CANASTOTA, NY – DECEMBER 6, 2011 – The International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum announced today the newest class of inductees to enter the Hall. Living inductees include multi-division champion Thomas “Hitman” Hearns, two-division champion Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson, “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble” ring announcer Michael Buffer, trainer Freddie Roach, broadcaster Al Bernstein and journalist Michael Katz.
“We’re extremely excited about the Class of 2012 and very much looking forward to honoring the 23rd class of inductees,” said Executive Director Edward Brophy.
The 23rd Annual Hall of Fame Weekend is scheduled for June 7-10th in Canastota, NY. Over 20 events, including a golf tournament, banquet, parade and autograph card show, are planned. An impressive celebrity lineup of 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 10th to welcome the newest members.
The Hall of Fame also released names of posthumous honorees: Cocoa Kid in the Modern Category; Newsboy Brown, Leo Houck and Jake Kilrain in the Old-Timer Category; promoters Hugh D. McIntosh and Rip Valenti in the Non Participant Category; and James Wharton (Young Molineaux) 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 2012 International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend, please call the Hall of Fame at (315) 697-7095, visit online at www.ibhof.com, on Facebook at www.ibhof.com/InternationalBoxingHallofFame and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BoxingHall.
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COMMENTS UPON RECEIVING INDUCTION NEWS
“To me this is an amazing accomplishment. It makes me so happy to know that I made it after all these years and so many fights. I’m thrilled! Muhammad Ali is my idol. He’s the man that got me into the boxing business. It’s great that I will be on the Hall of Fame Wall with him.”
– Thomas Hearns
“This is wonderful! This is an awesome moment for me. The Hall of Fame is the biggest award that an athlete can receive. I strived my whole career to be in the Hall. I can’t say enough. This is a dream come true, just wonderful.”
– Mark Johnson
“Oh my God. I’m so overwhelmed. I can barely speak. I’m instantly overwhelmed. When I think of all the great inductees, from legends from 100 years ago to so many great fighters and non-participants that are now being inducted, to be thought of in such great company is the greatest compliment I can receive in my career in boxing.”
– Michael Buffer
“I appreciate this very much. This the best day of my life! It’s a great honor to join trainers like Ray Arcel, Eddie Futch and Angelo Dundee in the Hall of Fame.”
– Freddie Roach
“I appreciate this very much. I’m actually kind of dumbstruck. Wow! I’m overwhelmed, really. (Hall of Fame broadcaster) Don Dunphy was a great mentor to me and a great idol. Just the thought of being in the same place as him is special. I’m very active in the sport of boxing and I have lots of things I’m looking forward to in the future and this is great because it validates the past, it validates being involved in the sport. I couldn’t be more excited. One of the unique qualities of the Boxing Hall of Fame is the fact that it places an importance on those of us who aren’t boxers but hopefully have added something to the sport.”
– Al Bernstein
“I’m very, very excited! I’m more than honored. I’m shocked to be listed with guys like Jimmy Cannon, Dan Parker, Dave Anderson and one of my all-time idols Barney Nagler. This is incredible and one of the greatest all-time honors that I could ever imagine.”
– Michael Katz
JOHN LENNOX TO TAKE ON JEREMIAH WITHERSPOON ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 17TH ON SUPER 6 FINAL UNDERCARD
ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY (DECEMBER 6, 2011)—On Saturday night December 17th , one beaten Heavyweight prospect will be back in action when he takes on Jeremiah Witherspoon as part of one of the biggest boxing shows of the year in Atlantic City.
The bout, which will take place at Boardwalk Hall, will be part of the undercard of the Super 6 World Boxing Classic that will feature a unification world title bout between Andre Ward and Carl Froch.
Lennox of Carteret, New Jersey has a record of 7-1 with three knockouts and is coming off a four round unanimous decision over Donnie Crawford on October 28th in Atlantic City.
The twenty-nine year old has been working hard under the tutelage of trainers Charles Thomas & Ray McCline and has not only been adding to his game but to his body.
“I have been incorporating a lot more defense to my style”, said Lennox.
“I have been working on using a lot more angles with my punches and I feel this next fight on the 17th, the fans will see more of my boxing skills.
Lennox, who turned pro at 199 pounds, has been slowly building up his body in order to compete with the every growing modern day Heavyweight.
“When I was a football player in collage I played around 245 pounds and with every fight with the workouts and training I continue to get stronger”
Manager Rich Masini has been overseeing the commitment for a bigger physique.
“John meets me at Power Fitness in Rahway, New Jersey. The owner, Joe provides us with all the modern technology he has to offer”, said Masini
“It takes commitment from John to meet me at 5 a.m. for our daily workouts. We anticipate all of the hard work will provide great results on fight night. Our entire team is all on board with Charles Thomas, Ray McCline, pad man Vince Jackson, consultant Renee Aiken and my partner Paul Pape. They have all put in a ton of work in the building of John Lennox”
In Witherspoon, Lennox will be facing a fighter who has a record of 2-1 with one knockout.
“I don’t know much about Witherspoon other then he had some amateur experience”
“I have been feeling stronger and hitting harder and I know I am still young in the game”
Lennox is not only excited to be fighting in Atlantic City, but there will be fans and media from all over the world in town for the main event.
“There will be lots of eyes in attendance that night. The fight is in the main arena and I am excited to show everyone who is at the fight a tremendous performance”
Warriors Signs Future Puerto Rican Star Roberto Jose Acevedo
Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing Promotions is proud to announce the signing of outstanding Puerto Rican super middleweight prospect Roberto Jose Acevedo to a promotional contract.
Acevedo SigningAcevedo (2-0, 1 KO) was born in Miami, but grew up in Bayamon, the town he now proudly represents.
An unbelievably talented amateur boxer, Acevedo was 50-1, 20 KOs in the unpaid ranks and a three-time Puerto Rican Regional and two-time Puerto Rican National champion, who decided to turn professional after making the Puerto Rico National Olympic team.
In addition to his impressive power and wealth of technical skill, 24-year-old Acevedo also stands an impressive 6′ 2″ and has an almost 80-inch reach – which will make him a problem for almost any super middleweight in the world.
Making the adjustment from amateur to professional, Acevedo went the distance in his pro debut.
He made his American debut on November 19 at St. Lucy Hall in Campbell, Ohio, when he destroyed Delvery Wofford from Texas in 1:52 with a performance that had boxing insiders at ringside buzzing with excitement.
“Roberto is the kind of prospect a promoter dreams of,” said Margules. “He has all the tools and drive to be a world champion and we’re looking forward to helping him get there by keeping him busy against the right opponents at the right time. Write down the name if you haven’t already heard of him. He’s going to be a major factor in boxing in a few years.”