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Workers uprooted a statue of fictional fighter Rocky Balboa from his base outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Wednesday and moved him inside where he will be the main event of an exhibit celebrating the beloved half-century-old film.
This massive bronze work of art is one of three identical statuesinspired by the famous Sylvester Stallone film “Rocky” Franchise, that are spread across Philadelphia will be among several sports monuments being moved this year.
Workers prepare the Rocky statue to be moved inside the museum.NBC PhiladelphiaThe statue unearthed and moved Wednesday is the same one used in a famous scene in “Rocky III” when Balboa is confronted by promising boxer Clubber Lang, played by MT
Another Rocky statue, owned by Stallone, now stands atop the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and can still be visited for free.
This statue at the top is expected to be returned to Stallone later this year and will be replaced by the one that was moved on Wednesday for “Rising Up: Rocky and the Creation of Monuments.”
In the museum where Rocky was held from 2006 until Wednesday, a statue of the famous – and real – boxer “Smokin” Joe Fraziery will be transferred from the South Philly Sports Complex.
Finally, a third Stallone statue, owned by the city, remains in place Philadelphia International Airport.
City officials hope the proximity of the Frazier and Rocky statues can help visitors make a connection between the real and fictional fighters.
Frazier, who spent his formative years in Philadelphia, climbed the museum steps as part of his training, as did the fictional Balboa.
His statue is often overlooked in the hubbub of fans coming and going to Philadelphia Phillies, Eagles, 76ers and Flyers games.
“Now we’re bringing him (Frazier) into the conversation, we’re bringing him into a space where over 4 million people come to visit him every year,” Philadelphia Public Art Director Marguerite Anglin told NBC News on Thursday.
“We are excited that when visitors come (to the Philadelphia Museum), they will first be greeted by this origin story, the true champion (Frazier) who embodied all the ideals that people identify with, perseverance, courage, determination and the things that we believe embody the spirit of Philadelphia.”
Frazier was 67 years old upon his death in 2011.
“Rocky” was released in 1976 and won the 1977 Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director (John Avildsen) and Best Editing (Richard Halsey and Scott Conrad).
It had also earned Academy Award nominations for Best Actor (Stallone), Best Screenplay (Stallone), two for Supporting Actor (Burgess Meredith and Burt Young), Supporting Actress (Talia Shire), Sound (Harry Warren Tetrick, William McCaughey, Lyle Burbridge and Bud Alper) and Original Song (“Gonna Fly Now”).
In one of the film’s most famous scenes, Stallone’s Balboa triumphantly climbs the 72 steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and raises his arms in the air as he prepares to fight champion Apollo Creed, played by the late Carl Weathers.
These museum steps are affectionately known as the “Rock steps.”