To prepare for the big fight, Rocky Balboa began a training regimen of early morning runs through the streets of South Philly that culminated atop the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. As Rocky finished running up the Museum's 72-step entrance, he raised his arms in triumph. Since then, thousands of visitors to Philadelphia have climbed the stairs and raised their arms in triumph, as well. 

In 1982, Sylvester Stallone returned to Philadelphia in the sequel Rocky III. Part of the film included a scene where Rocky Balboa dedicates a  9-foot-tall 1,500-pound bronze statue of himself that was to remain in front of the Art Museum. But, "reel" life met "real" life, when the Museum of Art refused Stallone's gift statue and declared it was not "art" but just an ugly "movie prop." The huge public debate that ensued over where to put the statue elicited such suggestions as "Put it near the Liberty Bell" and "Dump it in the Schuylkill." (a local river). 

Eventually, the statue was placed at the entrance of the First Union Spectrum, a Philadelphia sports arena at 11th and Pattison streets. In 1991, the statue was temporarily placed atop the Museum steps once again for the film sequel Rocky V but it was soon returned to its place of honor at the Spectrum. 

On May 16, 2003, the International Institute for Sport and Olympic History (IISOH), a non-profit educational, literary and research corporation listed the Rocky statue on eBAY for $5 million in its first major fundraising event. The statue for sale was one of three made for the Rocky III film. The Rocky #1 statue still stands in front of the Spectrum. Rocky #2 will reside at a new IISOH museum to be built in Central Pennsylvania, and Rocky #3 will be sold at auction for benefactor with a few million to spend for a good cause. The Rocky #1 statue has also been seen in such films as Trading Places with Eddie Murphy, Mannequin with Andrew McCarthy and Philadelphia with Tom Hanks. 

The Rocky statues were the creation of Denver artist A. Thomas Schomberg.