Who should belong in the Hall of Fame?

Journeyman92 · Dec 29, 2022

HDmexiqtioner said: ↑

In consideration of who should be in the Boxing Hall of Fame, I strongly believe there has been a growing bias as of late in regards to those who had made contributions to the sport in ways that are more important than the titles they carried or the records that they possessed.

I maybe listed as a "fanboy" who is passionate for the recognition for these key figures of the sport, but I believe in credit where credit is due. Because with what some of these boxers done during their time may not have been GOAT status for their careers, but it should be addressed nonetheless.

There are obvious people that are recently retired that are coming to the Hall of Fame, that is a guarantee. The Roy Jones Jr, Bernard Hopkins, Wladimir Klitschkos are obvious for their longevity and recent departures from the sport on a very high quality record.

But what about the outliers? Those who didn't achieve that grand status but still were seen as a Champion in their own right for the sport.

Who are people not in the Hall of Fame that you think should receive Hall of Fame status?

For me those who should be admitted and why include:

Vernon Forrest (41-3-0 1NC (29 KO) - As an amateur having a 225-16 record, being a former Olympian of 1992's Boxing Team, a 3 Division World Champion, Lineal Welterweight Champion, and Fighter of the Year for 2002. His charity works both in and out the boxing ring was something that people are mostly unknown about helping out troubled youth and fighting hunger. Criminally underrated as a boxer and in my opinion during 2002 there was no better welterweight at the time and would have given any welterweight in history a tough time. Him being a crisp tactician who developed his fundamentals in order to be a calculating counter puncher and ring generalship. His last victory was in 2008 in a dominating performance against Contender winner Sergio Mora and was on the verge of a late career comeback. The Viper is a darkhorse of the welterweight division who I strongly believe that should be honored with his legacy and talent.

David Tua (52-5-2 (43 KO) - The Samoan Tuamanator is one that might cause some diverse opinions. Although he was in the "always the bridesmaid" status, I believe that his representation for the little island nation should be acknowledged. In his over 20 year boxing career, he was a Former Bronze Medalist, Record holder for most punches thrown in a heavyweight fight. Although never holding a major title outright, the titles he did gain were of very good standing and the times he did challenge for the title especially against Lennox Lewis shows that he can give anyone a tough time and you have to outwork Tua to earn a victory against him. And apparently there were talks between Wlad and Tua in 2008 but never finalized, and I would have loved to have seen what would happen. Now he is training youth and being a large advocate for anti-bullying. To me, Tua is one of the best heavyweights never to have won a title and the best boxer from Samoa. I believe that Tua will be a name that will be on people's minds for a while and his unique upbringing and career being a standout.

Gerald McClellan (34-3 (29 KO) - One that I am not surprised that more people are championing as one of the best punchers and middleweights that was taken from his prime due to a tragic result from a great contest between Nigel Benn that became tarnished by a horrible outcome. Out of 29 KOs 20 were in the first round. A 2-time Middleweight Champion. At his last bout being at 28 years old being cut down in his prime, I believe that he would have reached being one of the greats of the Middleweight and Super Middleweight divisions. Would have loved to see what him and Hopkins would have done against each other.

Theodore Roosevelt (Observer Category) - Why the President of the United States? Well due to the fact that Roosevelt was a huge proponent for the Sweet Science before before, during, and after the United States legalized the sport. A member of Harvard's Boxing Team, and while being Governor of New York, organized and founded boxing clubs to help troubled youth. Roosevelt could be known as the "First American Mixed Martial Artist" in his practices in not just boxing, but also Jiu Jitsu, Judo, and Wrestling. During his presidency, Roosevelt even hosted Boxing exhibitions and sparring sessions in the White House itself. It was reported that Roosevelt encouraged that any challenger that would do their best and never underperform against him because he wanted to challenge himself. For me this is the biggest surprise that Teddy Roosevelt never been inducted and I would always state a case for him to be in the Hall of Fame.

Just my 2 cents. Thanks.
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Always idolised Teddy. I think he deserves more reverence so why not.

ChrisJS · Dec 29, 2022

Mendoza said: ↑

He is a batam who known for losing to the best. Granted he was robbed vs L. Rose, but the man lost 17 times and was knocked out six times. He has been retired for 40 years. GGG and Kovalev won't wait more than 5 years when they become eligible. Sorry, I don't see it.

As the sign says no chucho.
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I don’t think he was robbed vs. Chucho. The film shows a very close fight and I felt Rose edged it. I know people who were at the fight who said they agreed that Rose deserved it. The riot was blind patriotism mixed with a bunch of liquor.

clum · Dec 29, 2022

Betulio Gonzalez. Three-time world flyweight champion and the best boxer in his country's history.

Knocked out two-time champ Shoji Oguma. Twice knocked out ex-champ Peter Mathebula. Eked out a (slightly lucky) win against defending champ Guty Espadas. Knocked out Martin Vargas, one of the era's top contenders.

He did all of that when he was past his prime. At his peak, he was the last person to defeat HOFer Miguel Canto for over five years, gave HOFer Masao Oba a hard fight that some people think he deserved to win, and defeated champions Bernabe Villacampo and Franco Udella. And it's not like his era was a particularly soft one in the flyweight division.

George Crowcroft · Dec 30, 2022

Mendoza said: ↑

He is a batam who known for losing to the best. Granted he was robbed vs L. Rose, but the man lost 17 times and was knocked out six times. He has been retired for 40 years. GGG and Kovalev won't wait more than 5 years when they become eligible. Sorry, I don't see it.

As the sign says no chucho.
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Kovalev and GGG have zero wins against Ward & Canelo - IE: the best fighter they ever fought. Chucho on the other hand managed to beat Olivares, Medel, Herrera and Pimental. That's better than Kovalev and GGG's best wins, combined, by miles.

Chucho > Big Borat & Baby Borat.

thistle · Dec 30, 2022

the Hall could have a Champion's and a Contender's Hall of Recognition.

at least Plaguing and Immortalizing TRUE Lineal Champs and Legitimate Contenders, they DON'T Need to Induct them all but there should be a Wall of Recognition and a Ceremony for Unvailing it.

they could also have Nationalistic Regonition of Great Fighters accounted for, as there are at least 5 great Boxing Nations, who have produced dozens & dozens of great fighters throughout the History, again they don't have to be inducted as such.

It is a Hall of Greatness and Recognition and as I've said for years, there are Hundreds and thousands of great fighters from the History of Boxing, and they should ALL be Plated at least.

Boxing History has graced the sport with loads of Greats.

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