LAS VEGAS (August 10, 2009) – The Welterweight Division represents the most colorful, perhaps, best known fighters in the “The World’s Greatest Ever Boxer” promotion. Nine of the 10 middleweight candidates are already in the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the last, Bernard Hopkins, is headed to Canastota five years after he retires when he becomes eligible. There are eight Americans, including two from Pittsburgh (Harry Greb and Charlie Burley), one Argentinean and a Frenchman born in Algiers..
On-line voting at www.GreatestEver.com allows boxing fans from around the world to select the greatest boxer in each of the original eight weight classes, highlighted by the all-time pound-for-pound “Greatest Ever.”
The eight categories represent the eight original weight-class divisions: Strawweights are included in the Flyweight category; Super Middleweight in the Light Heavyweight division. Many fighters fought and won titles at a number of different weights. As far as possible they have been nominated in the division that they made their biggest impact. Fighters have not been nominated on the basis of whether they would beat another fighter in that division, though this is, of course, a consideration. More importantly is their overall record, who they fought at the time, as well as the impact they made on the boxing world, and indeed the world around them. All nominees are listed in the voting section at www.GreatestEver.com.
The 10 Middleweight nominees, including the only two-divisional nominee in the promotion (Sugar Ray Robinson), listed in no particular order, follow with their brief profiles:
“Sugar” RAY ROBINSON – 175-19-6 2 NC (109 KOs)…IHOF…American…Pro Years: 1940-1965…85-0 (69 KOs) as an amateur…in the U.S. Army during WWII…world welterweight champion 1946-51, 128-1-2 (84 KOs) by 30 years old…5-time world middleweight champion…Notable Victories: Jake LaMotta (4), Carmen Casilio, Carl “Bobo” Olson, Henry Armstrong, Rocky Graziano, Kid Gavilan, Sammy Angott, Marty Servo, Fritzie Zivic, Izzy Jannazzo, Randy Turpin and Gene Fullmer.
CHARLEY BURLEY – 84-11-2 1 MC (50 KOs)…IHOF…American…Pro Years: 1937-1950…one of the best boxers who never got a world title shot…ducked by Sugar Ray Robinson, Billy Conn, Marcel Cerdan and Jake LaMotta, among the more notables…Notable Victories: Archie Moore, Fritzie Zivic (2) and Billy Soose.
CARMEN “The Onion Farmer” BASILIO – 56-16-7 (27 KOs)…IHOF…American…Pro Years: 1948-1961…U.S. Marine…lives in the same town as the International Hall of Fame in Canastota, NY…Member of Italo-American Sports Hall of Fame…Notable Victories: Lew Jenkins, Ike Williams, Tony DeMarco (2), Sugar Ray Robinson.
MARCEL “Casablanca Clouter” CERDAN – 106-4 (62 KOs)…IHOF…French…Pro Yeqars: 1934-1949…European champion…one of all-time best fighters who learned skills in Africa growing up in Algiers…won first 47 pro fights…died in plane crash prior to scheduled rematch with Jake LaMotta…Notable Victories: Tony Zale, Jean Walzack and George Abrams.
BERNARD “The Executioner” HOPKINS – 49-5-1 (32 KOs)…American…Pro Years: 1988-Present…defended middleweight title a record 20 times…first fighter to retain all four major titles in same fight…lost first pro fight…oldest to ever be world middleweight champ…John David Jackson, Glen Johnson, Felix Trinidad, Keith Holmes, Oscar de la Hoya, Howard Eastman, Antonio Tarver, Winky Wright and Kelly Pavlik.
“Marvelous” MARVIN HAGLER – 62-3-2 (52 KOs)…IHOF…American…Pro Years: 1973-1989…moved to home of Rocky Marciano in Brockton (MA) after the Newark Riots…trouble getting opponents for more than half his career…NAAU 165 pound champ as amateur…Notable Victories: Alan Minter, Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns, John Mugabi and Vito Antuofermo.
CARLOS “Escopeta” MONZON – 87-3-9 1 NC (59 KOs)…IHOF…Argentinean…Pro Years: 1963-1977…held record of 14 middleweight defenses at time…playboy convicted of murder…killed in car crash on weekend furlough…Notable Victories: Nini Benvenuti (2), Benny Briscoe, Tom Bogs and Rodrigo Valdez.
STANLEY “The Michigan Assassin” KETCHEL – 52-4-4 4 ND (49 KOs)…IHOF…American…Pro Years: 1903-1910…shot to death…fought heavyweight Jack Johnson…Notable Victories: Joe Thomas (2), Mike “Twin” Sullivan and “Philadelphia” Jack O’Brien.
TONY “Man of Steel” ZALE – 67-18-2 (45 K0s)…IHOF…American…Pro Years: 1934-1948…served in World War II…got his name from being born and growing up in the steel town of Gary, Indiana…2-time world champion…famous for Trilogy vs. Rocky Graziano within 21 months…participated in 3 Ring Magazine Fights of the Year…Notable Victories: Rocky Graziano (2), Al Hostak (3), Fred Apostolo, George Abrams and Steve Mamakos (2).
HARRY “The Pittsburgh Windmill” GREB – 261-19-18 6 NC (48 KOs)…IHOF…American…Pro Years: 1913-1926…record 303 pro fights in 13 years…Notable Victories: Battling Levinsky (6), Jack Dillon, Mike McTigue, Gene Tunney, Tommy Loughran and Mickey Walker.
GREATEST EVER WEEKEND OF EVENTS
Boxing fans attending the festivities will be able to celebrate, up close and personal, the achievements of the World’s Greater Ever Boxers. A three-day boxing spectacular is planned October 2-4 at the Paris Las Vegas, commencing that Friday with an official welcome reception and official weigh in for the following evening’s professional boxing show, presented by Sterling Promotions, and featuring Team USA versus Team Europe, capped by an exclusive after party. The event culminates Sunday with The Greater Ever black-tie awards dinner, featuring some of the greatest boxers ever, as well as world-class entertainment, and then an exclusive after party.
The Retired Boxers Foundation (RBF) is the official charity for The World’s Greatest Ever Boxer. RBF assists retired professional boxers in the transition from their days in the ring to dignified retirement, helping those suffering from alcohol and substance abuse problems, homelessness and effects of pugilistic dementia.
Four ticket packages are on sale for the Oct. 2-4 weekend’s events through agents at the following numbers: North America – The Sports Alliance (914.941.3366) Smart Ticket Solutions (847.917.8497); United Kingdom and Europe – Rock Solid Events (UK: 0845 0945 606, Outside UK: +44 845 0945 606); Australasia – Events Worldwide Travel Group (Australia: 1300 788 666, Outside Australia: +61 3 5989 7666).
The event-only packages are as follows (all prices USD): Super VIP ($2,500), Platinum ($1,900), VIP ($1,400) and Gold ($1,115). The Super VIP, Platinum and VIP packages have a number or premiums in addition to those detailed in the Gold (welcome function, weigh-in, Greatest Ever poker tournament, exclusive Paris Las Vegas gaming area, exclusive memorabilia, movie screenings, access to Greatest Ever dedicated gaming areas and VIP bar, media and legends signings, general seating for the fights and at the awards dinner). Regional agents can provide additional premiums for individual packages.