The International Boxing Hall of Fame and Other Boxing News by Paul Doiron This past weekend saw one of the biggest boxing events of the year held in Canastota New York as the International Boxing Hall of Fame held the 2014 induction ceremony. Fans from around the World travel to this yearly event to get the chance to mingle with a number of their favorite fighters and attendance at this year’s weekend of boxing tribute proved to be one of the largest to date. Head lining the former stars of the Sport of Champions was “The Golden Boy”, Oscar De La Hoya. One of the most popular fighters in history, De La Hoya had a total of 228 Amateur fights, scoring an amazing 153 knockouts on his way to winning Olympic Gold at the 1992 Barcelona Games. De La Hoya turned Pro shortly after his Gold medal performance and captured his first of 10 World championships in only his 12th Pro fight. In total, he had 39 wins and six losses, scoring 30 knockouts while winning World titles at Feather-weight, Light-weight, Light Welter-weight, Welter-weight, Light Middle-weight and Middle-weight. He fought for the last time in 2008, losing to Manny Pacquiao. Since 2002, Oscar has been running Golden Boy Promotions, promoting some of the richest fights in history. Also inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside of Oscar were Puerto Rican born World champ Felix “Tito” Trinidad and Wales Joe Calzaghe. Trinidad started boxing at the age of 10 and would go on to become one of Puerto Rico’s most accomplished boxers, winning 51 of 57 Amateur fights before turning Pro. “Tito” would win his first World title (the IBF Welter-weight title) in his 20th fight and defend that title 15 times before moving up and capturing the WBA Light Middle-weight title. After unifying the 154 pound championship later in 2000, Trinidad would move up to the Middle-weight division where he’d become a three division champ by scoring a fifth round KO of defending champ William Joppy in 2001. Known for his knockout power, “Tito” would score 35 knockouts in a career that saw him win 42 of 45 fights. He’d fight for the last time on January 19th 2008, losing to the then 51-4 Roy Jones JR by 12 round decision at New York’s Madison Square Gardens. The United Kingdom’s Joe Calzaghe would be the third boxing superstar inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside of Oscar and “Tito”. Born on March 23rd 1972 in London, Calzaghe would be one of the very rare World champions who’d retire undefeated after his amazing Pro career. As an Amateur, Calzaghe would win 110 of 120 fights after taking up the sport at the age of nine. He’d make his jump to the punch for pay ranks on October 1st 1993, scoring a first round TKO over Paul Hanlon who would be fighting his 24th Pro fight that night. He’d go on to win all 46 of his Pro fights, scoring 32 knockouts along the way. He’d fight for the last time on April 3rd 2007, beating Roy Jones JR by unanimous decision to defend his World Light Heavy-weight title. He’d win an amazing 22 World title fights and beat 10 current or former World champs including Bernard Hopkins, Mikkel Kessler, Roy Jones JR, Richie Woodhall, Chris Eubank and Jeff Lacy. As well as these three all-time greats, others inducted would include referees Richard Steele and Eugene Corri and promoter Barry Hearns. The old-timers category saw George Chaney, Charles Ledoux and Mike O’Dowd being honoured while Tom Allen was recognized in the Pioneer category. This year’s inductees will be hard to beat for their overall impact on the “Sport of Champions” as a whole. This year’s Hall of Fame induction was the 25th group to be honoured with boxing’s highest tribute! Canadian Cruiser-weight champ (CPBC and NBA), Frank White of Sarnia ON was stopped on a fifth round TKO when his bout against Juho Haapoja was stopped by referee Arvo Kivela after White rose from a knockdown and his corner signaled for the bout to be stopped. White’s record drops to 10 wins, eight losses and two draws while Haapoja’s moves to 22-5-1 with the win in the bout held in Kauhava Finland this past Saturday night. Bobby Gunn JR, the son of Niagara Falls ON’s former World title challenger Bobby Gunn, moved his Pro record to 3-0 (3 KO’s) on May 31st with a first round TKO over Christopher Patrick Strootman in Whippany New Jersey. The 18 year old Gunn has punching power in both hands and he’s proving to be a chip off the block following his father into the “Sport of Champions”. Gunn SR scored 18 KO wins out of 21 victories, losing six and drawing once while twice challenging for the World Cruiser-weight title. Look for great things for the younger Gunn who is scheduled to fight again this coming weekend in Annandale Virginia in what will be his fourth fight this year. Canadian boxing had a connection to this past weekend’s WBC World Middle-weight title fight between champ Sergio Martinez and Miguel Cotto held at the famed Madison Square Gardens in New York City. Montreal’s Michael Griffin was the third man inside the ring for the scheduled 12 rounder which saw Martinez hit the deck three times in the opening round. Cotto also sent the defending champ to the canvas n round nine for a fourth knockdown. Martinez’s corner advised Griffin that their man was unable to continue at the start of round 10 and he signaled the end of the exciting slugfest. The win makes Cotto a four time World champ in four different weight classes.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Jun 2014 17:59:16 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015