A statue honoring Philadelphia boxing legend Joe Frazier could soon take the place of the iconic Rocky Balboa statue at the base of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps.

The 12-foot statue of Frazier, also known as “Smokin’ Joe,” has stood outside Stateside Live in South Philadelphia since 2015.

More than 10 years later, Creative Philadelphia is proposing to relocate the statue to the bottom of the museum steps.

The proposal comes as the original Rocky statue is set to move, creating a vacancy at the base of the steps – a spot known for long lines of tourists waiting to take photos.

READ MORE | The famed Rocky statue in Philadelphia is getting a new home

The famed Rocky statue in Philadelphia is getting a new home
In April, the Rocky statue will move inside the Philadelphia Museum of Art as part of an exhibit before it eventually finds a new home at the top of the steps.

Visitors say the move could help elevate recognition for Frazier.

“I think it’s good to give him more acknowledgment because I think he was one of the greatest of his time with Muhammad Ali, giving him a bit more prominent location,” said Abe Mekonnen, who was visiting from Washington, D.C.

Mekonnen said he was surprised to learn Frazier already had a statue in the city.

Creative Philadelphia highlighted Frazier’s ties to the area in a letter to the Art Commission, noting that he trained regularly by running through Fairmount Park and up the museum steps — efforts they say that later served as inspiration for the Rocky character.

Tourists said moving the statue could help bring greater awareness to Frazier’s legacy. Some visitors said they were unaware the boxing legend had a statue at all.

The popularity of the Rocky statue and its location continues to draw visitors from around the world. Matias Gerardi, who traveled from Argentina, said the statue was his first stop after arriving in Philadelphia.

“It’s an honor for me to be talking about Rocky here in Philadelphia; it’s a dream come true,” Gerardi added.

In January, the Philadelphia Art Commission voted to officially move the original Rocky statue to the top of the steps, replacing a version that had been on loan to the city by Sylvester Stallone.

That statue will soon be returned to Stallone.

A vote on relocating the Frazier statue is expected at the next Art Commission meeting, scheduled for Wednesday.

The cost to move the statue is estimated at $150,000.