Floyd Mayweather, Andre Ward, Wladimir Klitschko elected to Hall

Floyd Mayweather, Andre Ward and Wladimir Klitschko have been elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

The International Boxing Hall of fame Class of 2021 will be remembered as one of the strongest. And perhaps one of the most controversial.

Floyd Mayweather, Andre Ward and Wladimir Klitschko have been elected in the Modern category, it was announced Tuesday. Missing out are Miguel Cotto and James Toney, fighters with solid Hall of Fame credentials who fell victim to the system.

Laila Ali and Ann Wolfe were elected in the women’s Modern category.

Of course, Mayweather, the greatest boxer of his era, was a no-brainer. “Money” finished his career 50-0 and retired as the sport’s biggest attraction.

“It is a great honor for me to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame as a first-ballot nominee and a member of the 2021 class,” Mayweather said. “Throughout my career, I gave everything I could to the sport of boxing, and now, to be recognized by one of the most prestigious honors in the sport for that hard work and dedication is very humbling.

“I am looking forward to attending the Hall of Fame Induction Weekend in June and being honored alongside the other members of the class of 2021, too.”

Ward (32-0, 16 KOs) was a superb boxer who won major titles at super middleweight and light heavyweight. He also was the last American man to win an Olympic gold medal.

“I’ve been waiting for this call for most of my life,” he said. “It finally came. I’m a first-ballot Hall of Famer. God has been good to me. I can finally rest now. This chapter of my life is complete.”

Klitschko (64-5, 53 KOs) overcame some early-career slipups to rule the heavyweight division for a decade. He also was an Olympic gold medalist for Ukraine.

He joins his older brother, Vitali, in the Hall.

“Thank you for the great news; it is an honor to be a Hall of Famer,” Klitschko said. “I’m so impressed with the dedication and passion the Village of Canastota has for boxing. All of the champions feel so honored and blessed to be in the Hall of Fame. It’s amazing.”

The problem for Cotto and Toney was that only the top three vote getters – from members of the Boxing Writers Association of America – are guaranteed election. Others must receive votes on 80% of the ballots for induction. Obviously, Cotto and Toney fell short.

They’ll have to wait another year, although they will then compete with a new wave of fighters who become eligible for the first time.

Ali (24-0, 21 KOs) follows her father – Muhammad Ali – into the Hall. She is arguably the greatest female boxer of all time.

“Being that my father was also inducted many years ago, it makes this honor extra special to me,” Ali said. “I learned so much inside the ring that I have applied to every area of my life outside of the ring. Boxing will forever be my first love. …

“And knowing that I will be on the Hall of Fame Wall, inspiring others who come behind me for years to come, is a blessing that I will never take for granted.”

Wolfe (24-1, 16 KOs) doesn’t have the name recognition of some female boxers but she was a gifted, imposing figure in the first years of the 21st century. She went on to become a trainer.

Also elected were boxers Davey Moore, Jackie Tonawanda and Miriam Trimiar; cut man Freddie Brown; trainer/manager Jackie McCoy; journalist George Kimball; and Showtime executive Jay Larkin.

Those elected this year will be inducted in June of next year in Canastota, N.Y., assuming the coronavirus virus allows it. The Hall of Fame canceled induction ceremonies this year because of the pandemic.

The Class of 2020 — including Bernard Hopkins, Juan Manuel Marquez, “Sugar” Shane Mosley, Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker — will enter the Hall with the Class of 2021.

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Floyd Mayweather, Andre Ward, Wladimir Klitschko elected to Hall

Floyd Mayweather, Andre Ward and Wladimir Klitschko have been elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

The International Boxing Hall of fame Class of 2021 will be remembered as one of the strongest. And perhaps one of the most controversial.

Floyd Mayweather, Andre Ward and Wladimir Klitschko have been elected in the Modern category, it was announced Tuesday. Missing out are Miguel Cotto and James Toney, fighters with solid Hall of Fame credentials who fell victim to the system.

Laila Ali and Ann Wolfe were elected in the women’s Modern category.

Of course, Mayweather, the greatest boxer of his era, was a no-brainer. “Money” finished his career 50-0 and retired as the sport’s biggest attraction.

“It is a great honor for me to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame as a first-ballot nominee and a member of the 2021 class,” Mayweather said. “Throughout my career, I gave everything I could to the sport of boxing, and now, to be recognized by one of the most prestigious honors in the sport for that hard work and dedication is very humbling.

“I am looking forward to attending the Hall of Fame Induction Weekend in June and being honored alongside the other members of the class of 2021, too.”

Ward (32-0, 16 KOs) was a superb boxer who won major titles at super middleweight and light heavyweight. He also was the last American man to win an Olympic gold medal.

“I’ve been waiting for this call for most of my life,” he said. “It finally came. I’m a first-ballot Hall of Famer. God has been good to me. I can finally rest now. This chapter of my life is complete.”

Klitschko (64-5, 53 KOs) overcame some early-career slipups to rule the heavyweight division for a decade. He also was an Olympic gold medalist for Ukraine.

He joins his older brother, Vitali, in the Hall.

“Thank you for the great news; it is an honor to be a Hall of Famer,” Klitschko said. “I’m so impressed with the dedication and passion the Village of Canastota has for boxing. All of the champions feel so honored and blessed to be in the Hall of Fame. It’s amazing.”

The problem for Cotto and Toney was that only the top three vote getters – from members of the Boxing Writers Association of America – are guaranteed election. Others must receive votes on 80% of the ballots for induction. Obviously, Cotto and Toney fell short.

They’ll have to wait another year, although they will then compete with a new wave of fighters who become eligible for the first time.

Ali (24-0, 21 KOs) follows her father – Muhammad Ali – into the Hall. She is arguably the greatest female boxer of all time.

“Being that my father was also inducted many years ago, it makes this honor extra special to me,” Ali said. “I learned so much inside the ring that I have applied to every area of my life outside of the ring. Boxing will forever be my first love. …

“And knowing that I will be on the Hall of Fame Wall, inspiring others who come behind me for years to come, is a blessing that I will never take for granted.”

Wolfe (24-1, 16 KOs) doesn’t have the name recognition of some female boxers but she was a gifted, imposing figure in the first years of the 21st century. She went on to become a trainer.

Also elected were boxers Davey Moore, Jackie Tonawanda and Miriam Trimiar; cut man Freddie Brown; trainer/manager Jackie McCoy; journalist George Kimball; and Showtime executive Jay Larkin.

Those elected this year will be inducted in June of next year in Canastota, N.Y., assuming the coronavirus virus allows it. The Hall of Fame canceled induction ceremonies this year because of the pandemic.

The Class of 2020 — including Bernard Hopkins, Juan Manuel Marquez, “Sugar” Shane Mosley, Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker — will enter the Hall with the Class of 2021.

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Video: Ak, Barak: Who deserves to be elected to Hall of Fame?

The International Boxing Hall of Fame ballots have been mailed out. And it’s loaded with worthy candidates. The list includes for the first time Floyd Mayweather, who is a shoo-in to be elected. Among others who are in their first year of …

The International Boxing Hall of Fame ballots have been mailed out. And it’s loaded with worthy candidates.

The list includes for the first time Floyd Mayweather, who is a shoo-in to be elected. Among others who are in their first year of eligibility are Wladimir Klitschko, Andre Ward, James Toney and Andre Ward.

Voters can check off five candidates but only the three top vote getters are elected. Others can get in but they must receive votes on 80% of the ballots.

In this episode of the Ak & Barak Show, DAZN commentators Akin Reyes and Barak Bess reveal the five fighters for whom they plan to vote and explain why.

The Ak & Barak Show is available on DAZN and Sirius XM Fight Nation, Channel 156.

[jwplayer iTmfXl2X]

 

Video: Ak, Barak: Who deserves to be elected to Hall of Fame?

The International Boxing Hall of Fame ballots have been mailed out. And it’s loaded with worthy candidates. The list includes for the first time Floyd Mayweather, who is a shoo-in to be elected. Among others who are in their first year of …

The International Boxing Hall of Fame ballots have been mailed out. And it’s loaded with worthy candidates.

The list includes for the first time Floyd Mayweather, who is a shoo-in to be elected. Among others who are in their first year of eligibility are Wladimir Klitschko, Andre Ward, James Toney and Andre Ward.

Voters can check off five candidates but only the three top vote getters are elected. Others can get in but they must receive votes on 80% of the ballots.

In this episode of the Ak & Barak Show, DAZN commentators Akin Reyes and Barak Bess reveal the five fighters for whom they plan to vote and explain why.

The Ak & Barak Show is available on DAZN and Sirius XM Fight Nation, Channel 156.

[jwplayer iTmfXl2X]

 

Hall of Fame has TOO many worthy candidates for Class of 2021

The International Boxing Hall of Fame might have too many qualified candidates for its Class of 2021.

The International Boxing Hall of Fame could have a problem.

The IBHOF has released its list of candidates for the Class of 2021. And there arguably are five no-brainers on the ballot, guys who could receive check marks without doing much research.

They are (in alphabetical order): Miguel Cotto, Wladimir Klitschko, Floyd Mayweather, James Toney and Andre Ward. And that’s not counting other fighters some believe are worthy of induction, such as Tim Bradley, Diego Corrales and Rafael Marquez.

The problem?

Only the top three vote getters are guaranteed election into the Hall. More could get in but they would have to receive votes on 80% of the ballots, which is far from sure thing. Only three were elected last year.

And, in this case, you can’t blame the change in the retirement threshold – from five to three years — instituted before last year’s voting, which could potentially create a glut of worthy candidates depending on the year.

All five of the no-brainers happened to fight for the last time in 2017, which makes them eligible in this year’s voting.

So who gets in?

Mayweather is a slam dunk. No discussion needed. I think the other four are essentially in a dead heat. I hope Nos. 4 and 5, whomever they are, get to that to 80% level but I’m not optimistic.

Of course, they could be elected next year or beyond but they’ll be in competition with the coming crops of eligible fighters.

We’ll see how this plays out.

Here is the full list of candidates (in alphabetical order): Yuri Arbachakov, Jorge Arce, Paulie Ayala, Nigel Benn, Timothy Bradley, Vuyani Bungu, Ivan Calderon, Joel Casamayor, Sot Chitalada, Diego Corrales, Miguel Cotto, Chris Eubank, Carl Froch, Leo Gamez, Ricky Hatton, Genaro Hernandez, Chris John, Mikkel Kessler, Wladimir Klitschko, Santos Laciar, Rocky Lockridge, Miguel “Happy” Lora, Rafael Marquez, Henry Maske, Floyd Mayweather, Dariusz Michalczewski, Sung-Kil Moon, Michael Moorer, Orzubek Nazarov, Sven Ottke, Vinny Paz, Gilberto Roman, Gianfranco Rosi, Samuel Serrano, Antonio Tarver, Meldrick Taylor, James Toney, Fernando Vargas, Israel Vazquez, Wilfredo Vazquez, Ratanapol Sor Vorapin and Andre Ward.

Bernard Hopkins, Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley were elected last year but the induction weekend, normally in June, was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. They will be inducted with the Class of 2021 next year.

Also last year, Barbara Buttrick, Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker became the first women boxers to be elected.

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Hall of Fame has TOO many worthy candidates for Class of 2021

The International Boxing Hall of Fame might have too many qualified candidates for its Class of 2021.

The International Boxing Hall of Fame could have a problem.

The IBHOF has released its list of candidates for the Class of 2021. And there arguably are five no-brainers on the ballot, guys who could receive check marks without doing much research.

They are (in alphabetical order): Miguel Cotto, Wladimir Klitschko, Floyd Mayweather, James Toney and Andre Ward. And that’s not counting other fighters some believe are worthy of induction, such as Tim Bradley, Diego Corrales and Rafael Marquez.

The problem?

Only the top three vote getters are guaranteed election into the Hall. More could get in but they would have to receive votes on 80% of the ballots, which is far from sure thing. Only three were elected last year.

And, in this case, you can’t blame the change in the retirement threshold – from five to three years — instituted before last year’s voting, which could potentially create a glut of worthy candidates depending on the year.

All five of the no-brainers happened to fight for the last time in 2017, which makes them eligible in this year’s voting.

So who gets in?

Mayweather is a slam dunk. No discussion needed. I think the other four are essentially in a dead heat. I hope Nos. 4 and 5, whomever they are, get to that to 80% level but I’m not optimistic.

Of course, they could be elected next year or beyond but they’ll be in competition with the coming crops of eligible fighters.

We’ll see how this plays out.

Here is the full list of candidates (in alphabetical order): Yuri Arbachakov, Jorge Arce, Paulie Ayala, Nigel Benn, Timothy Bradley, Vuyani Bungu, Ivan Calderon, Joel Casamayor, Sot Chitalada, Diego Corrales, Miguel Cotto, Chris Eubank, Carl Froch, Leo Gamez, Ricky Hatton, Genaro Hernandez, Chris John, Mikkel Kessler, Wladimir Klitschko, Santos Laciar, Rocky Lockridge, Miguel “Happy” Lora, Rafael Marquez, Henry Maske, Floyd Mayweather, Dariusz Michalczewski, Sung-Kil Moon, Michael Moorer, Orzubek Nazarov, Sven Ottke, Vinny Paz, Gilberto Roman, Gianfranco Rosi, Samuel Serrano, Antonio Tarver, Meldrick Taylor, James Toney, Fernando Vargas, Israel Vazquez, Wilfredo Vazquez, Ratanapol Sor Vorapin and Andre Ward.

Bernard Hopkins, Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley were elected last year but the induction weekend, normally in June, was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. They will be inducted with the Class of 2021 next year.

Also last year, Barbara Buttrick, Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker became the first women boxers to be elected.

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Who gets into Hall of Fame? A look at 28 active candidates

Boxing Junkie takes a look at 28 active stars and gauges their chances of being elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

The International Boxing Hall of Fame changed some of its rules before voting for its Class of 2020.

The retirement threshold was changed from five to three years, meaning a fighter had to be out of boxing for three years. And the number of inductees was no longer limited to three. A fourth or more could win election into the Hall if they’re on at least 80 percent of the ballots.

The result has been a glut of retired fighters who arguably have legitimate Hall of Fame credentials but are in competition with too many equal or more accomplished fighters.

For example, last year, Bernard Hopkins, Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley were the top three vote getters. No one else was on at least 80 percent of the ballots. That left fighters like Tim Bradley, Carl Froch and Rafael Marquez, among other noteable candidates, out in the cold.

And with a new group of eligible fighters for 2021, they’re chances of induction dwindle.

With all that in mind, we selected 28 active fighters for whom we believe a case could made they belong in the Hall and tried to gauge their chances of earning the required votes to be inducted.

We break them down on a scale of 1-5, 5 meaning they are almost certain to be inducted and 1 the opposite.

5

Canelo Alvarez (left, against James Kirkland) could retire now and be elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Scott Halleran / Getty Images

Canelo Alvarez (53-1-2, 36 KOs) – Say what you want about whether he’s currently No. 1 pound-for-pound. The Mexican superstar has been willing to fight everyone – sometimes out of his natural weight class – and he’s lost to only one, Floyd Mayweather, the best fighter of his generation. And Alvarez is still in his prime. He already has Hall of Fame credentials as you read this. He’s only going to add to them from here on out.

Roman Gonzalez (49-2, 41 KOs) – The former No. 1 pound-for-pounder dominated the lowest weight classes like few in modern history. The Nicaraguan not only won titles in four divisions, he did it dominating fashion: 41 knockouts in 49 victories. He hit a bump by losing twice to Srisasket Sor Rungvisai but bounced back to regain a title by stopping Kal Yafai, adding to his legacy at 32.

Vasiliy Lomachenko (14-1, 10 KOs) – The only possible knock on the boxing wizard from Ukraine is a small sample of professional fights. However, the two-time Olympic champion has made the most of his 15 bouts, winning titles in three divisions and beating Gary Russell Jr., Roman Martinez, Nicholas Walters, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Jorge Linares and Luke Campbell. He also climbed to No. 1 on many pound-for-pound lists, which is a plus. And, 32, he’s still rolling.

Manny Pacquiao – Do we really need to discuss it? The Filipino icon has been at the top of the sport for two decades, building one of the richest resumes in modern history and providing countless thrills along the way. He went 6-2-1 against his great Mexican rivals Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez – all Hall of Famers – alone. The list of other notable victims is long. And, remarkably, he’s still going strong at 41.

Gennady Golovkin (40-1-1, 35 KOs) – His middleweight title run was spectacular even if he didn’t face many top-tier opponents. Few wanted to fight him for obvious reasons. Triple-G was champion for more than eight years, during which he had a remarkable streak of 23 consecutive knockouts. That’s crazy. Plus, most people think he beat Canelo Alvarez in their first fight. A victory (instead of a draw) would’ve added considerably to his legacy. All that makes Golovkin a near shoe-in.

***

4

Terence Crawford has passed the eye test many times but still lacks a defining victory on his record. Mikey Williams / Top Rank

Terence Crawford (36-0, 27 KOs) – This is a tough one. On one hand, he has been so dominating that he has won titles in three divisions and reached the pinnacle of the sport as its No. 1 fighter on some pound-for-pound lists. On the other hand, what’s his defining victory? Yuriorkis Gamboa? Viktor Postol? Amir Khan? Ouch. Crawford simply doesn’t have the kind of victories that catch a voter’s eye. Of course, he’ll probably get in even if he never gets that special victory. And, at 32, he still has time to add to his legacy.

Nonito Donaire (40-6, 26 KOs) – Donaire probably clinched his induction with his performance against Naoya Inoue, the Japanese sensation who was pushed to the limit by the Filipino-American. Among Donarie’s credentials: titles in four divisions, huge puncher, spectacular victories over Vic Darchinyan (twice), Moruti Mthalane, Fernando Montiel and Jorge Arce, Fighter of the Year in 2012. Losses to Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nicholas Walters, Jessie Magdaleno and Carl Frampton don’t help but he has probably accomplished enough.

Tyson Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) – Fury might get elected if he decided to retire today. One, he’s a two-time heavyweight champion who has proved to be the best heavyweight since Wladimir Klitschko was in his prime. And, two, he has the kind of defining victories that get your attention: a dominating decision over Klitschko and a seventh-round KO of Deontay Wilder. He also has one of the better comeback stories in recent history, which doesn’t hurt. Why isn’t he a 5 here? He doesn’t have much beyond the Klitschko and Wilder victories. Another win over Wilder and one or two over Joshua would make him a legend.

Naoya Inoue (19-0, 16 KOs) – Few fighters have reached his level of respect – which means a lot – but he probably needs more time. He has only 19 fights. Like Lomachenko, though, he’s crammed a lot into a relatively small sample. He’s already won titles in three divisions and has generally done it in spectacular fashion. Great athlete, great boxer, great power. He has it all. He didn’t look great against Donaire but he fought through injuries against a naturally bigger veteran to have his hand raised. That arguably added to his legacy.

Mikey Garcia (40-1, 30 KOs) – Garcia didn’t do himself any favors by agreeing to fight Errol Spence Jr., who shut him out, but his willingness to challenge himself against a bigger man, especially one as talented as Spence, was laudable. A close look at Garcia’s resume reveals solid credentials: titles in four divisions, victories over the likes of Orlando Salido, Juan Manuel Lopez, Roman Martinez, Adrien Broner and Robert Easter. A title in a fifth division and a few more big victories could be enough to get him over the hump.

Okelsandr Usyk (17-0, 13 KOs) – The gifted Ukrainian might get in regardless of how he fares as a heavyweight. He won an Olympic gold medal in 2012 and was the best cruiserweight of his era, with victories over Krzysztof Glowacki, Marco Huck, Mairis Briedis, Murat Gassiev and Tony Bellew. That’s impressive stuff. And who knows? He might succeed as a heavyweight. If he wins a title or even records some notable victories, that could clinch his election to the Hall of Fame. The fact he has relatively few fights could work against him.

***

3

Juan Francisco Estrada (center) is still on top of his game and adding to his legacy. Dale de la Rey / AFP via Getty Images

Juan Francisco Estrada (40-3, 27 KOs) – Estrada is still building a Hall of Fame career. At the moment, he has titles in two divisions and has beaten Brian Viloria, Milan Melindo, Giovani Segura, Carlos Cuadras and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (after losing to him earlier). And he gave a prime Roman Gonzalez problems in defeat. He probably hasn’t done enough to win election but, at 30, the Mexican remains at the top of his game. He could fight both Sor Rungvisai and Gonzalez again. Victories over those beasts and perhaps a few more could put him over the top.

Kazuto Ioka (25-2, 14 KOs) – Ioka is an under-the-radar candidate with solid Hall of Fame credentials. He has won titles in two divisions (four if count the ridiculous WBA “regular” title) and has beaten many of the best little men of his era, including Akira Yaegashi, Amnat Ruenroeng, Juan Carlos Reveco (twice) and McWilliams Arroyo. And, at 31, he currently holds a junior bantamweight title and could have more important victories in his future.

Anthony Joshua (23-1) – Joshua seemed to be on his way to first-ballot entry in the Hall of Fame when he ran into a chubby Mexican-American named Andy Ruiz Jr., who stopped him in seven rounds. Joshua bounced back to outpoint Ruiz in the rematch but he isn’t seen quite the same way after the initial setback. Joshua has victories over Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin, which is impressive. And he’s only 30. If he faces Tyson Fury and beats him, people will forget all about the Ruiz debacle and he’ll march triumphantly into the Hall. Another Ruiz-like setback or a blowout loss to Fury could have the opposite effect.

Leo Santa Cruz (37-1-1, 19 KOs) – Santa Cruz could be on his way but he has more work to do. He has won titles in three divisions, beating the likes of Eric Morel, Viktor Terrazas, Abner Mares (twice) and Carl Frampton (after losing their first fight) along the way. He needs to do more than that, though. A title in another division and a victory or two over potential opponents like Gervonta Davis and Gary Russell Jr. could put him over the top.

Guillermo Rigondeux (20-1, 13 KOs) – Laszlo Papp was a great amateur fighter who didn’t have a great pro career. Still, he’s in the Hall of Fame. That bodes well for Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic champion. And the sublimely gifted Cuban has had a good pro career. He’s a former junior featherweight titleholder with victories over the likes of Nonito Donaire and Joseph Agbeko. He was KO’d by Vasiliy Lomachenko but should be applauded for moving up in weight to face such an opponent. Rigo might need one or two more notable wins to get in. He’s 39.

Errol Spence Jr. (26-0, 21 KOs) –Spence is a Hall of Famer in the making. He has been a welterweight titleholder for three years, has victories over Kell Brook, Lamont Peterson, Mikey Garcia and Shawn Porter, and has climbed onto pound-for-pound lists. Yet, even at 30, his best might be yet to come if he has fully recovered from his car accident in October. He could prove to be a 4 or 5 here in the coming years.

Deontay Wilder (42-1-1, 41 KOs) – Another tough one. On one hand, he was undefeated the first 11-plus years of his career, reigned as heavyweight champion for more than five years and knocked out all but one of men he faced. That was a special run. On the other hand, his skill set has always been questioned and the knockout loss to Tyson Fury looked bad, as if Wilder’s limitations were finally exposed. Consider this, though: It took a special heavyweight to do it. And, of course, he’s not finished. He can still add to legacy. The feeling here is that he will get into the Hall.

***

2

Danny Garcia (coming off a victory over Ivan Redkach, right) is a borderline Hall of Famer but still young enough to improve his credentials. AP Photo / Frank Franklin II

Danny Garcia – The two-division titleholder is just a few points away from a 40-0 record and no-brainer Hall of Fame status but, in fact, he lost close decisions to Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter. And his fate remains up in the air. He had an underappreciated run early in his career. He beat, in order, Nate Campbell, Kendall Holt, Erik Morales, Amir Khan, Morales again, Zab Judah, Lucas Matthysse, Mauricio Herrera, Rod Salka, Lamont Peterson, Pauli Malignaggi and Robert Guerrero. Who does that? And he’s not finished. If he can win a few more big fights, maybe regain a belt, he could get in.

Erislandy Lara (26-3-3, 15 KOs) – The ability is there. The resume might not be, in part because of bad luck. The one-time amateur star from Cuba has some impressive victories – Alfredo Angulo, Austin Trout, Ishe Smith, Vanes Martirosyan and Terrell Gausha. His setbacks are more notable – Paul Williams (MD), Canelo Alvarez (SD), Jarrett Hurd (SD). Here’s the thing, though: Lara arguably did enough to win all three of those fights. Imagine what impact victories over Williams and Alvarez would’ve had on his legacy. As it is, Lara is a borderline Hall of Famer at best.

Jean Pascal (35-6-1, 20 KOs) – Pascal probably had little chance of election to the Hall going into 2019. He had had mixed results in recent fights and was approaching his late 30s. Then, last year, he beat Marcus Browne and Badou Jack. Add those late-career victories to wins over Chad Dawson and Lucian Bute, as well as a draw and close loss to Bernard Hopkins, and one could argue Pascal deserves consideration. Losses to Sergey Kovalev (twice), Eleider Alvarez and Dmitry Bivol don’t help his cause. Maybe he needs one or two more significant wins to get in. He better work fast. He’s 37.

Gary Russell Jr. (31-1, 18 KOs) – Russell has Hall of Fame ability but perhaps not the resume. He is currently one of the longest reigning titleholders – having been a titleholder for five years – and has some memorable victories, including those over Jhonny Gonzalez, Oscar Escandon, Joseph Diaz Jr., Kiko Martinez and, most recently, Tugstsogt Nyambayar. On the downside, he has been more inactive than most champions and still doesn’t have a defining victory. Russell, 31, is still near the top of his game. He needs to make the most of his ability while he can.

Keith Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) – Thurman has a strong record, with a long reign as a welterweight titleholder and victories over Diego Chaves, Julio Diaz, Robert Guerrero, Luis Collazo, Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia. Those are solid credentials. The problem is that Thurman has struggled with injuries the past several years, had a so-so performance in a victory over Josesito Lopez in a comeback fight and then lost to 40-year-old Manny Pacquiao. Whether he can return to full health and win more big fights could determine his fate.

Shawn Porter (30-3-1, 17 KOs) – Porter is roughly in the same class as rivals Danny Garcia and Keith Thurman. He has been a major player for about a decade, is a two-time welterweight titleholder and has collected a number of important wins, including those over Julio Diaz, Devon Alexander, Paulie Malignaggi, Adrien Broner, Andre Berto, Garcia and Yordenis Ugas. And he’s never been blown out. He could’ve had his hand raised in his losses to Kell Brook, Thurman and Errol Spence Jr. His setback against Spence in a wild fight certainly didn’t hurt his legacy.

 ***

1

Sergey Kovalev has had some fine performances but might not have the resume to enter the Hall of Fame. AP Photo / Anton Basanaev

Sergey Kovalev (34-4-1, 29 KOs) – The best we can say here is that “Krusher” is probably underappreciated. He has some notable victories – Bernard Hopkins and Pascal (twice), for example. And some people thought he beat Andre Ward in their first fight, which will work in his favor. He also was high on pound-for-pound lists. Things went downhill beginning with the second Ward fight, in which he was stopped. He was KO’d by Eleider Alvarez, although he won the rematch. And Canelo Alvarez took him out. He’s borderline in the old system. In the new one, he could miss out.

Abner Mares (31-3-1, 15 KOs) – Mares probably has better credentials than some might think. He’s won titles in three divisions and has beaten such fighters as Vic Darchinyan, Joseph Agbeko (twice), Eric Morel, Anselmo Moreno and Daniel Ponce de Leon. That’s a nice run. He also was stopped in one round by Jhonny Gonzalez and has two losses against Leo Santa Cruz. Mares is probably on the outside looking in at the moment. And recent comments by him seem to indicate that he won’t be around much longer.

Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (47-5-1, 41 KOs) – The two-time junior bantamweight titleholder is an interesting case. He has two huge victories over Roman Gonzalez, the second a brutal knockout. He’ll probably be remembered for those fights. And he is 1-1 against Juan Francisco Estrada. His knockout percentage also is eye-catching. That said, he has relatively few important victories compared to some of his contemporaries. And some believe Sor Rungvisai caught Gonzalez on the decline. At 33, he has more in the tank and some big fights ahead of him. Perhaps two or three more notable victories will win over voters.

Moruti Mthalane (39-2, 26 KOs) – One of the best African fighters of his era has had two reigns as flyweight champ that total around six years, which is impressive. He also has wins over Zolani Tete, John Riel Casimero and, in his last fight, Akira Yaegashi in defense of his 112-pound title. Has he done enough? He’s borderline at best. He’d have to extend his reign and record one or two more big victories to have a chance. He’s 37.

 

Paulie Ayala vs. Johnny Tapia: Two warriors, two classic battles

Paulie Ayala spoke with Boxing Junkie about his two classic fights with Hall of Famer Johnny Tapia in 1999 and 2000.

Editor’s note: Showtime will televise the two fights between Johnny Tapia and Paulie Ayala at 10 p.m. ET / PT tonight (Friday) as part of its Showtime Boxing Classics series.

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Johnny Tapia was the good natured wild man, famously living the vida loca. He was the star. Paulie Ayala was the blue-collar fighter, a quiet man who happened to be a talented boxer. Together they created fireworks in 1999 and again in 2000.

Ayala, who turns 50 on April 22, watches videos of those fights occasionally and the emotion floods back every time. “Especially in the first fight, when the announcer says ‘And the newwwwww …’” Ayala told Boxing Junkie. And he remembers the circumstances that led to the two encounters and the fights themselves – both of which took place in Las Vegas – as if they happened yesterday, not two decades ago.

Ayala had championship pedigree from his amateur days, when he contended for a place on the 1992 U.S. Olympic team and trained at the same Forth Worth, Texas gym as the Curry brothers (Donald and Bruce), Gene Hatcher, Troy Dorsey and Stevie Cruz.

However, going into the first Tapia fight, he was 30 years old and had failed in his only attempt to win a major world title. He had traveled in 1998 to Japan to challenge WBC bantamweight beltholder Joichiro Tatsuyoshi, a two-time champion. The two were engaged in a spirited, competitive brawl when an accidental head butt caused a deep cut over Tatsuyoshi’s right eye and the fight was stopped. Ayala lost a close technical decision.

That fight wasn’t televised in U.S., as Ayala recalls, which he believes might’ve played a role in the decision of the 32-year-old Tapia and his team to defend his WBA title against him.

Paulie Ayala celebrates his victory over Johnny Tapia in 1999. John Gruzinski / AFP via Getty Images

“They didn’t see that fight,” Ayala said. “As far as they were concerned, I was good enough to be in the mix but didn’t have that extra oomph to win a title. Ring Magazine did a good article at the time. They interviewed everyone. Johnny gave [Top Rank] my name. [Matchmaker] Bruce Trampler gave him names of guys he thought would be easier but he decided to fight me. I’m thankful for that.”

Ayala was well aware of Tapia, whose abilities were obvious in spite of his mercurial, self-destructive life outside of ring. He wasn’t fazed, though, not with his vast amateur background and 28 pro fights under his belt. He was confident.

“I didn’t see anything I hadn’t seen before,” Ayala said.

That was evident before and during the fight, which took place on June 26, 1999 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. Tapia and Ayala traded obligatory barbs in the lead up to the fight, each trying to gain a psychological edge. Ayala wanted to provoke Tapia, to make him angry so he’d engage in more of a war than a boxing match.

And he succeeded. As the fighters were being introduced, Tapia walked over to Ayala and gave him a shove, which set the tone for an intense encounter.

Tapia, a slick boxer and a better athlete than some might realize, boxed and moved in the early rounds but eventually began to stand and trade with Ayala. The give and take – hard shots to the body from both fighters, head-snapping combinations, a frenetic pace – had the crowd in a tizzy in what would ultimately be named The Ring Magazine Fight of the Year.

When it was over, Ayala had won a close, but unanimous decision and Tapia had his first loss.

“I dreamed of becoming a world champion since I was a little boy,” said Ayala, who also was named Fighter of the Year. “I grew up in a fight town, in Forth Worth. Six world champions in the 1980s trained simultaneously in the same gym. I used to spar with some of them. I had a lot of experience preparing myself.

“And back in the late ’80s, I used to watch Johnny on TV. I liked the way he fought. I thought he was a flashy, entertaining fighter. To have it come full circle, to face this guy for a world title and win, was great.”

Ayala (left) Tapia gave fans another compelling fight in their rematch. John Gurzinski /AFP via Getty Images

Then came the rematch on Oct. 7, 2000 at the MGM Grand.

Of course, Tapia wanted a chance to regain his title. And Ayala was more than happy to oblige him. He knew his victory was no fluke but he wanted to prove that to doubters. He also knew that the rematch would earn him a career-high purse, reportedly $400,000.

The fighters agreed to a catch weight of 124 pounds, a nod to Tapia, who was battling weight issues. If he was more comfortable in the rematch, however, it didn’t show. The fight was competitive and entertaining once again, and the scores were close, but Ayala felt he handled his rival more easily than he had in their first meeting.

“He got me with some single shots at first but I was able to pick him apart a little easier than the first fight,” he said.

Ayala (35-3, 12 KOs) would successfully defend his title three times and then go on to beat Bones Adams in two memorable junior featherweight fights in 2001 and 2002, both of which went the distance. He lost to the great Mexicans Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera in 2002 and 2004 and then called it quits.

He lives with his wife in Fort Worth as an empty nester but might be busier now than he was when he was fighting. He owns and runs a gym, where many of his clients use a boxing regimen to battle Parkinson’s disease. He doesn’t have many regrets.

“I wish I’d done a little more trash talking,” he said with a laugh. “Maybe I would’ve made a little more money.”

Tapia (59-5-2, 30 KOs)? He would continue to fight with some success for another decade, into his 40s. And then he was gone. The man who survived multiple suicide attempts and drug overdoses was found dead at his home in Albuquerque on May 27, 2012 at 45. Official cause of death: Heart disease.

The three-division titleholder, who was inducted posthumously into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2017, was the type of character who will never be forgotten. The same might be said of his two-fight series with Ayala, at least for hardcore fans. They were classics.

 

Boxing Hall of Fame weekend canceled over coronavirus

The Boxing Hall of Fame induction weekend scheduled to begin June 14 in Canastota, New York is off because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez will have to wait to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

A Hall of Fame official told ESPN Sunday that the induction weekend scheduled to begin June 14 in Canastota, New York is off because of the coronavirus pandemic. This year’s class will be inducted with the Class of 2021 a year from June.

Hopkins, Mosley and Marquez were scheduled to be inducted in the modern boxer category. Also, Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker were to be the first women inducted.

“By combining the celebrations of the induction classes of 2020 and 2021, the Hall of Fame can honor inductees with all the bells and whistles that the Hall of Fame weekend is known for and provide each inductee with the recognition they each so richly deserve,” Hall of Fame Executive Director Ed Brophy told ESPN.

“By honoring the two classes in a one-of-a-kind induction weekend, the Hall of Fame will be able to put all the winning combinations together for the inductees, fans and the entire sport of boxing.”

Others set to be inducted were: Frank Erne and Paddy Ryan in the old-timer category; Barbara Buttrick in the women’s trailblazer category; promoters Lou DiBella, Kathy Duva and the late Dan Goossen; and journalists Bernard Fernandez and Thomas Hauser in the observer category.

Those who purchased tickets for induction weekend can use them next year or receive refunds.

The pool of fighters who become eligible for election next year is deep. Among them: Floyd Mayweather, Wladimir Klitschko, Miguel Cotto and Andre Ward.

Hall of Fame officials hoping induction weekend won’t be postponed

International Boxing Hall of Fame officials are hoping that induction weekend takes place in mid-June as scheduled.

The coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc with boxing and all other sports. One more possible postponement if the threat doesn’t subside soon: The International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend.

The annual event, in which inductees join the pantheon of great boxers and contributors, has become an institution in June in Canastota, New York.

However, the Hall will be closed through the end of the month and possibly beyond. Executive Direction Ed Brophy told the New York Post that he hopes the event will still take place June 11-14.

“Hall of Fame weekend is still on for mid-June,” Brophy told The Post. “But we’ll continue to follow the rules and regulations of the county and the state and monitor all the different guidelines and watch what happens day-by-day and week-by-week as we go through March.”

The Class of 2020 is a high-powered one, as Bernard Hopkins, Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley are the marquee names that will enter the Hall. And, for the first time, women will be inducted. The first three honorees are Christy Martin, Lucia Rijker and Barbara Buttrick.

“It’s an historic class with the first females to be enshrined and have their plaques in the museum,” Brophy said. “Ticket sales for the weekend had been good since the fall when we made the announcement of the inductees. We’re still right on target for have a special weekend. We’re going to continue to monitor the next week and a half and the beginning of April and determine what is happening.

“Everything is day-to-day. It’s hard to forecast out to June. But the best position we can be in is to maintain our plans that are well underway and keep moving forward.”