Laszlo Papp vs. Marcel Cerdan

They put plenty of boxers in the hall of fame who suffered the color line. Why not put those in who suffered from communism or the anti-apartheid edicts. Me senses a double-standard.

 

You make a very valid point there Seamus. I still don`t think Papp deserves to be in the HOF as he just didn`t do enough as a professional to warrant inclusion. But after giving it some thought, his three consecutive gold medal winning efforts in the Olympics just may be enough to get him in on that basis alone.

I mean how many boxers could claim to have won three consecutive gold medals in the Olympics anyway? And it is the Boxing Hall of Fame and olympic boxing is still a part of boxing after all, and winning three gold medals is definately a noteworthy accomplishement, even if he did not have a HOF worthy career as a professional.

He was more than willing to fight the best of his division at the time and wanted very much to be world champion, but alas those damn commies running the show back then did not give him the chance to do so. When it looked like he was on the verge of a title shot against Joey G, his passport was revoked and his career was essentially over at that point.

 

If Teofilo Stevens gets in, so should Papp.

 

:good

 

Savon won 3 Olympic gold medals and fought much better opposition in the amateurs than Papp. Stevenson won 3 Olympic games too, also with much better achievements overall than Papp could hope for. Neither will be in IBHOF despite being a lot more deserving choices than Papp.

 

Stevenson may have fought better opposition in the amateurs than Papp, but anyone who wins three consecutive gold medals is a fine fighter anyway you spin it. And at least Papp had a professional career to speak of and defeated some decent to good fighters, while Teo never proved that he could do so although he was never given the chance.

If they included Stevenson into the HOF, then I don`t see why Papp`s inclusion a few years ago should raise a stink. Like I said before, I think the HOF should be reserved for the best of the best, and in that vein neither Teo or Laszlo deserve to get in as neither did enough to belong there. But going by the standards the HOF has today, I don`t have a problem with either man being voted in.

 

Stevenson hasn't been included into IBHOF, while Papp has been. So for me, both Stevenson and Savon should get in too. After all, the name of the hall doesn't include word 'professional', neither the 'About Us" page of their site mentions anything about only pro fighters getting in. Both Cubans have had more significant achievements than probably 90% of fighters already in IBHOF.

 

I did not realise that neither Savon or Stevenson haven`t been included.... I was under the impression that they were both inducted into the IBHOF before Papp was. In that case they should both go in on the next ballot, as their olympic and amateur credentials certainly warrant it.