Spinks (31-1, 21 Նոկաուտով) received the prestigious Integrity Award, while Vanderpool (26-8-4, 13 Նոկաուտով) was presented the coveted Courage Award.

(L-R) – Michael Spinks, Steve Smoger and Fitz Vanderpool

Rochester’s Johnny McCoy (Clarence Millard) was inducted into the Rochester Boxing Hall of Fame. McCoy (77-30-14, 21 Նոկաուտով), ով մահացել է 1978 տարեկան հասակում 81, was one of the top flyweights in the world between 1916 իսկ 1932. He was recognized as world champion by the state of California following a tournament to determine the winner of the vacant world title relinquished by Fidel LaBarba.

“This was another memorable banquet for the Rochester Boxing Hall of Fame,” RBHOF treasurer/spokesperson Gino Arilotta ասել է. “Everyone enjoyed the evening. We posthumously inducted Johnny McCoy and honored are award winners, Michael Spinks and Fitz Vanderpool. Hall of Famer referee Սթիվ Սմոգեր gave a wonderful speech. Each of these great men were so pleasant and they gladly signed hundreds of autographs and posed for so many pictures. These three humble men have my sincere respect.

“Շաբաթ օրը, September 17th, we took the boxers along with Steve Smoger to a local radio station where they were interviewed on air. We also took them to one of Rochester’s super gyms, որտեղ Willie Monroe, Jr. trains. We showed them many important sites within the city. I also presented a city high school graduate, the Carmen Basilio Scholarship Award, which is awarded annually.

An International Boxing Hall of Famer (IBHOF), Spinks was the most dominant light heavyweight champion of his era, capturing the World Boxing Association (WBA), Բռնցքամարտի միջազգային ֆեդերացիան (IBF) եւ World Boxing Council (WBC) Համաշխարհային կոչումներ, in addition to being a 1976 Օլիմպիական ոսկե մեդալակիր.

Vanderpool is a former World Boxing Federation (WBF), WBC FECARBOX and Canadian welterweight champion. He took on all comers including Rochester’s only world champion, Charles “The Natural” Murray and world champion Fernando Vargas. Այսօր, Vanderpool is a trainer in Canada who also gives countless hours of time and energy in Kitchener as a community volunteer.

Special guests in attendance included Murray (44-9, 26 Նոկաուտով), a former IBF light welterweight champion, world-rated heavyweight JARRELL “Մեծ Baby” Ջրաղացպան (18-0-1, 16 Նոկաուտով), Rochester lightweight prospect Lavisas “Red” Williams (8-1-1, 3 Նոկաուտով), Josie Basilio (widow of Hall of Famer Carmen Basilio), distinguished boxing writer Dan Cucco and Smoger, the International referee extraordinaire.

RBHOF holds monthly meetings, plus an annual picnic and Christmas party, in addition to supporting local gyms.

For more information about RBHOF go on Facebook to: https://www.facebook.com/ROCHESTER-BOXING-HALL-of-FAME-546738288767593/