Any regular posters from the Classic Forum heading to Canastota this year (June 6-9) for the IBHOF induction weekend? My man, Julian Jackson is being inducted along with Donald Curry and Buddy McGirt. Lots of other fighters usually attend. I know that Hagler, Chiquita Gonzalez, Pernell Whitaker, and Andre Ward among others have already indicated they will be there. So many of us debate and converse on this website on a regular basis. It would be great to be able to put some faces to your avatars and have some drinks while getting to talk to some of the greatest fighters to ever lace them up. If any of you are going, let me know. The first beer is on me!
I knew he wasn't and I was kind of angry about it, he absolutely deserves it. Boxing needs more like Jackson. Didn't duck anyone and gave his whole heart every time he fought Nice person too.
I'm mostly happy that Curry and Jackson are finally getting their dues. I'm still unsure about McGirt but I don't really mind as much.
I agree. He is a very nice person. I told this story before, so I hope I am not boring people. I was at the hall of fame dinner in about 1998 when I lived in California. Now I live in Texas,but I lived in California and they had a boxing hall of fame on the west coast then in Los Angeles. This was at the Marriotte near LAX airport. At this dinner which I did not go to there is a time before people go into the dinner where you can shake hands and take pictures with boxing legends outside the doors to the ballrom. Just random and casual. And Jackson was there in the middle of a crowd around other guys like Basilio and all that. and no one recognized him.. I knew it was him immediately and I went up and said. Julian. Probably the hardest one punch knockout artist ever, something like that. And he shook my hand, and then people started to come up and ask me,who is that? Then he got a crowd around him and I left. Some time later,I am not sure how long maybe 15 minutes, I am standing somewhere else and his wife I think it was walks up to me-and hands me a picture of him signed, and she points at him and he looks over and waves from across this big area like saying that was for you.I thought this was very nice of him. He singled me out to give me that card. And I still have it. I will always have it.
I'm hopefully looking at next yr. Unfortunately long term injuries are preventing me from traveling too far.
Great story. I have a signed picture of The Hawk in my office. Look very forward to him getting his just recognition in a few weeks.
Thanks. I agree. That must be a great photo. Mine is like a postcard size, maybe a little bigger. He signed it Julian The Hawk Jackson. He showed me something about him. He has appreciation and respect for people. Even someone like me who really isn't anyone, and he singled me out. He appreciated that out of everyone there, I recognized him first. I always remembered that. And he was great. His power was unique. His style was something different than most punchers. It is almost like he saved his big punch for the perfect moment and instinctively knew when to throw it. Catching guys when they were relaxed, but the punches landed so clean. Even a light punching guy if he hits someone that clean would hurt them. So his knockouts seem to be technical as much as leverage. I am looking forward to the Hall of Fame also. And Curry. I think he got a bad deal a little and was overshadowed and had a reputation for his loss against McCallum, which has followed him all these years.
Sorry to hear that, Brother. I hope you are okay. I will try to take some pics at the event to post for those who can't make it.
Very cool story. BTW, I was there for that event too. It was the World Boxing Hall of Fame and it was always a lot of fun.
Hope you have a great time. I've been there once, in 2011, but not during induction weekend. Still, it was fun to tour the place.
That would be great! Back issues are life changing that's for sure. Enjoy yourself my man! Look forward to pictures.
I agree. They are always fun. It alternated from near LAX to the Boneventure and I think the Commerce Casino at times off the 5 freeway. I moved to Dallas some years back. But I loved those events. I got some good pictures. Usually I got pictures rather than autographs since I figured I would just ask for one thing, so I would ask to take a picture. I rarely went into the dinner since that was always expensive. I paid once for the dinner, and then another time my buddy who was flying down in 2001 gave me his tickets. A month after 9-11 he was going to fly from the east coast to Los Angeles and he got scared as he was at the airport I think. He didn't want to fly, so he called and told me to have his tickets to the dinner.
