Should Pone Kingpetch be in the HOF?

[crold1]

It doesn't matter if they are a 1st ballot candidate or a 15th. The committee votes for the best 10, and then the top 3 get in. I have been on both the Modern and Old-Timers Committee for several years now. I didn't think Tszyu deserved to be in the top 3, But he did IMO deserve to be in the top 10, so he got my vote, as did Kingpetch.

Henry:

I know some guys don't use a 1st ballot standard (and it took me a while to articulate mine) but I look at it this way:

If it's your first year, are you, indisputably, one of the Top Three?

If not, then I wait at least a year on the vote since I don't want to see someone who has been on the ballot a few years wait for someone I don't think merits immediate induction (which is why Tszyu didn't get my vote this year. He's not more accomplished as a pro, IMO, than Hamed (for one) and Jeffra is way overdue).

Thoughts?

P.S. Never said congrats on the Jersey Hall. Congrats. Don't know you but respect your work.

[hhascup]

Henry:

I know some guys don't use a 1st ballot standard (and it took me a while to articulate mine) but I look at it this way:

If it's your first year, are you, indisputably, one of the Top Three?

If not, then I wait at least a year on the vote since I don't want to see someone who has been on the ballot a few years wait for someone I don't think merits immediate induction (which is why Tszyu didn't get my vote this year. He's not more accomplished as a pro, IMO, than Hamed (for one) and Jeffra is way overdue).

Thoughts?

P.S. Never said congrats on the Jersey Hall. Congrats. Don't know you but respect your work.

I voted for Jeffra and Hamed too, but I couldn't leave off Tszyu when it came to the top 10. Tyson and Chavez were locks, so that meant there was room for only 1 more.

Like I said, Tszyu wasn't in my top 3, but did make my top 10.

Thank you so much for the kind words.

[Wild Blue Yonda]

Not fond of Tszyu, WBY?

Neither am I. Though I think he is indeed a good fighter, no way is he a First Ballot HOF'er, IMO.

In truth, I am fond of him. He is a rare figure in Boxing --- a fighter of class & decency, whose image promotes the sport. I just think the idea of him as a first-ballot HOFer (when he arguably isn't even Hall-calibre, period) is simply ludicrous.

[Wild Blue Yonda]

Not really true. That's more a Baseball or other sport thing. In boxing, time allows for campaigns, especially for smaller fighter who need time to get their names into more U.S. minds. Worked for Galaxy; worked for Chang. Those names get in during years when there are less STARS on the ballot. This year, the top three were almost pre-ordained. Next year, Hearns is the onyl super lock (that I can think of).

The Hall's record in recent years would seem to refute that to a great degree. It is not difficult to draw the conclusion that photo ops & interview chances with fresh, coherent Champions of recent times are getting preference over their ancestors.