Int. Boxing Hall of Fame weekend

Anyone attending this year?

will be there!

Alot of these guys should have been in a long time ago. Who do you think should have been in long ago?

Alot of these guys should have been in a long time ago.

Guess nobody.

2 weeks away! So whos going?

Why isnt Hearns in it already? Here is an article from Box scene By Lyle Fitzsimmons about how he voted and who was on ballot this year. My Call to the Hall: All-Time Favorite Leads 2012 Class Posted by: Lyle Fitzsimmons on 10/4/2011 . Article Link - http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=44546#ixzz1ra0aBXSS Wow… this one’s hard to believe. Seems like a day ago I was a sports-geek pre-teen in Western New York, making weekly pilgrimages to Mario’s general store to grab the latest issues of whatever boxing magazines had arrived. It was on those trips – long before 24-hour sports outlets really took hold – where I first caught on to the freakishly lean and powerful welterweight who’s career arc would ultimately have me rapt. Thomas “Hitman” Hearns. I marveled at his demolition of Pipino Cuevas, cringed at the loss to Ray Leonard, rejoiced at his splattering of Roberto Duran and still wince years later at the mere mention of Iran Barkley. An on-site handshake and interview before his penultimate fight in 2005 ranks among the top two or three moments of my professional career, even though I look back and shudder at the gallons of pre-fight Kool-Aid I must’ve guzzled to think he still had a chance to be world elite. And now it’s 2011… and my favorite fighter’s a Hall of Fame candidate. I can’t decide if I’m happy about his laurels, or concerned that I’m officially old. Either way, I’ll save the suspense. He’s got my vote for 2012 induction. As for the rest of the field, I’m having some quandaries. I was 3-for-3 on voting for 2011 inductees Julio Cesar Chavez, Kostya Tszyu and Mike Tyson, continuing a three-year stretch in which I’ve had “YES” on my ballot next to seven of the eight honorees. Only Danny “Little Red” Lopez has gotten in without my blessing so far, but my “Hearns in 2012” intoxication has me willing to let bygones be bygones with the guys in Canastota. Joining my hero as first-timers on the ballot are former two-division champions Mark Johnson and Dariusz Michalczewski, who combined for 32 title defenses in their primes between 1995-2004. Read on for my feelings on the Hitman’s wingmen. No fewer than 45 boxers active for at least one fight since 1943 are again on the ballot for 2012 recognition, with voting done through Oct. 31 by BWAA members and select non-members chosen by the hall's board of directors. Each “modern” voter chooses from one to 10 boxers, with the top three vote-getters punching a ticket. The IBHOF board chooses hall-worthy observers, non- participants, pioneers and old-timers. I’ve applied a stricter filter to my lever-pulls this year – dropping from the full 10 last year to only four this time around – while applying the same visceral “feel” barometer that I apply for admission to Cooperstown. In other words, if a fighter strikes me mentally as a Hall of Famer… in he goes as an all-time great. If he doesn’t… out he stays as an all-time good. Other inductees last year included trainer Nacho Beristain, referee Joe Cortez and screenwriter Sylvester Stallone. The next official induction ceremony is set for June 10, 2012. Here's a look at the men who ought to be booking flights: Georgie Abrams – Floored champion Tony Zale in failed 1941 middleweight title bid; lost decisions to Ray Robinson, Marcel Cerdan and Fred Apostoli. Vote: NO. Horacio Accavallo – Seventy-five wins in 83 career fights; held WBA flyweight title in 1966-67. Vote: NO. Joey Archer – Defeated Ray Robinson in Robinson's final fight; two failed bids against middleweight champion Emile Griffith in 1966-67. Vote: NO. Jose Becerra – Seventy-two wins in 79 career fights; held world bantamweight title in 1959-60. Vote: NO. Johnny Bratton – Held NBA welterweight title in 1951; went 0-2-1 in three bouts with Kid Gavilan. Vote: NO. Jimmy Carruthers – Held world bantamweight title from 1952-54; went 2-4 over six-fight comeback in 1961-62. Vote: NO. Donald Curry – Held WBA, IBF and WBC welterweight titles between 1983-86; subsequently won WBC title at 154 pounds. Vote: NO. Hiroyuki Ebihara – Held WBA/WBC flyweight titles in 1963-64; later held WBA championship in 1969. Vote: NO. Tommy Farr – Won 81 of 126 career bouts; dropped 15-round decision to heavyweight champion Joe Louis in 1937. Vote: NO. Tiger Jack Fox – Won 153 of 191 career bouts; fought professionally from 1928-50. Vote: NO. Ceferino Garcia – Won 102 of 142 career bouts; held NYSAC world middleweight title in 1939-40. Vote: NO. Betulio Gonzalez – Won 75 of 91 career bouts; three flyweight title reigns between 1972-79. Vote: NO. Yoko Gushiken – Won WBA junior flyweight title in ninth career bout; made 13 successful title defenses. Vote: NO. Naseem Hamed – Held WBO, IBF and WBC flyweight titles between 1995-2001; went 17-1 with 14 knockouts in 18 career championship bouts. Vote: NO. Thomas Hearns – Held world titles in six weight classes; went 15-5-1 with nine knockouts in 21 career championship bouts. Vote: YES. Carlos Hernandez – Held WBA/WBC junior welterweight titles in 1965-66; lost subsequent WBA title bout in 1969. Vote: NO. Rafael Herrera – Won WBA/WBC bantamweight titles from Ruben Olivares in 1972; subsequently held WBC championship in 1973-74. Vote: NO. Al Hostak – Two reigns as WBA world middleweight champion; stopped twice in title bouts by Tony Zale. Vote: NO. Harry Jeffra – Won 94 of 122 career bouts; held world titles at bantamweight and featherweight. Vote: NO. Mark Johnson – World champion at 112 and 115 pounds between 1996-2004; Went 12-1 (1 NC) with six knockouts in title bouts. Vote: NO. Peter Kane – Held world flyweight title in 1938-39; won 88 of 99 career bouts. Vote: NO. Cocoa Kid – Won 176 of 244 career bouts; held "colored" welterweight and middleweight world championships. Vote: YES. Pone Kingpetch – Three flyweight championship reigns; won six of nine career title bouts. Vote: NO. Santos Laciar – Two title reigns at 112 pounds, one at 115; won 12 of 16 career title bouts. Vote: NO. Tippy Larkin – Won 136 of 153 career bouts; won world junior welterweight title in 1946. Vote: NO. Jose Legra – Two reigns as WBC featherweight champion; won 134 of 150 career bouts. Vote: NO. Miguel (Happy) Lora – Held WBC bantamweight title from 1985-88; lost WBO championship tries in 1991 and 1993. Vote: NO. Raul (Raton) Macias – World bantamweight champion between 1955-57; won one- fight comeback in 1962. Vote: NO. Ernesto Marcel – Retired as WBA featherweight champion in 1974; defeated Alexis Arguello in final title defense. Vote: NO. Dariusz Michalczewski – Won first 48 bouts of career between 1991-2003; defended WBO light heavyweight title 23 times. Vote: YES. Freddie Mills – Won 76 of 101 career bouts; captured world light heavyweight title in 1948. Vote: NO. Rinty Monaghan – Won all four career title bouts; retired as world flyweight champion in 1950. Vote: NO. Masao Ohba – Won final 19 bouts; held WBA flyweight title from 1970-73. Vote: NO. Sven Ottke – Retired as IBF super middleweight champion in 2004; Won all 22 career title fights. Vote: NO. Ken Overlin – Won 135 of 165 career bouts; held world middleweight title in 1940-41. Vote: NO. Gustave Roth – Won 113 of 137 career bouts; held European welterweight, middleweight and light heavyweight titles. Vote: NO. Lou Salica – Held world bantamweight titles in 1935 and again between 1939-42; lost to fellow nominee Harry Jeffra in final bout. Vote: NO. Dave Sands – Won 97 of 110 career bouts; held Australian middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight titles. Vote: NO. Petey Scalzo – Won 90 of 112 career bouts; held world featherweight title in 1940-41. Vote: NO. Samuel Serrano – Two reigns as WBA super featherweight champion; went 15-2-1 in 18 career title bouts. Vote: NO. Yoshio Shirai – Held world flyweight title between 1952-54; lost two subsequent title tries against Pascual Perez. Vote: NO. Kid Tunero – Won 97 of 148 career bouts; went 1-6-2 in final nine bouts before retirement at age 38. Vote: NO. Wilfredo Vazquez – Held WBA titles at 118, 122 and 126 pounds; went 16-3-2 in 21 career title bouts. Vote: NO. Myung-Woo Yuh – Two reigns as WBA light flyweight champion; won 20 of 21 career title bouts. Vote: NO. Hilario Zapata – Two reigns as WBC light flyweight champion and one as WBA flyweight champion; went 18-5-2 in title bouts. Vote: YES. Vote early and vote often. And let's try to remember, folks...it's just boxing.

One of these days... i'll make it. If I stay here Stay where?

One of these days... i'll make it. If I stay here

No, last weekend was my first time going. Not sure how far the trip is for you but the 4 days of induction weekend are unbelievable. If possible you should really check it out.

Why isnt Hearns in it already? Because you have to be retired for 5 years to make the ballot.

Why isnt Hearns in it already?

I was actually there last weekend. I took some really cool pics standing next to the ring Ali-Frazier fought in and many others. It's a lot smaller than I expected, but they had really nice memorabillia there. Cool, have you ever made it for induction weekend?

Here is the updated guest list: Inductees: Thomas Hearns Mark Johsnon Freddie Roach Al Bernstein Michael Buffer Michael Katz Marvin Hagler Sugar Ray Leonard Roberto Duran Carmen Basilio Aaron Pryor Ken Norton Micky Ward Leon Spinks George Chuvalo Earnie Shavers Johnny Tapia Sergio Martinez Emanuel Steward Michael Moorer Ray Mercer Chuck Wepner Gerry Cooney Ray Seals

A HEAVYWEIGHT BASH SET TO BRING BOXING’S HEAVY HITTERS TO HALL OF FAME WEEKEND Michael Moorer Among Stars Confirmed CANASTOTA, NY - APRIL 5, 2012 - “A Heavyweight Bash” featuring several of boxing’s exciting big-punching heavyweights is planned for Friday, June 8th as part of the 23rd Annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, June 7-10th in Canastota, NY. The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Rusty Rail Party House in Canastota, NY and consist of fight highlights, speeches, photograph and autograph opportunities and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are priced at $60 each. Among the heavy hitters to be highlighted include heavyweight champions Michael Moorer, Ken Norton, Ray Mercer and Leon Spinks; and heavyweight contenders George Chuvalo, Chuck Wepner and Gerry Cooney. More will be added to the lineup in the coming weeks. “The heavyweights have always been so popular with boxing fans,” said Hall of Fame Executive Director Edward Brophy. “It’s going to be an exciting event and the big men are going to have great stories to tell. Fans are really going to enjoy it.” Moorer captured the WBO light heavyweight title in 1988 and defended nine times before moving up in weight. He scored a 12-round decision over Evander Holyfield for the WBA / IBF title in 1994. After losing the crown to George Foreman, he regained the IBF title in 1996. Moorer, who fought until 2008, compiled a 52-4-1 (40 KOs) record that includes wins over Vassiliy Jirov, Francois Botha, Axel Schultz, Bert Cooper, Leslie Stewart and Alex Stewart. A key player in the heavyweight division during the 1970s, Norton was the WBC heavyweight champion in 1978. He engaged in a classic three-fight series with fellow Hall of Famer Muhammad Ali. Also during his career Norton scored wins over top contenders Jerry Quarry and Jimmy Young among others. In 1992 Norton was elected into the Boxing Hall of Fame. Mercer compiled an 85-6 amateur record and captured the 1988 Olympic heavyweight gold medal. He turned pro in 1989 and won the WBO title from Francesco Damiani in 1991 (KO 9). In his first defense he scored a dramatic 5th round TKO over Tommy “The Duke” Morrison. Stripped of the title in 1992, he went on to score wins over Tim Witherspoon and Darroll Wilson among others. Mercer’s pro record stands at 36-7-1 (26 KOs). Known as "Neon" Leon, Spinks captured gold at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games. On February 15, 1978, in only his 8th pro bout, Spinks defeated Muhammad Ali for the world heavyweight championship. Spinks and his younger brother Michael made boxing history by both winning Olympic gold medals and the world heavyweight championship. Leon's son, Cory, is a two-division world champion. Toronto’s Chuvalo began boxing in 1956. Within two years he won the vacant Canadian heavyweight title, a championship he would hold for the better part of twenty years. Chuvalo registered wins over Yvon Durelle, Doug Jones, Cleveland Williams, Jerry Quarry and Mike DeJohn. He engaged in two-world title bouts, first against Ernie Terrell in 1965 (L15) and Muhammad Ali in Toronto in 1966 (L15). Chuvalo retired in 1978 with a 73-18-2 (64 KOs) record and remains one of the most popular fighters in heavyweight history. Wepner is one of boxing’s most colorful characters. He turned pro in 1964 and wins over Manuel Ramos, Randy Neumann and Ernie Terrell led to a 1975 title shot against Muhammad Ali. A decided underdog, Wepner was stopped via TKO in the 15th round. However, his spirited effort inspired Sylvester Stallone to pen the story of an underdog boxer that became the Academy Award-winning motion picture Rocky. Wepner retired in 1978 with a record of 35-14-2 (17 KOs). From Huntington, NY, the popular Cooney compiled a 55-2 amateur record before turning pro in 1977. The 6’6” Cooney utilized a devastating left hook to score wins over S.T. Gordon, Eddie Lopez, Dino Dennis, Jimmy Young, Ron Lyle and Hall of Famer Ken Norton to secure a 1981 heavyweight title bout with Larry Holmes (TKO by 13). He retired from the ring in 1990 with a 28-3 (24 KOs) record. In addition to the heavyweight bash, the June 7-10th Hall of Fame Induction Weekend will feature over 20 exciting events including a banquet, parade, boxing autograph card show, ****tail party and the Official Induction Ceremony honoring the Class of 2012. Living inductees to be honored at the Official Induction Ceremony on Sunday, June 10th are multi-division champion Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, two-division champion Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson, “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble” ring announcer Michael Buffer, trainer Freddie Roach, broadcaster Al Bernstein and journalist Michael Katz. Posthumous inductees will also be honored. For more information on the Hall of Fame’s 23rd Annual Induction Weekend please call (315) 697-7095, visit online at www.ibhof.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/InternationalBoxingHallofFame and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BoxingHall.

sounds good to me!...i try and make at least 2 days You go Saturday and Sunday then? I always fly in a day early.

Cool, maybe we can grab a beer this year. You go all 4 days? sounds good to me!...i try and make at least 2 days

Yeah cant forget stallone haha. Wow cali thats a long trip. Yeah i usually hit up grazianos for a bite or drink. theres another bar across the street too. Cool, maybe we can grab a beer this year. You go all 4 days?

Yeah and don't forget Stallone lol. No, I am in California. You got to Grazis alot while at HOF? Yeah cant forget stallone haha. Wow cali thats a long trip. Yeah i usually hit up grazianos for a bite or drink. theres another bar across the street too.

Yea it was real packed last year and on top of tyson you had mickey ward and the whole fighter movie buzz goin. It definitely wont be as packed as last year, are you in canastota?? Yeah and don't forget Stallone lol. No, I am in California. You got to Grazis alot while at HOF?