The Cordish Companies' XFINITY Live! Unveils Boxing Legend Joe Frazier Statue In Philadelphia

Hundreds attend ceremonial event; Mayor Nutter, Councilman Johnson, Former Governor Ed Rendell, Frazier family and more speak in commemoration

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Sep 15, 2015, 02:38 ET

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cordish Companies' XFINITY Live! Philadelphia unveiled a new 12-foot bronze statue commemorating Joe Frazier, one of the most iconic Philadelphia athletes in history, during a free, open-to-the-public ceremony at XFINITY Live! on Saturday, September 12. XFINITY Live! and Joe Hand Promotions were the lead contributors for this memorial.

The Cordish Companies' XFINITY Live! Philadelphia unveiled a new 12-foot bronze statue commemorating Joe Frazier, one of the most iconic Philadelphia athletes in history, during a free, open-to-the-public ceremony at XFINITY Live! on Saturday, September 12. XFINITY Live! and Joe Hand Promotions were the lead contributors for this memorial.

"I want to thank David Cordish," said Mayor Nutter. "The only real place for this statue of course is here at XFINITY Live!. So I reached out to David Cordish... and the moment I mentioned we needed the right location and some support... [he] immediately said 'Yes, we'd be honored to be a part of this project. Let us know how we can help.' That's when you know you have friends. Give a big round of applause to David Cordish, The Cordish Company and Zed Smith."

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, on March 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, with 27 knockouts. Two of the losses were epic rematches with Ali, including the "Thrilla in Manila" in 1975. Frazier also participated in the first sporting event ever at the Spectrum, on October 17, 1967, winning with a knockout over Tony Doyle.

"It's an honor for us at The Cordish Companies to be able to give such a meaningful statue a permanent home here at XFINITY Live! in Philadelphia," said Cordish COO, Zed Smith. "Frazier was an incredible athlete who had a huge impact on the local community, so it's only fitting that we take the time to pay tribute to one of Philadelphia's heroes."

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 and 1975 championships, and Flyers all-time winningest coach Fred Shero.

XFINITY Live! Philadelphia
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, including: Broad Street Bullies Pub, PBR Bar & Grill (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.

The Cordish Companies
The Cordish Companies' origins date back to 1910 and encompass four generations of privately-held, family ownership. During the past ten decades, The Cordish Companies has grown into a global leader in Real Estate Development, Gaming & Lodging, Entertainment Management and International Development. One of the largest and most respected developers in the world, The Cordish Companies has been awarded an unprecedented seven Urban Land Institute Awards for Excellence for public-private developments that are of unique significance to the cities in which they are located. Prime examples are The Cordish Companies' prominent role in the redevelopment of Baltimore's world famous Inner Harbor; Philadelphia, PA; Atlantic City, NJ; Charleston, SC; Houston, TX; Louisville, KY; Kansas City, MO and St. Louis, MO. In addition, The Cordish Companies has developed and operates multiple highly acclaimed entertainment destinations throughout the United States which welcome over 50 million visitors per year and are the most visited destinations in their respective regions. Over the generations, The Cordish Companies has remained true to the family's core values of quality, entrepreneurial spirit, long-term personal relationships and integrity. As a testimony to the long-term vision of its family leadership, The Cordish Companies still owns and manages virtually every business it has created. www.cordish.com