The IBHOF class of 2011 inductees casts their fists yesterday in front of an enthusiastic crowd on the grounds of the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York. The biggest opening day crowds assembled on both Thursday and Friday due in large part to catch a glimpse of 2011 class members Kostya Tszyu, , Julio Cesar Chavez and Iron Mike Tyson. They were not disappointed as Tyson joined his fellow inductees while immortalizing his lethal right fist in plaster forever. Fell inductees Chavez, Tszyu, Referee Joe Fair But Firm Cortez and trainer Ignacio Nacho Beristain also cast their fists, later to be showcased in the IBHOF museum. Fellow 2011 inductee Sylvester Stallone will arrive later in the weekend to have his fist cast, as well as partake in the full fifteen rounds of weekend-long events. This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected
IBHOF Mexican Fiesta Night Friday nights IBHOF 2011 festivities included a Mexican Fiesta Night at the Rusty Rail Restaurant in Canastota, New York, attended by over 400 guests and celebrities from the boxing world. The event marked the 40th anniversary of Mexican legend Ruben El Puas Olivares being named Fighter of the Year in 1971 by Ring Magazine. Of course one of the marquee inductees at the IBHOF this year is El Gran Campeon Mexicano Julio Cesar Chavez, making the Mexican Fiesta Night all the more poignant. Fans were treated to video highlights of Mexican ring icons Ruben Olivares, Erik Morales, Pipino Cuevas, Julio Cesar Chavez, Ricardo Lopez, Humberto Chicquita Gonzalez and Carlos Zarate. Each fighter spoke to the assembled crowd after their respective video hilights and reflected back upon their careers, their appreciation for the fans, and of course their Mexican pride. 2011 inductee Ignacio Nacho Beristain, WBC president Jose Sulaiman, Jimmy Lennon Jr. and former WBC Welterweight champion John H. Stracey also offered their thoughts to the crowd. Lopez and Cuevas were unable to attend due to flight delays in Washington, D.C. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwcTDZv5HpM&feature=player_embedded[/ame]
CANASTOTA — Just like any boxing match, the Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend began with words from a referee. Class of 2011 inductee Joe Cortez has refereed more than 160 title bouts, including several by fellow inductees Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez. The veteran official also appeared in the latest Rocky movie, starring Sylvester Stallone, another member of this year’s class. “I think that you get more respect from the fans and the fighters knowing that the referee is going to be fair but firm,” Cortez said of the way he tried to referee over the years. ‘Fair but firm’ is a catch-phrase the East Harlem native has adopted as his own over the years and is the last thing he says to both fighters before a bout. Cortez also provided insight for the crowd of about 125 about the Chavez vs. Greg Haugen match he refereed in front of 132,274 fans at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. “It was the largest crowd in boxing history...and I don’t think one individual there was rooting for Haugen,” Cortez said. “Looking around I saw all these policemen with plastic shields in front of them and German shepherds on their side. I was saying to myself, ‘wow, I hope nothing goes wrong with this fight tonight because these guys mean business.’ It was a great experience.” During the question and answer session, fans asked about everything from the current state of boxing to the status of a Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao fight. “That’s what fighting fans have been waiting for,” Cortez said of the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight that has been held up by negotiations between the two. “My prediction is that fight will take place sometime next year.” Although Cortez is 67, he has not retired from refereeing. Russell Mora, Las Vegas’ newest boxing referee, came to Canastota for the first time to support Cortez and enjoy the museum. “I’ve been licensed now for five years and all the referees have been very supportive, but Joe has given above that,” Mora said. “It’s a great class of inductees. I’m honored to be on these grounds.” Across from the museum grounds, the usual group of people lined up around the Days Inn of Canastota hoping to get an autograph from a boxing celebrity coming in or out of the hotel. Michael Brennan came from Connecticut to see who he could meet, just like he and his friends have done since the early 90s. “The first time I was up here it used to be in Grazianos,” Brennan said of the place to meet the most boxers. “Alex Arguello was on one side and Aaron Pryor was on the other. I was having a beer with them.” Pryor is a hall-of-famer and his battles with Arguello in the early 80s are celebrated as classics among boxing fans. “They were friends, but in the ring - no friends,” Brennan said. “It was unbelievable.” More updates from Day 1 of the IBHOF Induction Weekend to come. http://oneidadispatch.com/articles/2011/06/09/sports/doc4df12cdcafd3c173264489.txt?viewmode=default
CANASTOTA — The threat of rain did not deter runners – including several boxing greats – from participating in the 16th Annual Nate The Great 5k Race. In fact, the race has never been more popular. John French of Buffalo set a blistering pace from the start and held on to easily finish first out of the more than 473 runners that set a record for participation. The race is hosted by the Canastota Running Club and as part of the International Boxing Hall of Fame’s induction weekend. It was started by Doug Holdridge the father of a Canastota runner, Nate, who was killed in a car accident in 1996. “We had a little period of tears from heaven, then the sun’s out,” Holdridge said of the rain that stopped just before the race began. “I was looking for a rainbow. I didn’t see it, but that doesn’t mean it won’t show up later.” Runners crossing the finish line passed underneath a giant rainbow arch made of balloons, a reminder of the rainbow Holdridge saw the day he buried his son. French took first after settling for second in 2010. The winning time was four seconds slower than two-time defending champ Craig ****’s time last year, but still 21 seconds faster than second place finisher Brad Fink of Canastota. French called the run “The St. Lawrence Race” because Nate was supposed to be a fellow alum of the University. “I hadn’t run a 5k in awhile so I just wanted to see what I could run,” French said. “I really like the course here. You climb up the hill right around the two-mile marker and after that it’s all downhill. As long as you’re pushing the first two miles, the last mile is pretty easy.” The title of the fastest women’s runner was up in the air until the final straightaway. Oneida’s Amanda Hatfield held off a late charge from Brittany Streeter of Oneida to post a winning time of 20:22. “I try to…keep my pace and run my own plan and not get wrapped up in who’s in front of me,” Hatfield said of her strategy. “I know the course so I know where you can pick up a little bit on the downhill.” Streeter had a slow start to the 5k and, while she made up ground on Hatfield, still finished seven seconds behind. “I started further back and it took me forever to get up front,” Streeter said. “She was too far in front for me to catch her, but if it was a quarter mile longer I think I would have because when I started sprinting I gained on her.” Former boxing champions Micky Ward and Marlon Starling made it to the finish line followed by IBHOF Class of 1993 inductee Marvin Hagler on a bicycle. “Marvin was the whip man in the back pushing us,” Ward said. “He’s in tough in the back as he was fighting.This is a great race, a great course.” Ward's brother Dicky Eklund finished the race minutes later and stuck around for photos and autographs afterward. The boxing greats and large amount of visitors from the Hall of Fame Induction Weekend helps make the race a success every year said Holdridge. “Those guys are just phenominal for coming and doing this race to help us out,” Holdridge said. “I can’t thank the Hall of Fame enough. It’s a very good marriage between us.” Proceeds from the event’s entrance fee have gone towards scholarships and Canastota’s new outdoor track, which has now been up for 10 years. To commemorate the anniversary, Holdridge, led a memorial lap around the track before the awards were given out. BOXER RESULTS PLACE NAME NO. S AG CITY/STATE TIME PACE 57 TYMOPHEY TSZYU 6 BOXER 21:47 7:01 73 JESSE JAMES LEIJA 5 BOXER 22:25 7:13 75 KOSTYA TSZYU 11 BOXER 22:28 7:14 226 BRIAN MITCHELL 8 BOXER 30:04 9:41 315 MARLON STARLING 10 BOXER 37:38 12:07 349 MICKY WARD 15 BOXER 40:57 13:11 350 DICKY ECKLUND 13 BOXER 41:05 13:13
[YT]7Zmi1IxBSlQ[/YT] [YT]YSsIlulbu4k[/YT] Saturday's events in Canastota, NY were highlighted by Smitty's in ring demonstrations with Aaron Pryor and Mickey Ward. He also sat down with Sergio Martinez, Azumah Nelson and George Chuvalo for some very interesting interviews. [yt]iK2cYVx7pLg[/yt] On Friday, Smitty spoke with Aaron Pryor, Barry McGuigan, Mickey Ward and Dickie Eckland. He also got in the ring with Kostya Tszyu for Hard-Hitting Live in ring demonstration [yt]IpCLW3gZ0No[/yt] InThisCornerTV.com was on hand for the first day of festivities in Canastota, NY as the International Boxing Hall of Fame began its Induction Weekend. There were many legends of the sport on hand and Smitty spoke with 2011 inductees Kostya Tszyu and Joe Cortez as well as Mexican Legend Ruben Olivares
CANASTOTA, N.Y. (AP) -- The once-proclaimed "baddest man on the planet" fumbled for words that wouldn't come. Sylvester Stallone knew exactly what Mike Tyson was feeling. Both were inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame on Sunday, Tyson for his reign as heavyweight champion of the world, Stallone for his "Rocky" movie series, and the fans turned out in droves on a rainy, overcast afternoon. Thousands packed every corner of the induction grounds, and Tyson was no match for the emotion of the moment. "I've got to be goofy about this or I'll get emotional up here," Tyson warned before trying to honor the late trainer Cus D'Amato, who became his legal guardian after Tyson's mother died and taught him the finer points of the sweet science in a gym in Catskill, N.Y., just a 2 ½-hour drive from the Hall of Fame. D'Amato died in 1985, the year before the hard-punching Tyson knocked out WBC champion Trevor Berbick in the second round to become the youngest heavyweight champ in history at age 20. "All this stuff started when I met Cus, and Bobby Stewart (a social worker and boxing fan who introduced Tyson to D'Amato)," Tyson said. "I was in reform school because I was always robbing people. "All my life I watched these guys. I look at them different," Tyson said as he looked around at a dais that included hometown heroes Carmen Basilio and Billy Backus, Jake LaMotta, Leon Spinks, George Chuvalo, and Marvin Hagler, among others. "Why would I want to be like these guys I always say. I don't know. Tyson paused briefly -- the crowd erupted in "Come on Mike!" -- and then he tried in vain to continue. "Oh, man," Tyson said. "I have to take my time with this because there's other guys up here, you know. When I met Cus, we talked a little bit about money, but we wanted to be great fighters. "Hey guys, I can't even finish this stuff. Thank you. Thank you," Tyson said, then sat down. If anyone could understand the 44-year-old Tyson's mind-set, it was Stallone, who penned the script about an underdog boxer from Philadelphia named Rocky Balboa and then played the part in the movies. "Rocky" was released in 1976 and was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, winning best picture, best director and best film editing. "Rocky" made Stallone what he is today and captured boxing's heart from the outset. Every induction weekend is punctuated by the theme song from "Rocky," and on this day it seemed a little bit louder than usual as it blared over the loudspeakers when the honorees made their way onstage. "I've never pretended to be a boxer. I don't possess those skills," said Stallone, who skipped the annual pre-induction parade because of security concerns. "What I do think I have is an understanding of what goes on outside the ring. Outside the ring is sometimes maybe an even bigger struggle than what goes on inside the ring, and I was able to capture that. Then I believe that you can identify more with the fighter." Stallone paused as the crowd erupted again. "More than that, you also realize that our life is a constant battle," Stallone said. "Sometimes I write things that may seem a little sentimental, but I truly believe it's not how hard you can hit - it's how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward because that's really what makes the difference in your life." Stallone also wrote five other movies based on the Rocky Balboa character and in 2006 was awarded the Boxing Writers Association of America award for "Lifetime Cinematic Achievement in Boxing." "There is special reverence for me," Stallone said. "They are the greatest athletes in the world. They are our connection to the past and our way to the future. They are the guys that go in there and take the blows and show that if you really put it out there on the line, you are a champion. You may not be the champion of the world, but you'll be the champion of your life. "And Yo Adrian, I did it!" Stallone shouted in closing, repeating one of the more famous lines from the movie. Mexican champ Julio Cesar Chavez, Russian-born junior welterweight Kostya Tszyu, Mexican trainer Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain, and referee Joe Cortez also were inducted. Chavez, who grew up in an abandoned railroad car with his five sisters and four brothers, became a three-division champion, registering 88 knockouts before retiring with a professional record of 107-6-2. "My induction into the Hall of Fame is not for me, it's for all of you and all of Mexico," Chavez said through an interpreter in a brief speech. Posthumous honorees enshrined included: bantamweight Memphis Pal Moore, light heavyweight champion Jack Root, and middleweight Dave Shade in the old-timer category; British heavyweight John Gully in the pioneer category; promoter A.F. Bettinson; and former BBC broadcaster Harry Carpenter Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/mma/boxing/06/12/boxing.hof.ap/index.html#ixzz1P6nFxlzP
CANASTOTA, NEW YORK - Mike Tyson broke down in tears and cut short his speech while Sylvester Stallone proclaimed "Yo, Adrian, I did it!" as the two stars from different fields were inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame on Sunday. Mexican champ Julio Cesar Chavez, Russian-born junior welterweight Kostya Tszyu, Mexican trainer Ignacio "Nacho" Beristain and referee Joe Cortez also were inducted. Tyson tried to honor the late trainer Cus D'Amato, who became his legal guardian after Tyson's mother died and taught him the sweet science. But his eyes welled with tears and he apologized and walked away from the dais after only a moment or two. The "Rocky" movie series, which began in 1976, made Stallone what he is today and also captured boxing's heart for decades. The actor wrote the script about an underdog boxer from Philadelphia named Rocky Balboa and then played the part in the movies. Posthumous honorees enshrined included: bantamweight Memphis Pal Moore, light heavyweight champion Jack Root and middleweight Dave Shade in the old-timer category; British heavyweight John Gully in the pioneer category; promoter A.F. Bettinson; and former BBC broadcaster Harry Carpenter. This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected
This content is protected Canastota, New York, affectionately known as “Title Town, USA,” held the 22nd annual International Boxing Hall of Fame inductions this weekend, witnessed by record crowds throughout the four-day event. Except for early morning showers on induction Sunday, the weather couldn’t have been more perfect, with mild temperatures, a mix of sun and clouds, making things for the fans and fighters a like, enjoyable as many of the events such as training sessions and the golf tournament are held outdoors. The largest crowd ever attended the opening ceremonies on Thursday evening according to IBHOF director, Ed Brophy. The same held for the fist casting on Friday afternoon. This was due in large part to the expectations of 2011 inductees Mike Tyson and Sylvester Stallone to be in attendance. Tyson did make it to the fist casting Friday, while Stallone arrived just before the Banquest of Champions held on Saturday evening. Earlier Saturday, simultaneous events such as the boxing collector’s show and the celebrity gold tournament took place. Fans filled the Canastota High School gymnasium in hopes of finding that rare piece of memorabilia to bring home to their collection, while those who signed up to golf with the fighters weren’t disappointed either. Rocky Fratto Jr., son of former NABF Jr. Middleweight champ Rocky, Sr. exclaimed, “The golfing was fantastic! We got to play with and meet so many fighters, get photos and autographs. It was the best part of the weekend so far!” After the VIP Cocktail gathering at the Grey Stone in Canastota on Saturday evening, fans treked to nearby Syracuse, New York’s War Memorial for the banquet of champions. Nearly 2000 fans dined, watched hilights of and listened to speeches by the fifty champs in attendance. A silent auction was held in addition to a live auction, which raised well over $20,000 for the IBHOF. Many items were won by a guest being dubbed, “The Cowboy,” a man from Chicago who brazenly won nearly every item up for bid in the live auction. Sunday’s parade of champions and the induction cermonies dodged a bullet as early morning downpours ensued, but they didn’t dampen the spirit of the fans who came en masse to witness what many felt was the most illustrious class of inductees yet. The parade was preceded by a presentation made by World Boxing Cares Chairperson Jill Diamond and Good Will Ambassador Wendy Newman. Two local youngsters who have stood up to bullying by enrolling in martial arts classes received recognition from the benevolent arm of the World Boxing Council. After the conclusion of the “Biggest small town parade in America,” fans filled the IBHOF grounds to catch a glimpse and hear the words of the six living inductees as they accepted their certificates and rings. Trainer of twenty-two world champions Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain thanked his champions, for without whom he “never would have been deserving of this honor.” Referee Joe Cortez paid homage to one of his childhood inspirations who was in attendance, former title contender of the 1950s Gaspar Ortega. Cortez also thanks his wife Sylvia for her patience throughout his career and explained of his daughter Cindy, a car accident victim and now a quadriplegic, “Honey, you are my champion!” El Gran Campeon Mexicano Julio Cesar Chavez explained how proud he was to receive the honor of being inducted into the hall, but professed, “This is for you the fans and for all of Mexico!” “Thunder from Down Under” Kostya Tszyu told of how certain milestones in his career came for reasons. Of his loss to Ricky Hatton, “That loss happened because it was time for my life to go in another direction–my family. I hope that in thirty years, I’m sitting here watching my sons getting inducted.” Actor/screen writer Sylvester Stallone explained, “I never tried to be a boxer or pretend I was a boxer. But I was inspired by these guys up here because they bare their souls to the world when they’re in the ring.” At the end of his speech, he reprised his famous line from the Rocky II film and explaimed, “You Adrian, I did it!” as he thrust his arms in the air. Finally, “Iron” Mike Tyson reflected back on his beginnings in the boxing game- being discovered by Bobby Stewart at the Tryon School for Boys, as it was then called, being introduced to trainer Cus D’Amato and how D’Amato told him about the pitfalls of money and fame. Tyson tried in vain to hold his emotions in check, several times being encouraged by his friends and family members to “Take ‘em there Mike.” Eventually, “Iron” Mike succumed and rather than break down, chose to gracefully end his speech, thanking the fans and joining his fellow inductees in the traditional pose with their fists fitted with their IBHOF rings.
