Why did it take so long for there to be a boxing Hall of Fame?

[Anthony342]

Yeah, just like the title says, why did it take so long? Other sports had their hall of fame buildings for decades. So why did it take until 1980 for the World Boxing Hall of Fame to open and until 1990 for the International Boxing Hall of Fame to be established? Just wondering since boxing, under the Marquess of Queensbury rules has been around for well over 100 years.

[JAB5239]

Yeah, just like the title says, why did it take so long? Other sports had their hall of fame buildings for decades. So why did it take until 1980 for the World Boxing Hall of Fame to open and until 1990 for the International Boxing Hall of Fame to be established? Just wondering since boxing, under the Marquess of Queensbury rules has been around for well over 100 years.

Good question. Might have something to do with cries to abolish boxing as a sport for many years. Who knows?

[TheGreatA]

The Ring Magazine had its hall of fame since 1954. It was discontinued in favour of IBHOF.

[TBear]

There is a hall of fame on the west coast that has actually been around longer. Called the "World Boxing Hall of Fame" it gets less publicity but is noted for recognizing more Asian and Latino fighters.

[Barn]

Probably because the general public did not realise the amount of skill and hard work the sport takes (probably the most in the world) and looked on it as a "barbaric" sport so there was no need for a so called "Hall of Fame" for such a barbaric act. (In there eys and the governments eyes, remember it nearly got banned hear in Britain.)

Just a thought.

[Anthony342]

The Ring Magazine had its hall of fame since 1954. It was discontinued in favour of IBHOF.

So IBHOF was originally the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame? That's interesting, thanks for that information.

[hhascup]

The Ring magazine established its own Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954 and inducted 155 members before it was abandoned after the 1987 inductions. 135 members of the old Ring Hall of Fame have been elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame since 1989. The 20 members who have yet to be elected to the IBHOF are listed below with their year of induction into the old Ring Hall.

Modern Group (3)
Ceferino Garcia 1977
Gus Lesnevich 1973
Yoshio Shirai 1977

Old-Timers (7)
Jimmy Britt 1976
George (K.O.) Chaney 1974
Leo Houck 1969
Harry Jeffra 1982
Peter Maher 1978
Jack Root 1961
Jeff Smith 1969


Pioneers (9)
Tom Chandler 1972
Nobby Clark 1971
Sam Collyer 1964
John Gully 1959
Jacob Hyer 1968
Thomas Jackling 1985
Jack Kilrain 1965
Ned Price 1962
Paddy Ryan 1973

Non-Participant (1)
Dan Daniel (sportswriter) 1977