Broadcaster Juan Carlos Tapia inducted into 2026 Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame

Record-breaking Panamanian broadcaster Juan Carlos Tapia can add another accolade to his storied career, as he has been named among the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame’s inductees for 2026.

Tapia is already listed in the Guinness World Records for hosting the program he founded, Lo Mejor del Boxeo, uninterrupted every Thursday for 51 consecutive years to more than 20 countries across Latin America, making it the longest-running boxing television program in the world with the same host.

From September 25 – 27, 2026, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, Tapia will be inducted in the “Pioneers” category at the ACBHOF’s 10th Annual Induction Weekend, alongside “Fighters” category inductees and boxing legends such as four-division world champion Miguel Cotto, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, and Zab Judah.

One of the most influential sports broadcasters in the Spanish-speaking world, Tapia says he’s surprised by this award, as the North American and English-speaking world of boxing is less familiar with his lifetime of work.

"I feel deeply honored and very grateful to the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame for inducting me on this occasion, following my very first nomination to its Hall of Fame,” said Tapia. 

“From 1975 to 2026. It sounds easy when you say it, but it hasn’t been easy. That’s 51 years on the air. We started with a boxing program every Thursday at 10:30 pm. Later, the program continued to air every Thursday, but at an earlier time. I feel an enormous sense of satisfaction, because the program seen in many countries, including Panama, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Central America.”  

Through Tapia’s leadership, Panama has become one of the few countries in the world where major boxing events are broadcast live on free-to-air television at no cost to viewers

On its website, The Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame says it, “preserves the city's rich fighting history, honoring fighters, trainers, and contributors.”

The 2026 ACBHOF class is divided into four distinct categories:

Fighters

Miguel Cotto, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, Zab Judah, Orlando Canizales, Charles Williams, Harold Knight, Mike Tinley, Jacqui Frazier-Lyde

Special Contributors

Lou DiBella (Promoter), Melvina Lathan (Judge), Earl Brown (Referee), Craig Johnson (Manager), John Scully (Humanitarian, Trainer, and Fighter)

Pioneers

Juan Carlos Tapia (International Media Figure), John Fitzpatrick (Referee), Al Soifer (Promoter)

Posthumous Inductees

James Shuler (Fighter), Georgie Navarro (Fighter), Wesley Mouzon (Trainer), Chuck Betson (Media Member)