Top Fighters Of The 1970s: Philadelphia
In the pantheon of the sport’s history, many of the names from Philadelphia’s storied 1970s run are not of the household variety. Within the city proper—and, especially, amongst the diehards—it’s impossible to imagine boxing from that era without acknowledging the men on the following list. For your consideration, here are my Top 5 Philadelphia fighters from the 1970s:
5. Tyrone “The Mean Machine” Everett (36-1, 20 KOs), Junior Lightweight
Decade Achievements: USBA 130 champion (1974); NABF 130 champion (1976)
Why He Belongs On This List: Everett is known as much for the circumstances surrounding his death in 1977 as he was for his most memorable moment of the decade. A highly touted champ in the 130-pound division, Everett seemed destined to capture the WBC title that had eluded him throughout his career. In November 1976, Everett appeared poised to finally take the step that analysts and fans in Philadelphia had expected when he made his way into the ring in the city’s biggest venue, The Spectrum, for a world title match with then-WBC champ Alfredo Escalera.
In what has become viewed as one of the most controversial decisions in boxing history, Everett lost on both judges cards, with only the referee scoring the bout in his favor. After fifteen arduous rounds, Everett had nothing to show for his troubles aside from the fury of a partisan crowd and a dubious distinction in the annals of boxing history.
Still, the perceived robbery that occurred that evening in South Philadelphia would pale in comparison to the events that followed only six months later when Everett was killed by his girlfriend. A promising life and career was cut tragically short, yet the contribution that Everett made to the Philadelphia boxing scene in the 1970s would live on forever.
4. “Joltin’” Jeff Chandler (33-2-2, 1 KO)
Achievements: USBA 118 champion (1979)
Why He Belongs On This List: Undefeated for the decade, Chandler won all twenty bouts starting with his debut in 1976 and running through a flurry of fights to cap 1979. It wasn’t until September of that final year of the decade that Chandler’s solidified his spot as one of the sport’s best via a Bantamweight championship victory over Baby Kid Chocolate in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. Never truly considered a knockout artist, and rightfully so, Chandler won the title with a ninth round TKO victory over Chocolate, one of only two victories via that manner in the ‘70s. In fact, only eight of his twenty victories in the decade came prior to the final bell.
A quick fighter with sharp, constant strikes and excellent footwork, Chandler saw the majority of his successes coming when he fought his fight and waited for the judges’ decisions. Chandler fought an astounding 121 of the 146 scheduled rounds in his bouts throughout the 1970s and was as tenacious a competitor as ever to come out of Philadelphia. His greatest successes came one decade later, in the 1980s where he’d go on to win the NABF and WBA 118-pound titles and defend them successfully nine times.
3. “Bad” Bennie Briscoe (66-24-5, 53 KOs)
Decade Achievements: NABF Middleweight champion (1973)
Why He Belongs On This List: Briscoe fought an incredible 46 times in the 1970s, finishing with an overall record of 32-10-4, 27 of those wins coming via knockout. Viewed by many as one of the fiercest punchers in boxing history, Briscoe started the decade with eleven consecutive wins, capturing the NABF middleweight title by stopping Art Hernandez via TKO in the third round during their bout at The Spectrum in South Philadelphia. Unfortunately, and perhaps surprisingly, the NABF crown would be the only title Briscoe would capture in the ‘70s.
In two attempts to win a vacated WBC middleweight title, Briscoe was bested by a game Rodrigo Valdez. The first bout with Valdez, in Monaco, ended with Briscoe suffering his only knockout loss of the decade. Paired again with Valdez under similar circumstances three years later, Briscoe again fell in defeat, this time by unanimous decision in a closely contested match held in Italy. After that second loss to Valdez, Briscoe was never quite the same, dropping nine of his final seventeen fights. Still, his success and power over the span of a 20-year career, Briscoe is fondly remembered as one of the greatest Philadelphia fighters in history.
2. “Miracle Matthew” Saad Muhammad (39-16-3, 29 KOs)
Achievements: NABF 175 title (1977); WBC 175 title (1979)
Why He Belongs On This List: As fascinating an origin story as any in sports history, Matthew Saad Muhammad was, literally, abandoned on the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, only to be found and raised by the nuns of Catholic Social Services. Saad Muhammad got into boxing in his youth and rose to the professional ranks in the mid-1970s, making his debut with a knockout victory over Billy Early in 1974 as part of the “Monday Night Fights” undercard at The Spectrum. From that win on, Saad Muhammad never looked back, defeated only twice in the decade and running his record to a solid 24-2-2 for the ‘70s.
The hard-throwing brawler from South Philadelphia became known for his ability to reach back and recover when the odds seemed their most grim, not unlike his highly unusual upbringing and ascent of the professional ranks. Saad Muhammad reached the apex of the sport in 1979, defeating Marvin Johnson via TKO in the main event on a card in Indianapolis, Indiana to capture the WBC light heavyweight crown. Although the remainder of his career would not fare as well—going 15-14-1 until retiring in 1992—Saad Muhammad is forever known as one of the most tenacious and successful Philadelphia fighters of the 1970s.
1. “Smokin’” Joe Frazier (32-4-1, 27 KOs), Heavyweight
Achievements: WBC heavyweight title (and) WBA World heavyweight title (1970)
Why He Belongs On This List: It is impossible to discuss boxing in the 1970s—be it in Philadelphia or, really, anywhere in the world—without mentioning Joe Frazier. An Olympic gold medalist in the 1964 games, Frazier would capture the NYSAC World heavyweight title in 1968, before adding WBA and WBC championship gold in 1970. A fighting champion for nearly five years before a convincing second round TKO loss at the able hands of George Foreman, Frazier is less known for his stature as torchbearer of the sport during that period as he is for his historic rivalry with Muhammad Ali.
From 1971’s victory in the “Fight Of The Century” in Madison Square Garden through “Super Fight II” in 1974, the “Thrilla In Manilla” in 1975, all the way to “Smokin’” Joe’s untimely passing in November 2011, the Frazier-Ali rivalry spanned five decades and is the measuring stick against which all past and current feuds are measured. Deep-seated resentment bordering on genuine hatred eventually gave way to something of a mutual respect in the waning years of Frazier’s life.
Truly one of, if not the, greatest feuds in boxing’s illustrious history, which would not have been capable without Frazier’s blue collar, business-oriented attitude providing the perfect antithesis to the brilliant, boisterous showman that was Ali.
