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05/02/2006 Archived Entry: "Ring #44 2006 Hall of Fame inductees announced"
RING #44 2006 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES ANNOUNCED
By Bob Caico
The Buffalo Veteran Boxers Association voted for the six inductees to this year’s Buffalo Boxing Hall of Fame at last month’s membership meeting. Danny Diliberto who fought under the name, Dan Toriani, and Dick Topinko will accept their honor on August 11th at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens. Monsignor Franklin Kelliher, George “Big Boy” Brackey, Ted Whitfield and Charlie Murray will be inducted posthumously. This will be the 10th annual dinner and another packed hall is expected.
Danny Diliberto was a lightweight boxer who was undefeated in 15 professional fights during the late 1950’s fighting mostly in the state of Florida. He was trained by the legendary Angelo Dundee who recently remarked, “Danny was a heck of a fighter and whoever I put in front of him he knocked out. If it weren’t for his brittle hands he would have been a champion”. Diliberto is best known for being a City, State and 4-time world pool champion. Norm Sulski from the Pump Inn as been trying to get Danny in the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame, a long overdue honor.
Dick Topinko was a Buffalo Golden Gloves champion as an amateur in the 1960’s. As a professional fighter he won his first 14 contests that earned him the distinction as “prospect of the month” by Ring Magazine in 1970. Topinko finished his career with a 15-5 record.
Ted Whitfield was born in Buffalo and had a successful amateur career here during the early 1960’s. He fought extensively in the New England area as a professional. Ted won his first 23 fights, 14 by KO which warranted a #3 world rating as a welterweight. A 5-fight losing streak against tough opposition including IBHOF member Curtis Cokes dropped him from title contention. He finished with a 24 –5 record.
Monsignor Kelliher was the director of the Working Boys Home during the 1930’s and 40’s where he was known for his strong use of discipline through boxing to control the boys at the home. He promoted amateur boxing events on a regular basis to help raise money for improvements at the home. After the Courier Express dropped their sponsorship of the Golden Gloves, Father Kelliher acquired the franchise and would run the Gloves for over ten years until the early 1970’s.
“Big Boy” Brackey was from Lackawanna, NY and compiled a professional record of 28-15 with 22 KO’s fighting mainly in the 1930’s. Brackey was a crowd favorite because of his ability to knockout his opponents or himself being knocked down or out. He was knocked out twice by Buddy Baer (brother of Max Baer) and suffered a knockout loss to Primo Carnera at the Broadway Auditorium in Buffalo. During his career he knocked down his opponents 40 times and hit the canvas 59 times by his opponents.
Charlie Murray was a sports reporter and sports editor for the Buffalo Enquirer from 1908-1923 and later on as a sports writer for the Buffalo Times. Murray was a huge boxing enthusiast and was at ringside for many important bouts during his era. Murray also was a promoter for both boxing and wrestling in Buffalo and was one of, if not, the man who made Buffalo the great boxing town it was. END
