By Keith Idec
Wyckoff’s Joe Gatti, North Arlington’s Carl Moretti and Paterson native Otho Tyson are part of a 14-member group that’ll be inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame at its 44th annual dinner and ceremonies Nov. 14 at The Venetian in Garfield.
The NJBHOF’s Class of 2013 features former heavyweight champions Mike Tyson and Ray Mercer, and former middleweight champ Marvin Hagler.
It also includes longtime Philadelphia Daily News boxing writer Bernard Fernandez, promoter Gabe LaConte, judges Julie Lederman and Barbara Perez, welterweight Sal Lopez and middleweight Frank Savannah. Referee Harry Ertle and cruiserweight/heavyweight Carlos Hernandez will be inducted posthumously.
Moretti, a Ridgefield native, has worked in boxing since 1986, when he began his career learning from matchmakers who put together fights for Madison Square Garden. Now the vice president of boxing operations for Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc., Moretti also has worked for Totowa-based Main Events and New York promoter Lou DiBella.
"Being elected to the New Jersey Hall of Fame is a great honor, one that I’m deeply appreciative of," Moretti, 52, said Wednesday. "I guess it also means I’m a little older, but I still enjoy it very much."
Gatti, the older brother of late legend Arturo Gatti, was a contender in the junior middleweight and super middleweight divisions, and went 30-8 (22 KOs) during a 15-year pro career that ended in 2002. Otho Tyson fought 14 times in New Jersey during his six-year career as a welterweight.
