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Class of 2018 inducted into New York State Boxing Hall of Fame

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NYSBHOF Class of 2018: (L-R) seated: Charley Norkus, Jr. (accepting for Charley Norkus), Melvina Lathan, Herb Goldman, Bob Goodman and Jake Rodriguez; standing: Joe Mesi, Al Cole, Ron Scott Stevens, Pete Brodsky and Joseph McAuliffe (accepting for Jack McAuliffe)
 All pictures by Peter Frutkoff
NEW YORK (May 1, 2018) — Twenty-three members of the Class of 2018 were inducted into the New York Stare Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF), this past Sunday afternoon during the seventh annual NYSBHOF induction dinner, at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York.

 

 

 

“Those being honored tonight are humble, honorable people,” NYSBHOF president Bob Duffy said. “We do this as an act of love. Many of the inductees are here today and those no longer with us are represented by family members. This is our way of saying thank you to all the inductees for what they have done for boxing in New York.”

 

 

 

Class of 2018 living boxers inducted heading into the NYSBHOF included (Long Island) WBA light heavyweight Lou “Honey Boy” Del Valle (36-6-2, 22 KOs), (Central Islip) IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion Jake Rodriguez (28-8-2, 8 KOs), (Brooklyn) world lightweight title challenger Terrence Alli (52-15-2, 21 KOs), undefeated, No.; 1 heavyweight contender “Baby” Joe Mesi (Buffalo) and former world cruiserweight champion Al “Ice” Cole (Rockland County).

 

 

 

Posthumous participants inducted were NBA & NYSAC World Featherweight Champion (Manhattan) Kid “Cuban Bon Bon” Chocolate (136-10-6, 51 KOs), (New York City) 20thcentury heavyweight James J. “Gentleman Jim” Corbett (11-4-3, 5 KOs), (Williamsburg) World Lightweight Champion Jack “The Napoleon of The Prize Ring” McAuliffe, (Kingston) WBC Super Lightweight Champion Billy Costello (40-2, 23 KOs), (Beacon) NYSAC Light Heavyweight World Champion Melio Bettina (83-14-3, 36 KOs), (Brooklyn/Yonkers) world-class middleweight Ralph “Tiger” Jones (52-32-5, 13 KOs) and (Port Washington) heavyweight contender Charley “The Bayonne Bomber” Norkus (33-19, 19 KOs).

 

 

 

Living non-participants now in the NYSBHOF are (Troy) Pulitzer Prize-winning sportswriter Dave Anderson, (Brooklyn) trainer/advisor Pete Brodsky, (Rockaway) boxing historian/editor Herb Goldman, (Bronx) matchmaker Bobby Goodman, (Ardsley) NYSAC chairperson/judge Melvina Lathan, and (Brooklyn) NYSAC Chairperson/matchmaker/promoter Ron Scott Stevens.

 

 

 

Posthumous non-participant inductees were (Brooklyn) ring announcer Johnnie Addie, (Brooklyn) matchmaker Johnny Bos, (Bronx) boxing publicist Murray Goodman, (New York City) boxing writer/historian Bert Randolph Sugar and (Lower East Side) radio & television announcer/journalist Sam Taub.

 

 

 

Each attending inductee (or direct descendant of) received a custom-designed belt signifying his or her induction into the NYSBHOF.

 

 

 

The 2017 inductees were selected by the NYSBHOF nominating committee members:Bobby Cassidy, Jr., Randy Gordon, Henry Hascup, Don Majeski, Ron McNair, and Neil Terens.

 

 

 

All boxers needed to be inactive for at least three years to be eligible for NYSBHOF induction, and all inductees must have resided in New York State for a significant portion of their boxing careers or during the prime of their respective career.

 

 

 

Boxers who attended the seventh annual NSBHOF included NYSBHOF past inductees Iran Barkley, Junior Jones, Mustafa Hamsho, Bobby Cassidy, Sr., Bobby Bartels, and Renaldo “Mr.” Snipes, as well as Monte Barrett, Ray Mercer, Dennis Milton, Richard Kiley, Scott Lopez, Michael Corleone, Tommy Rainone, Kevin Collins, Cletus Seldin, James Duran, Victor Paz, and Jaime Dugan. Other notable attendees from the boxing world included Mike Reno (FDNY Boxing), Darryl Peoples (IBF), international judges Steve Wesisfeld and John MacKay, and NYSBHOF inductees Tommy Gallagher and Bobby Miller, and Emmy-award winning producer Bobby Cassidy, Jr.

 

 

 

David Diamante served once again as Master of Ceremonies. Special presentations were made to the daughter of the late Steve Acunto, Donna Acunto, and Miller’s close friend, Dave Wojcicki.

 

 

 

QUOTES & PICTURES FROM THE NYSBHOF INDUCTEES

 


(L-R) – Ron McNair, Jake Rodriguez and Bob Duffy
JAKE RODRIGUEZ: “I want to thank Ring 8 for the opportunity for me to be here. I’d also like to thank my wife for always being there for me, and my trainer.”

(L-R) – Herb Goldman, Don Majeski and Bob Duffy
HERB GOLDMAN: “If I have made any contributions to boxing – I hope I have – I did by redefining record keeping and creating a new perspective on boxing history. I’m proud of that, but I didn’t do it alone.”
(L-R) – Joe Mesi, Jack Hirsch and Bob Duffy
JOE MESI: “I have so many people to thank for this honor. I’m a Buffalonian. There’s nobody more in favor of one New York, but it’s not. This is special for me because it’s the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame. This solidifies me and makes me think I’m not just a local boy. There was a huge disadvantage coming from a small city, sparring wasn’t the same as in the gyms of New York City, but I had an advantage coming from Western New York. Nobody was welling out like we did in Buffalo with 10,000, then 16,00 and finally 18,000 people. They were always behind me and I share this with them because their support made me. My dream was to fight in Buffalo and to continue to fight there.
“One of the highlights of my life was fighting Monte Barrett on HBO in Madison Square Garden. He was one of the greatest fighters in the world who fought for the world title. I always wanted to get my world title shot, but I never got it. That’s okay, I was little bitter for a while, but I couldn’t be happier with my career. The best part of boxing is the brotherhood we share.

(L-R) – Randy Gordon, Ron Scott Stevens and Bob Duffy
RON SCOTT STEVENS: “I know people always say it, but this is the truth: I owe so many people who have supported me throughout my career. Boxing has always been home away from home for me and today I feel like I’m home.
“I was 30, living in Brooklyn Heights, and back driving a taxi a waiting on tables. A light went off in my head: boxing is the sport of the underdog and I’m an underdog. The next day I went to Gleason’s Gym – the center of the universe. I made my way around all the gyms in the city, meeting promoters, managers and trainers. I started making matches for promoters and then Cedric Kushner hired me from 1980-2002. In 2002, I got a call to work for the New York State Athletic Commission as its Community Co-Ordinator and Director of Boxing. Then, I was made chairman and I served two terms.   Today, I’m extremely proud to be part of the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame.

(L-R) – Bob Duffy, Henry Hascup, Bob Goodman and Tommy Gallagher
BOB GOODMAN: “I can’t believe this crowd. In order to do what we do, the sacrifices and support you get from your family is so important and (in Goodman’s case) was for so many years. They allowed us to do what we do. All of us love boxing!”

(L-R) – Ray Mercer, Penny Allen, Al Cole, Clay Jenkins and Bob Duffy
AL COLE: “I thought boxing was the stupidest and dumbest sport ever. Who wanted to get punched in the face? I started boxing late. I played around some and people said I was pretty good. I started boxing when I was 20, in the Army, stationed at Ft. Hood. Four years later, I was on the Olympic Team. The reason why is I had a great sparring partner, Ray Mercer. If I was going to be in the ring everyday with Ray, I was either going to get beat up, or get better.
“I remember Bob Arum giving me his business card. I didn’t know him. I only knew of three people in boxing: Don King, Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard. I didn’t follow boxing and the only reason I boxed was I would have had to sleep in the woods if I didn’t (in Army). Boxing is: hit him, before he hits me.”

(L-R) – Bobby Cassidy, Jr., Jaime Drubin and Pete Brodsky
PETE BRODSKY: “I want to thank the board. I’m going to be 70 and started in boxing when I was 18. It created a new direction in my life. I’m so proud to be in company with guys who didn’t just talk it, they loved it. If you really love this sport, you really have to learn it. Any man who stepped in the ring, plus all the roadwork, time in the gym and sacrificing what they eat, did it to be the best they can be.
“In boxing, you’re not going to win every fight, but whether a fighter wins or loses, if he gives 100-percent, he’s a winner. They work a job, run five miles day, workout at the gym, and then went home to spend time with his family. Friends and family always have your back.”

(L-R) – Darryl Peoples & Melvina Lathan
MELVINA LATHAM: “I’m speechless. It’s wonderful. Randy (former NYSAC chairperson Gordon), do you remember this story? There were only three judges and, unfortunately, one called in sick. I was sitting at ringside with no responsibilities. Randy said I had to worktonight. I said that I wasn’t licensed and couldn’t do it. Randy said, ‘Raise your right hand’, and it was on. I was thrown in there, but it was okay.
“My greatest accomplishments are my children and husband. I couldn’t ask for a better situation. And Ralph Petrillo is part of my family; he was my second in command. I also had the best officials: deputy commissioners, inspectors, judges and referees. I wouldn’t be here with without them. Bob Duffy put this whole thing together. I personally think he’s amazing. My journey continues, I am blessed.”
 
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, Cus D’Amato, William Muldoon and Tom O’Rourke.
CLASS OF 2015: Saoul Mamby, Joey Giamba, Johnny Persol, Harold Weston, Lonnie Bradley, Paul Berlenbach, Billy Graham, Frankie Genaro, Bob Miller, Tommy Ryan, Jimmy Slattery, Bob Duffy, Mike Katz, Tommy Gallagher, Bruce Silverglade, Charley Goldman, Jimmy Johnston, Cedric Kushner, Harry Markson, Damon Runyon and Al Weill.
CLASS OF 2016: Aaron 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 and Jimmy Jacobs.
CLASS OF 2017: Gaspar Ortega, Renaldo “Mr.” Snipes, Doug Dewitt, “The 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 and Dan Parker.
ABOUT RING 8: Formed in 1954 by an ex-prizefighter, Jack Grebelsky, Ring 8 became the eighth subsidiary of what was then known as the National Veteran Boxers Association – hence, RING 8 – and today the organization’s motto remains: Boxers Helping Boxers.
RING 8 is fully committed to supporting less fortunate people in the boxing community who may require assistance in terms of paying rent, medical expenses, or whatever justifiable need.
Go on line to www.Ring8ny.com for more information about RING 8, the largest group of its kind in the United States with more than 350 members. Annual membership dues is only $30.00 and each member is entitled to a buffet dinner at RING 8 monthly meetings, excluding July and August. All active boxers, amateur and professional, are entitled to a complimentary RING 8 yearly membership. Guests of Ring 8 members are welcome at a cost of only $7.00 per person.
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Son/father Bob & Murray Goodman to be inducted into Class of 2018 New York State Boxing Hall of Fame

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Sunday, April 29, Induction Dinner
Kid Chocolate, James J. Corbett, Jack McAuliffe and Sam Taub head new class

(L-R) – Bob and Murray Goodman
NEW YORK (March 26, 2018) – Boxing lifers Bob Goodman and his father, the late Murray Goodman, are among 23 members of the Class of 2018 being inducted into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF) on Sunday afternoon (12:30-5:30 p.m. ET), April 29.
The seventh annual NYSBHOF induction dinner will be held once again at Russo’s On The Bay in Howard Beach, New York.
A legendary boxing publicist, Murray Goodman (Bronx) brought his son into the sweet science when Bob was only eight years old. The rest was historic for the Goodmans, who are both inductees in several Halls of Fame, including the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
“This is a great honor for me and my father,” Bob said. “I wish he were alive today to be there. I’m a boxing lifer. I was eight years old going to all the training camps with my father, who was a boxing writer and sports editor for the INS (Hearst News Service) service. The joke is I was conceived at Grossinger’s (Catskill Resort Hotel training camp). Boxing just came into my life. My dad and I had some businesses in promotions and public relations, all different kinds of sports-related businesses, but there was always boxing.
“I’m the luckiest guy in the world. I was brought up doing the very things I loved. How many people can say that? I met and became friends with Joe Louis, Marcel Cerdan, Sugar Ray Robinson, Rocky Graziano, Rocky Marciano and so many others. I’d stay in camps for weeks. I’d get up to run with the boxers and got a chance to be around my heroes. I also got to know trainers and others in boxing and later fans. I got to know everybody. I was brought up in boxing, my whole life was boxing, 65 years in the business.”
Bob is, perhaps, best known as Vice President and Matchmaker for Madison Square Garden (1985-1994), as well as a quarter-century serving as Vice President of Boxing Operations, Matchmaker and Director of Public Relations for Don King Productions. He also promoted many world champions as President of his own company, Garden State Boxing.
“I remember going away to training camps for weeks at a time,” the 78-year-old Goodman fondly remembered. “I’d take pictures, write stories every day and use my telecopier to send them to AP and UPI. I did so much being brought up un the business, even loading trucks up with chairs, the ring, speakers and more. My father was the Publicity Director for the International Boxing Club at Madison Square Garden. I worked there when I was a teenager.
“I’m honored to be inducted into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame with my father and so many boxing guys. They’re different from people in any other sports. One of the awards I’ve won that I’m most proud of is the James J. Walker Memorial Award for Long and Meritorious Service to Boxing (BWAA in 1960).
“I’m fortunate to have transcended various eras in boxing. It was a different world back then, we had 20-30 writers stay for weeks at training camps. I got to know old-time boxers and trainers.”
        
Bob Goodman (L) checking Muhammad Ali’s weight and on right with Rocky Marciano
Goodman, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1958-62, stays active today working with veterans’ groups. He is President of the Weymouth Township Veteran’s Advisory Board, and also active with the American Legion and part of the Honor Guard with the Korean War Veterans Association.

Bob Goodman (far right) was inducted into the IBHOF in 2009, his father Murray in 1999
Among the world champions Bob has worked with are Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, Ken Norton, Felix Trinidad, Roberto Duran, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Bob Foster, Salvador Sanchez, Sugar Ray Leonard, Julio Cesar Chavez, Wilfredo Gonez, Ricardo Lopez, Bernard Hopkins and so many more.
Living boxers heading into the NYSBHOF include (Spring Valley) IBF Cruiserweight World Champion Al “Ice” Cole (35-16-3, 16 KOs), (Long Island) WBA light heavyweight Lou “Honey Boy” Del Valle (36-6-2, 22 KOs), (Central Islip) IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion Jake Rodriguez (28-8-2, 8 KOs), (Brooklyn) world lightweight title challenger Terrence Alli (52-15-2, 21 KOs), and (Buffalo) undefeated world-class heavyweight “Baby” Joe Mesi (36-0, 29 KOs).
Posthumous participants being inducted are NBA & NYSAC World Featherweight Champion (Manhattan) Kid “Cuban Bon Bon” Chocolate (136-10-6, 51 KOs), (New York City) 20thcentury heavyweight James J. “Gentleman Jim” Corbett (11-4-3, 5 KOs), (Williamsburg) World Lightweight Champion Jack “The Napoleon of The Prize Ring” McAuliffe, (Kingston) WBC Super Lightweight Champion Billy Costello (40-2, 23 KOs), (Beacon) NYSAC Light Heavyweight World Champion Melio Bettina (83-14-3, 36 KOs), (Brooklyn/Yonkers) world-class middleweight Ralph “Tiger” Jones (52-32-5, 13 KOs) and (Port Washington) heavyweight contender Charley “The Bayonne Bomber” Norkus (33-19, 19 KOs).
Living non-participants heading into the NYSBHOF are (Troy) Pulitzer Prize-winning sportswriter Dave Anderson, (Brooklyn) trainer/advisor Pete Brodsky, (Rockaway) boxing historian/editor Herb Goldman, (Ardsley) NYSAC chairperson/judge Melvina Lathan, and (Brooklyn) NYSAC Chairperson/matchmaker/promoter Ron Scott Stevens.
Posthumous non-participant inductees are (Brooklyn) ring announcer Johnnie Addie, (Brooklyn) matchmaker Johnny Bos, (Bronx) boxing writer/historian Bert Randolph Sugar and (Lower East Side) radio & television announcer/journalist Sam Taub.
Each attending inductee (or direct descendant of) will receive a custom-designed belt signifying his or her induction into the NYSBHOF.
The 2017 inductees were selected by the NYSBHOF nominating committee members: Bobby Cassidy, Jr., Randy Gordon, Henry Hascup, Don Majeski, Ron McNair, and Neil Terens.
All boxers needed to be inactive for at least three years to be eligible for NYSBHOF induction, and all inductees must have resided in New York State for a significant portion of their boxing careers or during the prime of their respective career.
 
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, Cus D’Amato, William Muldoon and Tom O’Rourke.
CLASS OF 2015: Saoul Mamby, Joey Giamba, Johnny Persol, Harold Weston, Lonnie Bradley, Paul Berlenbach, Billy Graham, Frankie Genaro, Bob Miller, Tommy Ryan, Jimmy Slattery, Bob Duffy, Mike Katz, Tommy Gallagher, Bruce Silverglade, Charley Goldman, Jimmy Johnston, Cedric Kushner, Harry Markson, Damon Runyon and Al Weill.
CLASS OF 2016: Aaron 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 and Jimmy Jacobs.
CLASS OF 2017: Gaspar Ortega, Renaldo “Mr.” Snipes, Doug Dewitt, “The 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 and Dan Parker.
Tickets are priced at $150.00 per adult and $70.00 for children (under 16),and include a complete brunch and cocktail hour upon entry, starting at 12:30 p.m. ET, as well as dinner (prime rib, fish or poultry) and open bar throughout the day. Tickets are available to purchase by contacting NYSBHOF/Ring 8 president Bob Duffy at 516.313.2304 ordepcomish@aol.com. Ads for the NYSBHOF program are available, ranging from $80.00 to $200.00, by contacting Duffy. Go on line at www.Ring8ny.com for additional information about the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame.
ABOUT RING 8: Formed in 1954 by an ex-prizefighter, Jack Grebelsky, Ring 8 became the eighth subsidiary of what was then known as the National Veteran Boxers Association – hence, RING 8 – and today the organization’s motto remains: Boxers Helping Boxers.
RING 8 is fully committed to supporting less fortunate people in the boxing community who may require assistance in terms of paying rent, medical expenses, or whatever justifiable need.
Go on line to www.Ring8ny.com for more information about RING 8, the largest group of its kind in the United States with more than 350 members. Annual membership dues is only $30.00 and each member is entitled to a buffet dinner at RING 8 monthly meetings, excluding July and August. All active boxers, amateur and professional, are entitled to a complimentary RING 8 yearly membership. Guests of Ring 8 members are welcome at a cost of only $7.00 per person.
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THOMAS HEARNS HEADLINES STAR-LADEN CLASS OF INDUCTEES INTO NEVADA BOXING HALL OF FAME

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Spinks brothers, Michael Carbajal, Erik Morales and Salvador Sanchez are also among the greats to be honored Aug. 12 at Caesars Palace.  
 
LAS VEGAS – Former world champion Thomas Hearns, who along with Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran dominated boxing in the 1980s and became known collectively as “The Four Kings,” headlines a 14-person class of inductees into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame, Hall CEO/president Michelle Corrales-Lewis announced Wednesday.
Hearns was chosen in the non-Nevada resident boxer category, along with Michael Spinks, Erik Morales, Michael Carbajal, women’s boxing star Lucia Rijker and Salvador Sanchez. Elected in the Nevada resident boxer category was Ken Norton, Leon Spinks and Richie Sandoval.
Chosen in the non-boxer category were referee Davey Pearl, public relations specialist Debbie Munch, promoter Mel Greb, trainer/cut man Rafael Garcia and Nevada Athletic Commission chair Dr. Elias Ghanem.
Norton, Sanchez, Greb and Ghanem will be inducted posthumously.
The members of the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame’s star-studded fifth-induction class will be honored at a gala dinner at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on Saturday, Aug. 12. Ticket will be released Thursday, February 16th at 12pm on NVBHOF.com .
“We are very proud of this class of inductees, and it contains some of the greatest fighters who ever lived,” Corrales-Lewis said. “I’m looking forward to our gala dinner when we can honor these richly deserving people and allow their fans to say hello.”
Hearns was one of the standouts during the 1980s and participated in a series of great bouts in Las Vegas with Leonard, Hagler and Duran. His 1985 bout with Hagler at Caesars Palace is still regarded by many as the greatest fight in boxing history.
The Spinks brothers, Michael and Leon, become the first set of brothers inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. Both won gold medals for the U.S. at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and then went on to win world titles in the pros.
Norton, known primarily for a series of close bouts with the legendary Muhammad Ali, also competed in one of the great heavyweight title bouts ever. He lost the WBC title by a razor-thin decision to Larry Holmes in 1978, among the finest heavyweight championship fights ever held.
Pearl was among the best referees of all-time and worked more than 70 championship bouts. He was the referee for both Leon Spinks’ shocking 1978 upset of Ali as well as for Leonard’s dramatic 14th-round knockout of Hearns in 1981.
The Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame is an IRS 501 (c)3 charity and all donations are tax deductible. The Hall’s charitable contributions over the five years since its formation have helped boxers in need and boxing-related charities. Donations are welcome.
The Hall was founded in 2013 by noted boxing broadcaster Rich Marotta.
For more information, phone 702-3NVBHOF, or 702-368-2463.
BIOGRAPHIES OF THE NEW HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Michael Carbajal – Best known as the first junior flyweight to earn a $1 million purse, Carbajal won world titles at junior flyweight and flyweight. Known as “Little Hands of Stone” for his punching power, Carbajal was 49-4 with 33 KOs.
His rivalry with Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzalez was one of the best of the early 1990s and their 1993 fight was The Ring Magazine Fight of the Year. In 2004, The Ring named Carbajal as the best junior flyweight in history.
He was 98-10 as an amateur and won a silver medal at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
 
Thomas Hearns – Hearns, 58, won recognized world titles at welterweight, super welterweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight during a career in which he went 61-5-1 with 48 KOs.
He’s most remembered for his savage three-round battle with Hagler in 1985, but he participated in many of the decade’s biggest and most electric bouts. He fought in Las Vegas 16 times, going 11-4-1 with nine knockouts.
Erik Morales – One of the most exciting fighters of the early part of the 2000s, Morales is best known for his series of outstanding fights with arch rival Marco Antonio Barrera. Morales went 52-9 with 36 knockouts but is best known for his trilogy with Barrera, two of which were named Ring Fight of the year.
Morales won major world titles at super bantamweight, featherweight, super featherweight and super lightweight, becoming the first Mexican born fighter to win titles in four weight classes.
He also engaged in a spectacular trilogy with Manny Pacquiao, beating him in the first and dropping the last two.
Ken Norton – Though he was the heavyweight champion before losing his belt to Larry Holmes in one of the great title bouts ever, Norton was best known for his three fights with the legendary Muhammad Ali. Norton defeated Ali in 1973 in San Diego in their first bout, breaking Ali’s jaw.
Ali won the two subsequent bouts, including a 1976 match at Yankee Stadium for the title. Some observers believe Norton deserved to win all three fights.
The Holmes fight was sensational and the two men stood in the center of the ring at Caesars and slugged it out in the 15th and final round.
Lucia Rijker – Rijker is regarded as one of, if not the best, women boxers in history. She was 17-0 with 14 knockouts in boxing and was 37-0-1 with 25 knockouts as a kick boxer.
In her boxing career, she scored dominant wins over the likes of Jane Couch, Marcela Acuna and Chevelle Hallback.
She later appeared in the Oscar-winning film, “Million Dollar Baby.“
Salvador Sanchez – Sanchez tragically died in an auto accident in Mexico at just 23 years old, robbing the world of one of the elite fighters in history well before his time. Sanchez was 44-1-1 with 32 knockouts and was the lineal featherweight champion from 1980 until his death in 1982.
He won the title by knocking out Danny “Little Red” Lopez, but is best known for a dominating eighth-round stoppage of Wilfredo Gomez. Gomez was 33-0 with 32 knockouts but was no match for Sanchez.
Richie Sandoval – Sandoval held the bantamweight title for two years, but his career, as great as it was, is a question of what might have been. He was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic boxing team, but he lost his chance at a medal when President Carter decided to boycott the Games in Moscow.
Sandoval won the first 29 fights of his pro career, racking up 17 knockouts, and beat the great Jeff Chandler for the bantamweight belt.
But tragically, Sandoval suffered serious boxing related injuries in a 1986 bout with Gaby Canizales and was forced to retire.
Leon Spinks – Spinks is most known for upsetting Muhammad Ali  in 1978 in just his eighth pro fight to win the heavyweight championship. He lost the title in a rematch and failed in two other attempts to win a title. He was stopped by Larry Holmes in a heavyweight title fight in 1981 and lost a cruiserweight title challenge in Reno to Dwight Muhammad Qawi in 1986.
A colorful figure known as “Neon” Leon, he was an acclaimed amateur who was 178-7 with 133 KOs and the light heavyweight gold at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal.
He finished his professional career with a 26-17-3 mark and 14 KOs.
 
Michael Spinks – Spinks was 31-1 in his career and won both the light heavyweight and heavyweight titles. He moved up from light heavyweight to defeat Larry Holmes at the Riviera in 1985, denying Holmes the opportunity to go 49-0 and match Rocky Marciano’s record.
He won the light heavyweight title in his 17th pro fight in 1981 at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas when he bested the much more experienced Eddie Mustafa Muhammad. Spinks held the light heavyweight title for four years, before giving it up to move to heavyweight to fight Holmes.
A 1976 Olympic gold medalist, Spinks‘ only pro loss came in his final fight when he was knocked out by Mike Tyson in a bout for the undisputed heavyweight title.
NON-BOXER INDUCTEE BIOGRAPHIES
Rafael Garcia – Garcia, 87, is best known for his cap he wears festooned with pins and for working as Floyd Mayweather’s hand wrapper. But he had a long career as both a cut man and a trainer and was outstanding at both. He worked with elite fighters such as Mayweather, Roberto Duran, Alexis Arguello and Wilfredo Gomez.
Dr. Elias Ghanem – Ghanem as the long-time chairman of the Nevada Athletic Commission, and was responsible for helping it to earn the moniker, “The greatest commission in the world.”
Ghanem, a physician whose patients once included Elvis Presley, played a key role in the hearings after Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield, and also was instrumental in bringing the Oscar De La Hoya-Felix Trinidad bout to Las Vegas in 1999.
Mel Greb – Known as “The father of professional boxing in Southern Nevada,” Greb was a promoter and matchmaker who first brought Muhammad Ali to Nevada. Then known as Cassius Clay, Greb promoted Ali’s seventh pro fight in 1961. That week, he introduced Ali to wrestler “Gorgeous” George, and Ali patterned himself after George in many ways.
Greb died in 1996 at 75  years old.
Debbie Munch – Caesars Palace in Las Vegas was a legendary host for many of boxing’s biggest fights in the 1980s and early 1990s, and Munch, a public relations expert, was instrumental in it.
She was widely respected by promoters, boxers and the media and helped many journalists immeasurably with their boxing coverage.
Davey Pearl – Pearl was small of stature, but was a giant as a referee. He worked more than 70 world title bouts, including Muhammad Ali-Leon Spinks and Sugar Ray Leonard-Thomas Hearns.
Pearl was also a highly regarded judge.