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06/05/2006 Archived Entry: "Hall of Fame Induction Weekend: Family Reunion"
Hall of Fame Induction Weekend: Family Reunion
By Dave Iamele
Photos of ’05 IBHOF Induction Weekend © Marianne Iamele
'05 Inductee Terry Norris inspects his ring.
The International Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Weekend is upon us, and I can honestly say I feel like a kid at Christmas.
Every year I feel the same way: excited, restless, filled with anticipation. In May, I mark my calendar for my HOF countdown, 20 days until HOF, 19 days, 18 days, and so on. I compose endless lists: autographs wanted, boxing cards and photos to bring, items needed, beverage lists, expense lists ... Oh the lists I write!
Each induction weekend, I pack up the car with my boxing memorabilia, beverages, and cigars and motor west down the thruway, and it feels like I'm on my way to a huge family reunion. Actually, that's a very accurate description of the festivities. Almost every year I visit with a basic "core group" of boxers who can be counted on to be in Canastota for the celebration: Ken Norton, Bob Foster, Carmen Basilio, Gene Fullmer, Ruben Olivares, Aaron Pryor, Alexis Arguello, Leon Spinks, Carlos Ortiz, Jose Torres, Emile Griffith, and George Chuvalo. Man, looking over that list, it's sure a dynamite dozen of great boxers! And these are just the guys that come year in and year out. Throw in boxing personalities that are annual attendees, like Bert Sugar, Lou Duva, Arthur Mercante, and this year's long-overdue inductee, boxing historian Hank Kaplan, and you've already got a pretty good foundation laid for a great weekend for fight fans.
'05 Inductee Bert Sugar shows off his new bling
Also returning this year are Vito Antuofermo, Wilfredo Gomez, Michael Carbajal ('06 inductee), Christy Martin, Angelo Dundee, Emanuel Steward, Gil Clancy, and Mickey Ward. First-time visitors include Pernell Whitaker, Erik Morales, John Conteh, Humberto "Chiquita" Gonzalez ('06 inductee) and Contender star Alfonso Gomez. Sources told me that maybe even Rocky himself might show up this year. That's right, ol' Sly himself, Sylvester Stallone. I'd say he's long overdue, but HOF staffer Jeff Brophy told me that if he is coming it would be news to him. So much for my sources.
Another aspect that I sometimes forget to mention in my excitement is the fans I visit with every year at the induction. Many of these friends I only see once a year in Canastota, and they come from all corners of the globe and all different walks of life. It's great to get together with other boxing fans from all over the US and England, Scotland, Japan, Mexico, Venezuela, South Africa, Denmark ... you name the place. So, for some, Christmas may be the most wonderful time of the year; as for me and the rest of the die-hard fight fans, we'll take HOF induction weekend over Christmas hands down!
Last year, when the Hall announced its group for the 16th induction, I told Emmanuel Steward that I was amazed that so many boxing greats would make the trip to Canastota every spring for the inductions. He replied that the very fact that the Hall is located in "small-town America" was precisely the reason that so many of the fighters return. He speculated that if (God forbid) the Hall were located in New York City or Las Vegas, much of the appeal would be lost. Many of the regular guests look forward to returning to Canastota every year where they can relax and enjoy the adulation of the fans without all the distractions and chaos that would accompany such a gathering in a major metropolitan area. I think Manny may be on to something with that hypothesis.
Diego "Chico" Corrales (left) and "Sugar" Shane Mosley
Last-minute confirmations make for great surprise guests. In past years, fans who were at the celebration were able to spend time with Oscar de la Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, Cory Spinks, Antonio Tarver, Bernard Hopkins, Carl Williams, Tommy Morrison, Ricardo Lopez, and non-boxing celebrities like Russell Crowe and Daniel Day Lewis. Every year there's at least one surprise guest to keep us fans on our toes, so keep your eyes peeled.
I won't go into the scheduling details since I'm sure my trusted editor is providing that information here somewhere. What I will share with you is what the Hall has in store for fans on Friday evening at 7:30. Regular attendees know that this is the time slot usually reserved for the Friday night fight card at The Turning Stone, and regular readers of this column know that there will be no fights this year.
So, what's Ed Brophy and his staff cooked up instead? Why a party, of course! O.K., I know that the extended weekend seems like one long, four-day party, but this is a special party--a 30th anniversary party. For my mathematically challenged readers, that would be 1976, and the anniversary party will commemorate the great '76 Olympic boxing team. Already scheduled to appear are gold-medal winners Sugar Ray Leonard, Leon Spinks, Howard Davies Jr., and Leo Randolf; silver-medal winner Charles Mooney, and team members Louis Curtis, Chuck Walker, and Dave Armstrong. Sadly, bronze-medal winner, Big John Tate, died in a car wreck in ’98. Gold-medal winner Michael Spinks has yet to confirm his attendance.
There will be film highlights from the '76 Olympics, speeches by the team members, and of course autograph and photo opportunities galore. The event will take place at the Rusty Rail on Canastota, and I am told it already is sold out. This may be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see these teammates reunited so those lucky fans that purchased tickets already are in store for something special.
Battling PPVs
Traditionally, on Saturday evening during HOF weekend there is s mass exodus of fans heading home to catch the PPV bout that is inevitably scheduled. Many out-of-towners will attempt to "persuade" local fans to "invite" them over to view the show. Some even break down and offer to chip in on the cost! I expect the same this year with one small twist: this year fans will have to choose which PPV they will purchase. That's right; those boxing brainiacs have actually scheduled two PPV shows on the same evening. That's like scheduling the World Series and the Super Bowl on the same night! What can I say; boxing rarely misses a chance to shoot itself in the foot.
Anyway, without further ado, your choices are:
1. Bernard Hopkins v. Antonio Tarver at light-heavyweight (175 lbs.), or
2. Miguel Cotto v. Paulie Malignaggi at junior-welterweight (140 lbs.).
This provides an interesting dilemma. I still have not made up my mind which one I will ultimately choose (assuming they both are available on my cable system). I'm leaning towards Hopkins/Tarver because I believe that it will be the closer match; however, I think that HBO may replay that bout prior to Jermain Taylor vs. Winky Wright on June 17. To complicate matters even more, the Cotto/Malignaggi card has an under card featuring up-coming sensation John Duddy, the Flushing Flash Kevin Kelly, and Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. I haven't heard boo about who will be on the under card of Hopkins/Taylor, which usually means no one of note.
So, who knows? If they both are available, I may have to flip a coin. Decisions, decisions ...
I hope to see you in Canastota, and look for my post-HOF weekend column in July.
Originally published June 4, 2006 as “Hall of Fame Weekend brings boxing stars to Canastota” in the Utica Observer-Dispatch.
Reprinted with permission.
David Iamele (right) with Bobby Chacon
