CANASTOTA, NY – JANUARY 17, 2006 – The International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum announced today the newest class of inductees to enter the Hall. Living inductees include junior flyweight champions Michael “Little Hands of Stone” Carbajal (USA) and Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzalez (Mexico), historian / publisher Hank Kaplan (USA), and promoter / manager Jarvis Astaire (UK)..
“We’re extremely excited about the Class of 2006 and very much looking forward to honoring the seventeenth class of inductees,” said Executive Director Edward Brophy. “All living inductees are anticipated to attend and participate in 2006 Hall of Fame Weekend festivities.”
The Seventeenth Annual Hall of Fame Weekend is scheduled for June 8-11th in Canastota, NY. Over 20 events, including a golf tournament, banquet, professional boxing show, parade and autograph card show, are planned. A celebrity lineup of over 50 boxing greats of yesterday and today will attend this year’s Induction Weekend. The highlight of the weekend will be the Official Enshrinement Ceremony on the Hall of Fame Museum Grounds in Canastota, New York on Sunday, June 11th to welcome the newest members.
The Hall of Fame also released names of posthumous honorees: Three-time lightweight champion Edwin Rosario in the Modern Category; welterweight and middleweight champion Lou Brouillard, light heavyweight champion Jimmy Slattery and middleweight champion Teddy Yarosz in the Old-Timer Category; trainer Whitey Bimstein and promoter Rodolfo Sabbatini in the Non-Participant Category; publisher / editor Stanley Weston in the Observer Category; and Jem Carney in the Pioneer Category. Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians.
For more information on the events planned for the 2006 International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend, please call the Hall of Fame at (315) 697-7095 or visit www.ibhof.com
COMMENTS UPON RECEIVING INDUCTION NEWS
“I’m so excited. This is something that I never would have imagined. I’m so excited to be mentioned with all these great fighters. It’s so unbelievable. I want to say so much but I can’t because I’m so excited!”
– Michael Carbajal
“I’m very happy and excited to get into the Hall of Fame. I’ve always considered myself one of the ‘little fighters’ and to be in the Hall with the all the great fighters like Muhammad Ali is an honor.”
– Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzalez
“I’m so completely overwhelmed to be included with a group I hold in such reverence. I can’t describe the feeling. I hold the International Boxing Hall of Fame in such high regard. I am very much affected by my induction.”
– Hank Kaplan
“I’m certainly proud of the fact that I’ve been elected. I’m really flattered to be along side so many very worthy people who are already in the Hall of Fame.”
– Jarvis Astaire