Former world cruiserweight champion Al "Ice" Cole and undefeated, No.; 1 heavyweight contender "Baby" Joe Mesi are both extremely honored and grateful to be inducted, along with 21 others in the Class of 2018, into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF).
Cole grew up in Atlantic City, where he fought 18 times, and he got to know a casino owner, Donald Trump. "We hung out," Cole remembered. "Trump invited me to some of his private parties. I never thought he'd be president!".
Mesi (36-0, 29 KOs) was so popular in Buffalo, he was considered the upstate New York city's third sports franchise (Bills and Sabres).
A top American amateur, "Baby Joe" fought professionally between 1997 and 2007, racking up 36 victories without a defeat, yet he never to a world title shot due to a medical issue. Ranked as high at No. 1 by the World Boxing Council (WBC) Mesi was suspended by the Nevada Commission, after he defeated former world champion Vassily Jirov by way of a 10-round unanimous decision, due to a head injury (brain bleeds).
Mesi was virtually blacklisted in boxing, losing two full years in the ring, while he pursued legal action to get re-licensed, which he eventually was but only by a few commissions. Joe fought seven times after being re-licensed, but he was unfortunately limited in terms of where he could fight, and he never regained the lofty status he had once held. In addition to Jirov, Mesi defeated notables such as Monte Barrett, DeVarryl Williamson and Jorge Luis Gonzalez.
