By Cliff Rold
International Boxing Hall of Fame Executive Director Ed Brophy revealed to BoxingScene Sunday night that Class of 2015 Old Timer Inductees Yoko Gushiken (former WBA Light Flyweight Champion), Masao Ohba (former WBA Flyweight Champion), and Ken Overlin (former NYSAC Middleweight Champion) were all elected in a three-way tie in the voting. Old Timers, as redefined for 2014 voting, are fighters whose last bout came not later than 1989. Gushiken, Ohba, and Overlin will join Modern inductees Riddick Bowe, Naseem Hamed, and Ray Mancini.
It was unclear when this year’s Hall of Fame results were announced Thursday how Ohba and Overlin had reached the threshold for induction. Based on voting instructions, voters in the Old Timers category could select no more than five names from the ballot with one to be elected. Gushiken, Ohba, and Overlin were all on the ballot.
A press release from the Hall of Fame Thursday announced Gushiken as the Old Timer inductee, adding later that Ohba and Overlin were posthumous inductees. Asked for clarification about what that meant, Brophy explained the living inductees were highlighted first but that voting had resulted in a three-way tie, thus three new members of the Hall of Fame where only one was expected.
Gushiken, Ohba, and Overlin were all previously part of the Modern ballot. The Boxing Writer’s Association of America annually provides voters in the Modern category biographical capsules of each nominee. The below capsules were devoted to what ultimately have become three new Old Timer members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2015.
Yoko Gushiken
Career: 1974-1981
World Championships: WBA Junior Flyweight (October 10, 1976-March 8, 1981)
Hailed from: Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan
Record: 23-1 (15 KO)
Record against champions and Hall of Famers: 6-1 (3 KO)
Champions faced: Juan Antonio Guzman, Jaime Rios, Alfonso Lopez, Rafael Pedroza and Pedro Flores
Champions defeated: Guzman (KO7), Rios (TKO13, SD15), Lopez (KO7), Pedroza (UD15), Flores (UD15, TKO by 12)
Veteran trainer and manager Masaki Kanehira described Gushiken as "a genius who appears once in every 100 years.” A southpaw with textbook punching technique, Gushiken patiently probed for openings for his tremendously powerful left cross. Once he hurt an opponent, Gushiken became the personification of his nickname "kanmuriwashi" ("fierce eagle") as he swooped down on his foes and hammered them into submission. Of his 13 successful title defenses, eight ended in knockout (including six in succession). Gushiken won the WBA title in his ninth bout, an indication of both his talent and the lack of depth in the 108-pound class that was created the year Gushiken won the belt. His main weakness was a leaky defense and that was exploited in his final fight (and only defeat) against Flores, from whom Gushiken won a unanimous decision less than four months earlier. Gushiken retired at age 25 following the 12th round TKO defeat.
Masao Ohba
Career: 1966-1973
World Championships: WBA Flyweight title (October 20, 1970-January 24, 1973)
Hailed From: Tokyo, Japan
Record: 35-2-1 (15 KO)
Record against champions and Hall of Famers: 5-1 (2 KO)
Champions faced: Susumu Hanagata, Bernabe Villacompo, Berkrerk Chartvanchai, Betulio Gonzalez, Chartchai Chinoi
Champions defeated: Hanagata (L10, MD15), Villacompo (UD10), Chartvanchai (KO13), Gonzalez (UD15), Chinoi (KO12)
Masao Ohba is to Japan what Salvador Sanchez is to Mexico –a young master on the path to all-time greatness before his tragic death at age 23. Ohba was a good technician and counter-puncher who set up combinations behind a strong jab. He was not hard to find with punches, but was never stopped in 38 professional bouts. His last fight was against future lineal champion Chartchai Chinoi. It showed us who he was. In the first round, Chinoi landed an overhand right and knocked Ohba down. Ohba landed on his right ankle and injured it. Though forced to limp and hop in the ring to keep the weight of it and despite absorbing excessive punishment, he still managed to demonstrate how a great fighter overcomes adversity by scoring a twelfth round stoppage.
Ken Overlin
Career: 1931-44
World Championships: NYSAC Middleweight (May 23, 1940-May 9, 1941)
Hailed from: Norfolk, Virginia
Record: 135-19-9 (23 KO)
Record against champions and Hall of Famers: 4-7
Champions faced: Vince Dundee, Teddy Yarosz, Fred Apostoli, Freddie Steele, Ceferino Garcia, Billy Soose, Ezzard Charles, Al Hostak
Champions defeated: Apostoli (MD10, D10); Garcia (UD15); Charles (UD10, D10); Hostak (UD10)
They called him the ‘King of the Cocktail Lounge’, but Overlin was great despite his distaste for training. Known for his physical and mental agility –he would typically bound in and around his opponents, swiping, grabbing, and baffling many during the Golden Era. A win over future titlist Fred Apostoli set up a crack at Freddie Steele for NBA honors in 1937, Overlin was stopped in the fourth round. It would take 39 more fights before he was granted another title opportunity. The second time was the charm for Overlin; he scored a unanimous decision over Ceferino Garcia. A highly disputed non-title loss to Billy Soose came before two defenses against tough Steve Belloise and, finally, a title loss to Soose. Overlin followed that defeat with a career highlight, winning a unanimous decision to hold off a 15-0 Ezzard Charles. Overlin continued until 1944, adding wins over Al Hostak, a draw versus Apostoli and holding Charles to a draw in a 1944 rematch.
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com
