From what I understand, the IBHOF names the inductees for 2007 in a few hours from now. Three that seem overdue for induction are Roberto Duran, Rodrigo "Rocky" Valdez, and Eddie Booker.
I think that Duran is now eligible, and if that is true, then he should be a cinch to get in.
Rodrigo Valdez deserves to get in, IMO. Whether he does is another story. Valdez, of course, was the WBC Middleweight Champion through much of the 1970's and succeeded Carlos Monzon as the World Middleweight Champion. Valdez was knocked out only once in his career, and gave Monzon a couple of tough fights at the end of Monzon's career. If not for Monzon, Valdez probably would have been the World Middleweight Champion through most of the 1970's.
Eddie Booker was a tough fighter during the 1930's and 1940's. Booker knocked out Archie Moore in one of his fights, and was never knocked out himself. Unfortunately, Booker never got a title shot, but was one of the tougher middleweights around when he was fighting.
Anyway, we should find out in a few hours. I hope to see these men inducted along with other deserving fighters.
Duran, Valdez, Booker for IBHOF.
IBHOF
Booker is long overdue (as are Holman Williams, Cocoa Kid and Lloyd Marshall).
I hope they get in soon.
http://charleyburley.com/page4.htm
I hope they get in soon.
http://charleyburley.com/page4.htm
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ABA Boxing
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Roberto Duran, who won world titles in four weight divisions over a career that spanned five decades, and American Olympic gold medalist Pernell Whitaker, another four-division champion, were among 13 former ring personalities named Thursday for induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Duran and Whitaker were chosen from the modern era along with undefeated Mexican strawweight champion Ricardo "Finito" Lopez, who held his world crown for more than a decade with a string of 21 successful title defenses.
Artist Leroy Neiman topped the list of old-timers, pioneers, non-participants and observers.
The 18th annual induction ceremony will be held June 10 at the hall near Syracuse in upstate New York.
All three modern era fighters were chosen in their first year of eligibility, following a minimum five-year retirement, by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians, said Edward Brophy, the hall's executive director.
"Certainly, Roberto Duran is among the very elite names in boxing. He is a fighter who transcended the sport. He's an international superstar. Generations of families grew up Duran fans," Brophy said.
Duran, now 55 and a boxing promoter, was a natural born fighter who once declared, "I was born to be champion of the world."
Duran grew up poor in Panama with little education. He started boxing for money and turned professional in 1967 at age 16 and fought until he was 50, finally forced to stop by injuries from a 2001 car accident. Over five decades, "Hands of Stone" Duran compiled a record of 103-16, with 70 knockouts, and won world titles in four divisions — lightweight (1972-1979), welterweight (1980), junior middleweight (1983), and middleweight (1989-1990).
A ferocious but untrained fighter, Duran quickly became a fan favorite as he ran off 21 straight victories as a professional. Mostly a brawler who overwhelmed opponents in his early fights, Duran came under the guidance of Hall-of-Fame trainer Ray Arcel, who helped develop him into a champion.
"He was a complete fighter," said trainer Angelo Dundee, a 1992 inductee. "He could beat you with strength. He could outsmart you. He did so much, he made it look easy."
Duran defeated Ken Buchanan for the WBA lightweight championship in June 1972 with a 13th round TKO. His final title came in 1989 when he won the WBC middleweight belt with an exciting 12-round split decision over Iran Barkley.
Although Duran's opponents included a half dozen Hall of Famers, his most famous fights were with archrival Sugar Ray Leonard, who he fought three times in the 1980s.
Duran defeated an unbeaten Leonard in Montreal in June 1980 to claim the WBC welterweight title. He lost to Leonard in a rematch five months later in the infamous "No Mas" fight, in which Duran inexplicably quit before the eighth round. Leonard also won a rubber match in 1989.
While Duran was a slugger-turned-boxer, Whitaker emerged on the scene as one of the purest talents to ever step into the ring, Brophy said.
A southpaw with a stinging right jab, Whitaker won more than 200 amateur fights before capturing a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics and turning professional. "Sweat Pea" won the IBF lightweight world championship in 1989 with a 12-round decision over Greg Haugen, and later that year added the WBC belt by beating Jose Luis Ramirez. He unified the championship by taking the WBA title from Juan Nazario in August 1990.
Whitaker, now 42, also captured world titles as IBF light welterweight champion (1992), WBC welterweight champion (1993-1997) and the WBA light middleweight champion (1995).
"His combination of speed, defense and showmanship was a sight to behold," Brophy said.
Whitaker retired in 2001 with a 40-4-1 record, with 17 KOs.
The Mexican-born Lopez was one of the most dominant champions in ring history, finishing with a career record of 51-0-1, with 38 KOs, said Brophy.
The only blemish on his record was an eighth-round technical draw against Rosendo Alvarez in March 1998 — an outcome he avenged in a rematch eight months later.
Lopez won the WBC strawweight championship in 1990 and successfully defended his title 21 times over the next decade. During that run, he would also add the WBO title (1997) and the WBA crown (1998).
In 1999, Lopez became a two-division world champion by defeating Will Grigsby for the IBF light flyweight belt.
Other living inductees who will be enshrined June 10 were Argentine trainer Amilcar Brusa and longtime WBC President Jose Sulaiman.
Honored posthumously were heavyweight George Godfrey, lightweight Pedro Montanez, light heavyweight Kid Norfolk, manager/matchmaker Cuco Conde, newspaper cartoonist TAD Dorgan, and 19th century boxers Young Barney Aaron and Dick Curtis.
Duran and Whitaker were chosen from the modern era along with undefeated Mexican strawweight champion Ricardo "Finito" Lopez, who held his world crown for more than a decade with a string of 21 successful title defenses.
Artist Leroy Neiman topped the list of old-timers, pioneers, non-participants and observers.
The 18th annual induction ceremony will be held June 10 at the hall near Syracuse in upstate New York.
All three modern era fighters were chosen in their first year of eligibility, following a minimum five-year retirement, by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians, said Edward Brophy, the hall's executive director.
"Certainly, Roberto Duran is among the very elite names in boxing. He is a fighter who transcended the sport. He's an international superstar. Generations of families grew up Duran fans," Brophy said.
Duran, now 55 and a boxing promoter, was a natural born fighter who once declared, "I was born to be champion of the world."
Duran grew up poor in Panama with little education. He started boxing for money and turned professional in 1967 at age 16 and fought until he was 50, finally forced to stop by injuries from a 2001 car accident. Over five decades, "Hands of Stone" Duran compiled a record of 103-16, with 70 knockouts, and won world titles in four divisions — lightweight (1972-1979), welterweight (1980), junior middleweight (1983), and middleweight (1989-1990).
A ferocious but untrained fighter, Duran quickly became a fan favorite as he ran off 21 straight victories as a professional. Mostly a brawler who overwhelmed opponents in his early fights, Duran came under the guidance of Hall-of-Fame trainer Ray Arcel, who helped develop him into a champion.
"He was a complete fighter," said trainer Angelo Dundee, a 1992 inductee. "He could beat you with strength. He could outsmart you. He did so much, he made it look easy."
Duran defeated Ken Buchanan for the WBA lightweight championship in June 1972 with a 13th round TKO. His final title came in 1989 when he won the WBC middleweight belt with an exciting 12-round split decision over Iran Barkley.
Although Duran's opponents included a half dozen Hall of Famers, his most famous fights were with archrival Sugar Ray Leonard, who he fought three times in the 1980s.
Duran defeated an unbeaten Leonard in Montreal in June 1980 to claim the WBC welterweight title. He lost to Leonard in a rematch five months later in the infamous "No Mas" fight, in which Duran inexplicably quit before the eighth round. Leonard also won a rubber match in 1989.
While Duran was a slugger-turned-boxer, Whitaker emerged on the scene as one of the purest talents to ever step into the ring, Brophy said.
A southpaw with a stinging right jab, Whitaker won more than 200 amateur fights before capturing a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics and turning professional. "Sweat Pea" won the IBF lightweight world championship in 1989 with a 12-round decision over Greg Haugen, and later that year added the WBC belt by beating Jose Luis Ramirez. He unified the championship by taking the WBA title from Juan Nazario in August 1990.
Whitaker, now 42, also captured world titles as IBF light welterweight champion (1992), WBC welterweight champion (1993-1997) and the WBA light middleweight champion (1995).
"His combination of speed, defense and showmanship was a sight to behold," Brophy said.
Whitaker retired in 2001 with a 40-4-1 record, with 17 KOs.
The Mexican-born Lopez was one of the most dominant champions in ring history, finishing with a career record of 51-0-1, with 38 KOs, said Brophy.
The only blemish on his record was an eighth-round technical draw against Rosendo Alvarez in March 1998 — an outcome he avenged in a rematch eight months later.
Lopez won the WBC strawweight championship in 1990 and successfully defended his title 21 times over the next decade. During that run, he would also add the WBO title (1997) and the WBA crown (1998).
In 1999, Lopez became a two-division world champion by defeating Will Grigsby for the IBF light flyweight belt.
Other living inductees who will be enshrined June 10 were Argentine trainer Amilcar Brusa and longtime WBC President Jose Sulaiman.
Honored posthumously were heavyweight George Godfrey, lightweight Pedro Montanez, light heavyweight Kid Norfolk, manager/matchmaker Cuco Conde, newspaper cartoonist TAD Dorgan, and 19th century boxers Young Barney Aaron and Dick Curtis.
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pundit
- Heavyweight
Re: IBHOF
As is Kid Norfolk.Boxscribe wrote:Booker is long overdue (as are Holman Williams, Cocoa Kid and Lloyd Marshall).
I hope they get in soon.
http://charleyburley.com/page4.htm
IBHOF Inductees.
One out of three isn't bad I guess. Actually, I think that the boxers that were inducted today deserve to be inducted. Maybe next year for Valdez and Booker. Also, Holman Williams, Lloyd Marshall, and Cocoa Kid. I would like to see all mentioned in this thread there (IBHOF).
When talking about Roberto Duran's great fights, I think that the Duran-Hagler fight should be mentioned. Even though Duran lost the decision, I think that it was a great fight for Roberto Duran.
I remember thinking that Duran was crazy to try to fight Hagler, and was surprised that he came so close to winning the fight. This was not too long after Ray Leonard refused to fight Hagler. Hagler was only 29 years old at the time, and was still at his peak, I think. Duran was 32, and was a little past his prime, and was fighting at middleweight, as opposed to lightweight, where he had been champion for about 6 years or so. I thought Duran would get killed, to be honest about it.
When talking about Roberto Duran's great fights, I think that the Duran-Hagler fight should be mentioned. Even though Duran lost the decision, I think that it was a great fight for Roberto Duran.
I remember thinking that Duran was crazy to try to fight Hagler, and was surprised that he came so close to winning the fight. This was not too long after Ray Leonard refused to fight Hagler. Hagler was only 29 years old at the time, and was still at his peak, I think. Duran was 32, and was a little past his prime, and was fighting at middleweight, as opposed to lightweight, where he had been champion for about 6 years or so. I thought Duran would get killed, to be honest about it.
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generic screen name
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