CANASTOTA, NY – DECEMBER 7, 2006 – The International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum announced today the newest class of inductees to enter the Hall. Living inductees include four-division champion Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran (Panama), two-division champion Ricardo “Finito” Lopez (Mexico), four-division champion Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker (USA), trainer Amilcar Brusa (Argentina), administrator Jose Sulaiman (Mexico) and artist Leroy Neiman (USA)..
“We’re extremely excited about the Class of 2007 and very much looking forward to honoring the eighteenth class of inductees,” said Executive Director Edward Brophy. “All living inductees are anticipated to attend and participate in 2007 Hall of Fame Weekend festivities.” The 18th Annual Hall of Fame Weekend is scheduled for June 7-10th in Canastota, NY. Over 20 events, including a golf tournament, banquet, parade and autograph card show, are planned. A celebrity lineup of over 50 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 10th to welcome the newest members.
The Hall of Fame also released names of posthumous honorees: Heavyweight George Godfrey, lightweight Pedro Montanez, and light heavyweight Kid Norfolk in the Old-Timer Category; manager / matchmaker Cuco Conde in the Non-Participant Category; newspaper cartoonist TAD Dorgan in the Observer Category; and Young Barney Aaron and Dick Curtis 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 2007 International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend, please call the Hall of Fame at (315) 697-7095 or visit www.ibhof.com.
COMMENTS UPON RECEIVING INDUCTION NEWS
“I’m very honored to be elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. I’m very appreciative and obviously very happy about it. I’m also very happy to share the Hall of Fame with other Panamanians – Laguna, Pedroza and Brown – already enshrined.”
– Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran
“My induction into the Boxing Hall of Fame, especially at such an early time since my retirement, confirms to me that I took the right decisions in my career. Hard work now bears fruit in the form of this very high honor which I will share with the best men in the history of boxing and for that I am both grateful and proud.”
– Ricardo “Finito” Lopez
“This is a wonderful experience. After 28 years of boxing, it’s been a wonderful career and being elected into the Hall of Fame is a great last piece to my puzzle. I can honestly say that I’ve fulfilled and completed all of my goals in the sport of boxing.”
– Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker
“This is a great honor for me. I look forward to coming to the United States for the Hall of Fame ceremony. I’m also honored to follow into the Hall of Fame the boxer I prepared to win the world middleweight championship, Carlos Monzon. He was great and he made me famous.”
– Amilcar Brusa
“This is a great surprise to me. I’m so honored and am very happy about being elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Of all the honors I have received, induction into the Hall of Fame is one that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”
– Jose Sulaiman
“This is terrific! Boxing is my favorite subject. It’s really an honor.”
– Leroy Neiman