The 2008 Hall Of Fame Ceremony In Canastota

02.01.08 – Matthew Hurley: The induction ceremony weekend at the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) for the class of 2008 begins on Thursday, June 5th. This year the honorees include heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, junior welterweight champion Eddie Perkins, promoter Mogens Palle, promoter Frank Warren and journalists Dave Anderson and Joe Koizumi..

The weekend on the grounds at Canastota, New York is a fan friendly event and presents the opportunity to not only meet fighters, trainers, announcers and writers but also watch workout sessions, fist castings for the museum, attend lectures and find countless memorabilia items for your collection. The most enjoyable moments I’ve experienced is after a long day of autograph seeking and interview sessions retiring to Graziano’s Bar across the street. There you can mingle with other boxing fans and inevitably find yourself knocking back a few drinks with the legendary fighters who take their seat at the bar.

“We’re extremely excited about the Class of 2008 and very much looking forward to honoring the nineteenth class of inductees,” says Executive Director Ed Brophy. “All living inductees are anticipated to attend and participate in the 2008 Hall of Fame weekend festivities.”

The weekend event is loaded with things to do, including a golf tournament, and ends on Sunday, June 8th with the ‘Parade of Champions’ and the enshrinement of the inductees. Ed Brophy is also anticipating more than fifty boxers from the past and present to attend.

I highly recommend visiting the museum if you haven’t already and if you are planning a first time visit induction ceremony weekend is definitely the time to set foot on the grounds. The IBHOF website has all the official listings of scheduled events, ticket information and hotel accommodations.

The IBHOF first opened to the public in 1989 and honored Canastota’s own Carmen Basilio at the first induction ceremony in 1990. Says Ed Brophy, “The Hall of Fame is extremely excited about celebrating the nineteenth anniversary and honoring the best in the sport of boxing and preserving its history for future generations.”