CANASTOTA, NY – JUNE 3, 2008 – The opening bell will soon ring for the 19th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, June 5-8th. A huge gathering of boxing legends of yesterday and today has been assembled to participate in festivities in Canastota..
Among the over 50 boxing stars slated to participate in the June 5-8th festivities include Hall of Famers Carmen Basilio, Carlos Ortiz, Jose Torres, Emile Griffith, Ruben Olivares, Gene Fullmer, Alexis Arguello, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Lou Duva, Michael Carbajal, Angelo Dundee, Bert Sugar, and Bob Arum.
Joining the Hall of Famers will be special guests Antonio Tarver, Christy Martin, George Chuvalo, James “Buster” Douglas, Livngstone Bramble, Leon Spinks, Cory Spinks, Gerry Cooney, Hector “Macho” Camacho, Marlon Starling, and Billy Backus among others.
Also, many of boxing’s top rising stars including Chazz Witherspoon, Shaun George, The Contender’s Peter Manfredo, Jr., and world champions Steve “USS” Cunningham, Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi, Nate Campbell, and “Bad” Chad Dawson will attend.
The four-day Hall of Fame Weekend features over twenty events including a banquet, golf tournament, 5K Race / Fun Run, the Parade of Champions with comedian Pat Cooper and Dallas Cowboys star Ed “Too Tall” Jones serving as grand marshals, and the Official Induction Ceremony on Sunday, June 8th at 2:30 p.m.
Opening ceremony to officially kick off Hall of Fame Weekend festivities is slated for Thursday, June 5th at 5 p.m. at the Event Pavilion on the Hall of Fame grounds.
New inductees to be honored are heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, junior welterweight champion Eddie Perkins, promoters Mogens Palle and Frank Warren and journalists Dave Anderson and Joe Koizumi. Posthumous inductees will also be honored.
“The Hall of Fame Weekend is boxing’s highlight weekend of the year. In Canastota, boxing fans can mingle with an incredible roster of boxing legends and celebrate the great sport,” said Hall of Fame director Edward Brophy. “The Hall of Fame Weekend is for anyone who loves the sport of boxing.”
For more information on the 19th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, please call 315-697-7095.
ESPN Live from Canastota During HOF Weekend
CANASTOTA, NY – JUNE 2, 2008 – A “Night of Rising Stars” featuring several of today’s exciting contenders and champions, is planned for Friday, June 6th as part of the 19th Annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, June 5-8th in Canastota, NY.
The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Rusty Rail Party House in Canastota, NY and consist of fight highlights, speeches, photograph and autograph opportunities and hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are priced at $50 each. ESPN Friday Night Fights will set up their studio at the Rusty Rail during the evening and feature interviews with the legends of boxing who are in town for the Hall of Fame Weekend festivities in between live bouts taking place in Montreal. ESPN’s telecast will run from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the Hall of Fame to reach a nationwide audience,” said Hall director Ed Brophy. “We’re so excited to have ESPN live in Canastota!”
Rising stars to be highlighted include IBF cruiserweight champion Steve “USS” Cunningham, IBF light welterweight champion Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi,
IBF / WBA / WBO lightweight champion Nate “The Galaxxy Warrior” Campbell, WBC light heavyweight champion “Bad” Chad Dawson, The Contender’s Peter Manfredo, Jr., heavyweight contender Chazz Witherspoon and light heavyweight prospect Shaun George. Legendary Hall of Fame trainer and HBO expert commentator Emanuel Steward will host the evening and SHOBOX commentator Steve Farhood will also participate. .
In addition to the “Night of the Rising Stars,” the June 5-8th Hall of Fame Induction Weekend will feature over 20 exciting events including a banquet, parade, boxing autograph card show, cocktail party, and the Official Induction Ceremony honoring the Class of 2008. Living inductees to be honored at the Official Induction Ceremony on Sunday, June 8th are heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, junior welterweight champion Eddie Perkins, promoters Mogens Palle and Frank Warren and journalists Dave Anderson and Joe Koizumi. Posthumous inductees will also be honored.