Legendary Promoter & Matchmaker Don Elbaum Inducted into IBHOF Class of 2019 Along with Seven Others!

Legendary Promoter & Matchmaker Don Elbaum joined the Class of 2019’s induction into the 30th Anniversary Induction of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Joining him were trainer-commentator Teddy Atlas, Two-division World Champion Julian Jackson, Welterweight Champion Donald Curry, Junior Welterweight Champion “Buddy” McGirt, Welterweight Champion Tony DeMarco, Publicist Lee Samuels and Guy Jutras. This will happen from June 6th thru June 9th at Canastota, NY.

Boxers WBC Light Middleweight and WBC, WBA & IBF Welterweight Champion Julian “The Hawk” Jackson, 55-6 (49), of US Virgin Islands, WBA, WBC & IBF Light Middleweight and Donald “Cobra” Curry, 34-6 (25), of Ft. Worth, TX, IBF Light Welterweight and WBC Welterweight Champion James “Buddy” McGirt, 73-6-1 (48), of Brentwood, NY, and World Welterweight Champion Tony “Boston Bomber” DeMarco, 58-12-1 (33), of Boston, MASS.

I’ve been getting calls from all over the world in such places as Russia and Sweden. I was born in Cincinnati, OH, raised in Erie, PA, lived in Sweden, Philippines, Ireland, and did the first professional event in Israel in April of 2010 with Ran Nakash. I brought Muhammad Ali to Ireland to fight Alvin Lewis. I lived in Atlantic City and got a call from Belinda (later Khaliah, then Ali’s wife) Ali from Cherry Hill, NJ, saying her baby sitter didn’t show up can you come over and sit for the twin girls Jamilla and Rasheda in 1970 when the girls were 3.

One of my mentors was Murray Goodman who was top PR man for MSG whose son Bobby was the matchmaker there. I was so glad to go in the same time my good friend Teddy Atlas went in. We talked over the phone upon the release of the inductees.

Lee Samuels has been one of the backbones along with fellow Top Rank matchmaker Bruce Trampler who was inducted in 2010 into the IBHOF.

Guy Jutras was co-chairman of the officials for the Canadian Professional Officials from 1981-2008 and Chairman of the Officials for the WBA 1999-2008. He was born in 1931 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was 5-0 as a pro boxer. He judged 90 bouts. He was a referee for 193 bouts.