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

(Л-Р) – Мајкл 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 КОс), који је преминуо у 1978 у доби од 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 рекао. “Everyone enjoyed the evening. We posthumously inducted Johnny McCoy and honored are award winners, Michael Spinks and Fitz Vanderpool. Hall of Famer referee Steve 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.

“У суботу, 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, где Виллие Монро, Јр. 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 (ИБХОФ), Spinks was the most dominant light heavyweight champion of his era, хватање Светске боксерске асоцијације (ВБА), Међународна Бокинг Федератион (ИБФ) и Светски савет Бокс (ВБЦ) светске титуле, in addition to being a 1976 Олимпијске златне медаље.

Vanderpool is a former World Boxing Federation (ВБФ), WBC FECARBOX and Canadian welterweight champion. He took on all comers including Rochester’s only world champion, Чарлс “Натурал” Мареј and world champion Фернандо Варгас. Данас, 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 КОс), a former IBF light welterweight champion, world-rated heavyweight Јаррелл “Велики бебе” Млинар (18-0-1, 16 КОс), Rochester lightweight prospect Lavisas “Red” Виллиамс (8-1-1, 3 КОс), 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.

For more information about RBHOF go on Facebook to: хттпс://ввв.фацебоок.цом/ROCHESTER-BOXING-HALL-of-FAME-546738288767593/