Workers removed the Rocky Balboa statue from outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Wednesday and relocated it inside the museum, where it will be the centerpiece of a new exhibit celebrating the 50-year legacy of the "Rocky" film series. The bronze statue, one of three identical pieces inspired by Sylvester Stallone’s iconic character, was the version featured in "Rocky III" during the confrontation with Clubber Lang, played by Mr. T.
Another Rocky statue, owned by Stallone, currently sits atop the museum steps and will remain accessible to the public until it is returned to Stallone later this year. The relocated statue will take its place for the exhibit "Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments." The spot outside the museum previously occupied by Rocky will now feature a statue of real-life boxer "Smokin'" Joe Frazier, moved from a sports complex in South Philadelphia. A third Rocky statue, owned by the city, will remain at Philadelphia International Airport. City officials said placing Frazier and Rocky statues nearby will highlight the connection between the fictional hero and the real-life fighter, both of whom trained on the museum steps, known today as the “Rocky Steps.” Frazier, who grew up in Philadelphia, died in 2011 at age 67.
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