Sunday, April 29, Dinner lokungeniswa
Chocolate Kid, James J. Corbett, Jack McAuliffe, Sam Taub, Bob & Murray Goodman head new class
I-NEW YORK (April 9, 2018) – Former world cruiserweight champion Al “ice” Cole futhi Ezingakanqotshwa, No.; 1 Olwa wesibhakela “Baby” Joe Mesi are both extremely honored and grateful to be inducted, kanye 21 others in the Class of 2018, into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF).
Eyesikhombisa yonyaka NYSBHOF lokungeniswa idina izobanjelwa Sunday afternoon (12:30-5:30 p.m. KANYE), April 29, once again at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, I-New York.
Cole (35-16-3, 16 Kos), who is from Rockland County, fought professional between 1989 futhi 2011, won his first 15 futhi 27 of initial yakhe 28 kuvelaphi ukulwa pro. He captured the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Cruiserweight World Championship in 1992, when he won a 12-round unanimous decision over James Warring (14-1). Cole made four successful world title defenses before moving up to heavyweight.
“I knew I’d get in one day and I’m honored to be inducted into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame, especially with this class because I know a few other fighters going in like Lou Del Valle and Terrance Alli.” Cole said. “I was known as a crowd-pleasing, exciting fighter, and people who watched me always knew I’d be in a good fight with good exchanges. I did fight in the shadows of (Mike) Tyson and Roy (Jones. Jr.).
“I fought in the Army with Ray Mercer, stung Evander Holyfield in sparring. My best fight, noma, hurt me the most. I was so sharp against a fighter from Kronk Gym, Vincent Boulware, in my third world title defense that year (1993). Boulware had won six of his last seven fights with four knockouts and I was just becoming a decent name, If I beat him, I was supposed to fight Tommy Hearns or Iran Barkley, who were both moving up to cruiserweight. I had the best fight of my career, but I couldn’t get any of the other world cruiserweight champs to fight me. I only had four fights in the next three years. I moved up to heavyweight because the same guys who I beat when they were my mandatory challenger (Uriah Grant & Nate Miller) worked their way back into the mandatory position.”
Cole grew up in Atlantic City, where he fought 18 izikhathi, and he got to know a casino owner, Donald Trump. “We hung out,” Cole remembered. “Trump invited me to some of his private parties. I never thought he’d be president!”.
Mesi (36-0, 29 Kos) was so popular in Buffalo, he was considered the upstate New York city’s third sports franchise (Bills and Sabres). A top American amateur, “Baby Joe” fought professionally between 1997 futhi 2007, racking up 36 victories without a defeat, yet he never to a world title shot due to a medical issue. Ranked as high at No. 1 by the World Boxing Council (WBC) Mesi was suspended by the Nevada Commission, after he defeated former world champion Vassily Jirov by way of a 10-round unanimous decision, due to a head injury (brain bleeds).
Mesi was virtually blacklisted in boxing, losing two full years in the ring, while he pursued legal action to get re-licensed, which he eventually was but only by a few commissions. Joe fought seven times after being re-licensed, but he was unfortunately limited in terms of where he could fight, and he never regained the lofty status he had once held. In addition to Jirov, Mesi defeated notables such as Monte Barrett, DeVarryl Williamson and Jorge Luis Gonzalez.
“Lesi yisikhathi olukhulu kimi,” Mesi commented about his upcoming induction. “I’m humbled and honored to be going into the same Hall of Fame with the great names that are already there. I’m soaking it all in right now.
“I’ve been somewhat removed from boxing, but just the business end. I’m still a big boxing fan and follow the sport. Namuhla, I’m married with three kids and sell medical devices for a living. Boxing is still my passion, my love, and since I got the call (that he’s going in the NYSBHOF), I’ve been thinking about all the memories. I’d like to do some more TV announcing in boxing and, maybe someday, get into promoting. I’m really looking forward to the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame induction ceremony.”
okwakwenza abashayi-sibhakela Ukuhlala obheke ku-NYSBHOF zihlanganisa (Long Island) WBA ukukhanya sosondonzima Lou “uju Boy” Valley (36-6-2, 22 Kos), (Central Islip) IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion Jake Rodriguez (28-8-2, 8 Kos), futhi (Brooklyn) emhlabeni isihloko engasindi inselele Terrence Alli (52-15-2, 21 Kos).
abahlanganyeli Posthumous kokuba owayebuthelwa kukhona NBA & NYSAC Umhlaba featherweight Champion (Manhattan) Kid “I-Cuban Bon Bon” chocolate (136-10-6, 51 Kos), (New York City) 20thLowo oyilungu ekhulwini James J. “Jim Gentleman” Corbett (11-4-3, 5 Kos), (Williamsburg) World Esilula Champion Jack “I Napoleon The Prize Ring” McAuliffe, (Kingston) WBC Super Esilula Champion Billy Costello (40-2, 23 Kos), (Beacon) NYSAC Khanyisa wesibhakela World Champion Melio Bettina (83-14-3, 36 Kos), (EBrooklyn / Yonkers) lomhlaba middleweight Ralph “Tiger” Jones (52-32-5, 13 Kos) futhi (Port Washington) Olwa wesibhakela uCharley “I Bayonne Bomber” Norkus (33-19, 19 Kos).
Living non-participants heading into the NYSBHOF are (Troy) Owazuza uMklomelo KaPulitzer sportswriter Dave Anderson, (Brooklyn) Umqeqeshi / umeluleki Pete Brodsky, (Rockaway) isibhakela mlando / umhleli Herb Goldman, (Bronx) wabantu Bob Goodman, (Ardsley) usihlalo NYSAC / umahluleli Melvina Lathan, futhi (Brooklyn) NYSAC Chairperson/matchmaker/promoter Ron Scott Stevens.
Posthumous non-umhlanganyeli inductees kukhona (Brooklyn) indandatho ummemezeli Johnnie Addie, (Brooklyn) wabantu Johnny Bos, (Bronx) isibhakela isikhulumi Murray Goodman, (New York City) umbhali isibhakela / mlando Bert Randolph Ushukela futhi (Lower East Side) umsakazo & ithelevishini ummemezeli / intatheli Sam Taub.
Ngamunye inductee ukuya (noma ozalweni) uzothola ibhande adizaynwe ngokwezifiso etshengisa lokungeniswa yakhe phakathi NYSBHOF.
The 2017 inductees akhethwe amalunga ikomidi ukuqoka NYSBHOF: ,Bobby Cassidy, Jr., Randy Gordon, Henry Hascup, Don Majeski, Ron McNair, futhi Neil Terens.
Zonke okwakwenza abashayi-sibhakela kwakudingeka ukuba kuyiminyaka okungenani ezintathu ukuze bafaneleke NYSBHOF lokungeniswa, futhi kumelwe ukuba konke inductees babehlala eNew York State, ingxenye enkulu isibhakela zabo umsebenzi wokuziphilisa noma ngesikhathi oyinhloko career abo abafanele.
NYSBHOF
CLASS of 2012: Carmen Basilio, Mike McCallum, Mike Tyson, Jake LaMotta, Riddick Bowe, Carlos Ortiz, Vito Antuofermo, Emile Griffith, “Sugar” Ray Robinson, Gene Tunney, Benny Leonard, Tony Canzoneri, Harold Lederman, Steve Acunto, Jimmy Glenn, Gil Clancy, Ray Arcel, Nat Fleischer, Bill Gallo and Arthur Mercante, Sr.
CLASS of 2013: Jack Dempsey, Johnny Dundee, Sandy Saddler, Maxie Rosenbloom, Joey Archer, Iran Barkley, Mark Breland, Bobby Cassidy, Doug Jones, Junior Jones, James “Buddy” McGirt, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Bob Arum, Shelly Finkel, Tony Graziano, Larry Merchant, Teddy Brenner, Mike Jacobs, Tex Rickard and Don Dunphy.
CLASS OF 2014: Floyd Patterson, Tracy Harris Patterson, Billy Backus, Kevin Kelley, Juan LaPorte, Gerry Cooney, Mustafa Hamsho, Howard Davis, Jr., Lou Ambers, Jack Britton, Terry McGovern, Teddy Atlas, Lou DiBella, Steve Farhood, Gene Moore, Angelo Prospero, Whitey Bimstein, Zo D'Amato, William Muldoon and Tom O'Rourke.
CLASS OF 2015: Saul Mamby, Joey Giamba, Johnny Persol, Harold Weston, Lonnie Bradley, Paul Berlenbach, Billy Graham, Frankie uGenaro, Bob Miller, Tommy Ryan, Jimmy Slattery, Bob Duffy, Mike Katz, Tommy Gallagher, Bruce Silverglade, uCharley Goldman, Jimmy Johnston, Cedric Kushner, Harry Markson, Damon Runyon Al Weill.
CLASS OF 2016: Aroni Davis, Charles Murray, Vilomar Fernandez, Edwin Viruet, Hector “Macho” Camacho, rocky Graziano, Rocky Kansas, Joe Lynch, Joe Miceli, Ed Brophy, Joe DeGuardia, Randy Gordon, Dennis Rappaport, Howie Albert, Freddie Brown, Howard Cosell, Ruby Goldstein no Jimmy Jacobs.
CLASS OF 2017: Gaspar Ortega, Renaldo “UMnu” Snipes, Doug DeWitt, “I Bronx Bomber” Alex Ramos, Dick Tiger, Jose Torres, “Nonpareil” Jack Dempsey, Don Majeski, Ron Katz, Stan Hoffman, Bobby Bartels, Hank Kaplan, Al Gavin, Arthur Donovan nelakwaDani Parker.
Amathikithi kuthiwa ontengo yakhe yayinqunyiwe at $150.00 omdala per futhi $70.00 izingane (ngaphansi 16),kubuye kufake zebhrantshi okuphelele futhi cocktail ihora phezu entry, ukuqala at 12:30 p.m. KANYE, kanye dinner (ubambo prime, fish noma inyama yenkukhu) futhi bar evulekile usuku lonke. Amathikithi ayatholakala ukuthenga ngokuxhumana NYSBHOF / Ring 8 Umengameli Bob Duffy at 516.313.2304 nomadepcomish@aol.com. Izikhangiso for the uhlelo NYSBHOF ayatholakala, esukela $80.00 to $200.00, ngokuxhumana Duffy. Qhubekani line at www.Ring8ny.com ngoba ulwazi olwengeziwe mayelana New York State Boxing Hall of Fame.