PHILADELPHIA – Like many heroes of Philadelphia boxing, former light heavyweight champion Matthew Saad Muhammad currently lies in an unmarked grave. He was perhaps the most exciting fighter ever to come out this great fight town, and the web site PhillyBoxingHistory.com is on a mission to honor the boxing idol, who passed away on May 25, 2014.
“There will never be another fighter like Saad Muhammad,” said John DiSanto, founder and editor of PhillyBoxingHistory.com. “His fights were so amazing. As far as excitement, he was on a completely different level than anyone else I’ve ever seen – in Philly or outside of Philly.”
In recent years, PhillyBoxingHistory.com has raised funds to purchase and place gravestones for four other Philly boxing icons, Tyrone Everett, Gypsy Joe Harris, Garnet “Sugar” Hart and Eddie Cool. The gravestone for Saad Muhammad is the site’s fifth such effort.
“Saad Muhammad gave us everything he had in the boxing ring,” DiSanto said. “A week doesn’t go by without his name coming up and someone reminiscing about how incredible his fights were. He gave us memories that we’ll be talking about for the rest of our lives. Now it is time for us to return the favor.”
An online campaign has been set up to raise the funds needed for the various costs and fees related to the purchase and placement of the gravestone. Anyone willing to contribute to the cause can make a credit card donation at www.gofundme.com/p5o104.
Those who prefer to make a donation by check or money order, should make their contribution payable to “Gravestone Fund / Fairhill Street Productions”, and mail it to:
Fairhill Street Productions / Philly Boxing History Gravestone Fund
PO Box 428
Sewell, NJ 08080
“We can’t do this without the support of boxing fans who want to remember and honor Matthew Saad Muhammad,” DiSanto said. “Please consider getting involved and being part of this tribute to one of the greatest warriors in ring history.”
