggie Gross, 15-3. He defeated Olympian Clarence Hill, 17-2-1, of Bermuda. He lost three times to Cuban three-time Olympic gold medalist Teofilo Stevenson in the gloves, defeating Michael Dokes. He beat Greg Page for the Golden Gloves. He lost to Michael Dokes for the AAU title.

Frazier’s son Marvis, 19-2 with eight shutouts and 54-2 as an amateur. Lost in the 1980 Olympics he was stopped 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 the best in Philly?