Pennsylvania has a deep history of boxing, dating back to the early days of the sport. Some of the greatest boxers of all time have come from the Keystone State, including Bernard Hopkins, Danny Garcia, and Joe Frazier.
Let's take a look at some of the best boxers from Pennsylvania. We will discuss their careers, their accomplishments, and their legacy.
Bernard Hopkins
Bernard Hopkins is one of the greatest boxers of all time. He was born in Philadelphia in 1965 and turned professional in 1988. Hopkins won his first world title in 1995, when he defeated Roy Jones Jr. to become the undisputed middleweight champion.
Hopkins went on to hold the middleweight title for 10 years, the longest reign in middleweight history. He also won the light heavyweight title in 2004 and the light heavyweight title again in 2011.
Hopkins retired in 2016 after a 20-year career. He retired with a record of 55-7-2, with 32 knockouts. Hopkins is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
Danny Garcia
Danny Garcia is a two-division world champion who was born in Philadelphia in 1988. Garcia turned professional in 2006 and won his first world title in 2010, when he defeated Erik Morales to become the WBC lightweight champion.
Garcia went on to win the WBC welterweight title in 2012 and the WBA welterweight title in 2014. He has defended both titles multiple times.
Garcia is currently ranked as the number one welterweight in the world by both the WBC and the WBA. He has a record of 36-3, with 21 knockouts.
Joe Frazier
Joe Frazier was born in Beaufort, South Carolina, in 1944. He moved to Philadelphia as a child and turned professional in 1965.
Frazier quickly rose through the ranks of the heavyweight division. He won the Olympic gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and then won his first world title in 1968, when he defeated Muhammad Ali to become the heavyweight champion of the world.
Frazier defended his title five times, including a rematch with Ali in 1971. He lost the title to George Foreman in 1973 but regained it in 1974, when he defeated Foreman in the "Thrilla in Manila."
Frazier retired from boxing in 1976. He died in 2011 at the age of 67. Frazier is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
Other great boxers from Pennsylvania
In addition to Hopkins, Garcia, and Frazier, there are many other great boxers who have come from Pennsylvania. Some of these boxers include:
Billy Conn: Conn was born in Pittsburgh in 1917 and turned professional in 1936. He won the world middleweight championship in 1941, but he lost the title to Sugar Ray Robinson in a controversial decision. Conn retired from boxing in 1948 but returned in 1951 for a rematch with Robinson. He lost the rematch and retired for good. Conn is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Tommy Loughran: Loughran was born in Philadelphia in 1902 and turned professional in 1922. He won the world middleweight championship in 1926 and defended the title five times. Loughran retired from boxing in 1932. He is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Bennie Briscoe: Briscoe was born in Philadelphia in 1949 and turned professional in 1967. He won the world light heavyweight championship in 1976 and defended the title three times. Briscoe retired from boxing in 1985. He is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Meldrick Taylor: Taylor was born in Philadelphia in 1966 and turned professional in 1984. He won the world welterweight championship in 1988 and defended the title five times. Taylor lost the title to Julio Cesar Chavez in 1990. He retired from boxing in 1998. Taylor is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
These are just a few of the great boxers who have come from Pennsylvania. The Keystone State has a rich history of boxing and has produced some of the greatest boxers of all time.
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