BOXERS ORLANDO CANIZALES, LENNOX LEWIS AND BRIAN MITCHELL ELECTED TO INT’L BOXING HALL OF FAME
Bob Goodman, Akihiko Honda, Hugh McIlvanney and Larry Merchant also enter Hall of Fame
CANASTOTA, NY – DECEMBER 9, 2008 – The International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum announced today the newest class of inductees to enter the
Hall. Living inductees include bantamweight champion Orlando Canizales
(USA), heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis (UK), junior lightweight champion Brian Mitchell (South Africa),
matchmaker / publicist / promoter Bob Goodman (USA), promoter Akihiko
Honda (Japan), journalist Hugh McIlvaney (UK) and broadcaster Larry
Merchant (USA).
“We’re extremely excited about the Class
of 2009 and very much looking forward to honoring the 20th class of
inductees,” said Executive
Director Edward Brophy. “All living inductees are anticipated to attend and participate in 2009 Hall of Fame Weekend festivities.” The 20th Annual Hall of Fame Weekend is scheduled for June 11-14th in Canastota, NY. Over 20 events, including a golf tournament, banquet, parade
and
autograph card show, are planned. An impressive celebrity lineup of
boxing greats of yesterday and today will attend this year’s Induction
Weekend. The highlight of the weekend will be the Official Enshrinement
Ceremony on the Hall of Fame Museum Grounds in Canastota, New York on Sunday, June 14th to welcome the newest members.
The
Hall of Fame also released names of posthumous honorees: middleweight
champion William “Gorilla” Jones, welterweight champion
“Mysterious” Billy Smith and middleweight champion Billy Soose in the Old-Timer Category;
manager Billy Gibson and commissioner Abe J. Greene in the
Non-Participant Category; journalist Paul Gallico in the Observer
Category; and Tom Hyer in the Pioneer Category. Inductees were voted in
by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of
international boxing historians.
For more information on the events planned for the 2009 International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend, please call the Hall of Fame at
(315) 697-7095 or visit www.ibhof.com.