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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.Comment
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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 SealsComment
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