Richard Steele delivers Induction speech
With Fall upon us, it’s an exciting time to pause and reflect back on the 25th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend that took place in early June. Thousands of boxing fans from around the world assembled at the Hall of Fame Events Pavilion to witness the Class of 2014 join boxing immortals at the Official Induction Ceremony on Sunday, June 8th.
The ceremony capped a fun-filled weekend in “Boxing’s Hometown” celebrating the new inductees and the sport of boxing. The weekend featured many memorable events including a golf tournament, cocktail party, banquet, a Night of Puerto RicanPride and boxing autograph card show.
Houston, Leifer, Trinidad, De La Hoya, Calzaghe, Steele
Living inductees were “The Pride of Wales” Joe Calzaghe, “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya, Felix “Tito” Trinidad, promoter Barry Hearn, referee Richard Steele, journalist Graham Houston and photographer Neil Leifer. Living honorees received the official Hall of Fame Induction Certificate and gold Hall of Fame ring symbolizing their status as Hall of Famers.
Posthumous inductees of the Class of 2014 honored were George “K.O.”Chaney,Charles Ledoux and Mike O’Dowd in the old-timer category; Tom Allen in the pioneer category; and referee Eugene Corri in the Non-Participant category.
George Foreman signs autographs
Hall of Fame alumni in attendance were Bob Arum, Al Bernstein, Don Chargin, Stanley Christodoulou, Joe Cortez, Pipino Cuevas, George Foreman, Wilfredo Gomez, Larry Hazzard, Don King, Ruben Olivares, Carlos Ortiz, Russell Peltz, Aaron Pryor, Dwight Qawi and Michael Spinks.
Other boxing celebrities in attendance included Vito Antuofermo, Billy Backus, Iran Barkley, Lucian Bute, Dickie DiVeronica, Ivan Calderon, George Chuvalo, Gerry Cooney, Carlos De Leon, Glen Johnson, Zab Judah, Juan LaPorte, John John Molina, Erik Morales, Diana Prazak, Lucia Rijker, John Ruiz, Zou Shiming, Leon Spinks, Marlon Starling, John H. Stracey, Frank Tate, Wilfredo Vazquez, Felix Verdejo, Andre Wardand Micky Ward. Also, actress Rosie Perez, who was the 2013 Parade of Champions grand marshal, returned to Canastota to participate in the festivities.The Grand Marshal of the 2014 Parade of Champions was Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri.
ALSO IN ATTENDANCE for the
25th Hall of Fame Weekend festivities were trainers Enzo Calzaghe and Felix Trinidad Sr.,former champion Tracy Patterson, Boxcinotournament champion Willie Monroe, Jr., boxer Dewey Bozella, bantamweight contender Oscar “The Boxer” Muniz, refereesKenny Bayless, Tony Weeks,Vic Drakulich, Russell Moraand Steve Smoger, former New York State Athletic Commission Chairman and Sirius/ XM radio host Randy Gordon, Golden Boy VP of Operations Monica Sears, Golden Boy Promotions PR Director Ramiro Gonzalez, Golden Boy Promotions PR consultant Bill Caplan, Golden Boy Promotions matchmakersEric Gomez and Roberto Diaz. The Ring magazine editor Michael Rosenthal, BWAA president Jack Hirsch and Top Rank VP-Boxing Operations Carl Moretti.
Below please find a variety of snapshots from the 2014 festivities.
For more photos, please visit the Hall of Fame’s website at www.ibhof.com.
Photos: Pat Orr, Jeff Julian and Alex Menendez
2014 INDUCTION WEEKEND PHOTO GALLERY
Boxing Autograph Card Show
Parade of Champions
Andre Ward, Nina Davuluri & Oscar De La Hoya
Emmy & Oscar nominee Rosie Perez
“Irish” Micky Ward
Hall of Famers Felix Trinidad, Don King, Oscar De La Hoya & Bob Arum
Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor
Oscar De La Hoyas signs autographs for his fans
