Topic: COMMUNITY INTEREST
By Tammy Duffy
The International Boxing Hall of Fame, in Canastota, NY honored their new class of inductees this weekend. The living inductees include, heavyweight champion Riddick "Big Daddy" Bowe, featherweight champion "Prince" Naseem Hamed and lightweight champion Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini in the Modern category, light flyweight champion Yoko Gushiken in the old-timer category, booking agent/manager Rafael Mendoza and referee Steve Smoger in the Non-participant category, and editor journalist Nigel Collins and broadcaster Jim Lampley in the Observer category.
Upon receiving the news that they would be inducted, Ray Mancini said," Wow, I'm humbled and I'm honored. To be in the International Boxing Hall of Fame with so many of my friends and heroes is overwhelming." Jim Lampley said," I am surprised and delighted to learn of my election to the IBHOF."
The Hall of Fame also released names of posthumous honorees: Massao Ohba and Ken Overlin in the Old-timer category, and publicist John F. X. Condon in the Non Participant category. Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians.
The events of the 4 day weekend included: a cocktail reception, banquet, golf tournament, all-boxing collectors show, 5K race, ringside lecture, parade and the official boxing greats of yesterday and today on site for boxing enthusiasts.
The Hall of Fame Museum offers unique and exciting exhibits of memorabilia including fist castings, robes, boxing shoes, championship belts, statues, the Hall of Fame wall and audio/visual stations highlighting classic boxing matches. The world famous Madison Square Garden boxing ring, where Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazer fought in the "fight of the century" on March 5, 1971, is on permanent display in the museum.
Michael Spinx was swarmed by fans outside of the Days Inn. The men in the crowd were having Michael sign at times 10 to 15 photographs at a time. In a swarm of 75 men this little blonde female reporter (who was way in the back of the pack) shouted out elegantly," I am the only woman here so I should be allowed to the front of the pack." Michael looked up, his security guard looked up, the men in the crowd turned around. Then the most interesting thing happened. The crowd parted as if Moses had just parted the sea once again. Michael Spinx and some of the men in the crowd said," Bring the lady to the front." So to the front she went beaming. I will remember this day forever and the glove Michael Spinx signed for me. For it was I who bellowed from the back of the pack of 75 men to get her gloved signed by the champion, Michael Spinx.
