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

(L-Р) – Майкл Спинкс, 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 КО), который скончался в 1978 в возрасте от 81, was one of the top flyweights in the world between 1916 и 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 сказал. “Everyone enjoyed the evening. We posthumously inducted Johnny McCoy and honored are award winners, Michael Spinks and Fitz Vanderpool. Hall of Famer referee Стив Smoger 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.

“В Субботу, 17 сентября, 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, где Вилли Монро, Младший. 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.

Международный боксерский Зал Славы (IBHOF), Spinks was the most dominant light heavyweight champion of his era, захват Всемирной боксерской ассоциации (WBA), Международная федерация бокса (IBF) и Всемирный боксерский совет (WBC) мировые титулы, in addition to being a 1976 Олимпийский чемпион.

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, Чарльз “Природные” Мюррей and world champion Фернандо Варгас. Сегодня, 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 КО), a former IBF light welterweight champion, world-rated heavyweight Джаррелл “Большой ребенок” Мельник (18-0-1, 16 КО), Rochester lightweight prospect Lavisas “Red” Уильямс (8-1-1, 3 КО), Josie Basilio (widow of Hall of Famer Кармен Базилио), 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.

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