Exactly. If a fighter doesn't qualify based on what they did in the ring, they shouldn't be there, period. The Hall of Fame is WAY too lax in who they let in. Just about every legitimate HW champ outside of Primo Carnera is there. Jimmy Braddock?? Jess Willard? I think even Tommy friggin Burns is in there! atsch Another one is glorified clubfighter Ray Mancini. Did these guys ever watch him fight! Jeez, he was an exciting fighter, sure, but Hall of Fame material? C'mon!atsch
well this was the guy who brought both north and republic ireland together. you are absoulte FOOLS to say wahwahwah 3 defences...thats not why he is in the hall. it was for unifing 2 country's to run smoothly. why manute bol is a basketball legend is not becuase he was a great player...the guy couldnt throw for shiz, dribbling was god awful..even blocking wasnt really elite. just a tall guy that made use of it. BUT it's his humanitarian work and aid that makes him the legend. barry made catholics protestants gel. after the conflict, strife and terroism it took a guy with some shorts, a pair of gloves and a moustache to a deeply troubled nation together. this is not about boxrecords. this is about the bigger picture boys.
Tommy Burns was a very good champ who just happened to bump into an ATG, Burns is a solid Hall of Famer, he defended the HW title all over the world. I know he did this in a poor era bit so did Marciano and Rocky's still in he HOF.
But if you stress the "fame" in the Hall of Fame, then more people in the world would recognize Butterbean than someone like James Toney. Does that mean Butterbean deserves to be in the Hall of Fame more than Toney? Who cares what a fighter does outside of the ring? Carlos Monzon killed his wife by throwing her off of a balcony, but he's still in it based on his accomplishments in the ring. And based on McGuigan's accomplishments in the ring, he doesn't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. At least not over someone like Cocoa Kid.
McGuigan is a legend, he beat all the best featherweights put in front of him, and for a while looked unbeatable.Barry was also Ring Magazine's boxer of the year 1985[ that year alone he beat LaPorte, Pedroza and Taylor].His defeat by Cruz was more down to the mid-day Vegas heat than anything else.Barry very much deserves his place in the HOF. UP THE IRISH
Heat or not, a top fighter does not lose to Stevie Cruz.... I think people forget what the Hall of Fame is about. It is about FAME not GREATNESS, thus McGuigan qualifies. If greatness was a measure McGuigan would not be in the same city as the Hall, let alone the building.
mcguigan was a fantastic boxer. his reign at the top was short but he had a big impact on the sport and a nation. HOF don't just judge boxers on there achievements. they also include other aspects such as theirr influence on the game HOF isn't All Time Great
Gatti will be in there in a few years. he was not great fighter but he had a great impact on the sport and give the fans some great entertainment. In fact he give more value for money in one fight than true ATG's had give in their whiole career
Hell then, where is Frankie Duarte then? I would also say Ivan Robinson was more exciting than Gatti.... The Hall of Fame from a boxing fan point of view is a joke, it is aimed at the mainstream and casual fan, thus like you say Gatti will be there in due course.