Boxing News Boxing News
7.30pm Monday, March 30 is a time that will go down in boxing history, as it was then that Joe and Marvis Frazier locked the doors of their famous Philadelphia gym for the final time.
It should have been a landmark year, as it is 40 years since the doors of the former dancehall were opened to herald in the start of a new era for boxing and Smokin’ Joe Frazier.
The Frazier’s told their staff and fighters “The gym is closing for renovations to the building,” but the ominous tone in which the message was given and given that all fighters, amateur and professional alike, were advised to find new gyms and trainers, told a different story.
When asked by various fighters if the gym will open again, Marvis Frazier replied “The gym is closed; it’s over.”
Whilst this statement has hit all involved hard, it has come as an even more bitter pill to swallow for three of the gym’s most promising stars – Marianne Marston from London, England, Jayson Sia from Los Angeles, California, and Diane (Dee) Moses from Jacksonville, Florida – as not only had they relocated to Philadelphia in order to train and be managed by the Frazier’s but all three were also due to sign professional papers later this month and now find themselves without a gym, trainers or management.
A statement will be issued early next week by a group of these Frazier fighters, including those mentioned, regarding their intention to set up a Frazier Fighters Group in order to attract financial investors so they can set up a new gym – or if possible lease the old one – and employ their former trainers, including Marvis Frazier.
