‘Ferocious’ Fernando Vargas to Visit for the first time
(Canastota, NY – May 2015) The International Boxing Hall of Fame has announced former light middleweight champion “Ferocious” Fernando Vargas will make his first visit to Canastota to attend festivities planned for the 2015 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend June 11 to 14.
The fighting pride of Oxnard, Calif., Vargas represented the USA at the 1996 Olympic Games before turning pro in 1997. In just his 15th professional bout, he defeated Yori Boy Campas (TKO 7) to capture the IBF light middleweight championship. “El Feroz” successfully defended the title five times over such stars as Raul Marquez (TKO 11), Winky Wright (W 12) and Ike Quartey (W 12) before losing the title to Hall of Famer Felix Trinidad. In 2001 he stopped Jose Flores (KO 7) for the vacant WBA title. Vargas retired in 2007 with a record of 26-5 (22 KOs) that includes wins over Wilfredo Rivera, Fitz Vanderpool, Tony Marshall and Javier Castillejo.
‘Terrible’ Terry Norris Returns
2005 Hall of Fame Inductee “Terrible” Terry Norris will return to Canastota to participate in 2015 Hall of Fame Weekend festivities.
“Terry Norris was a tremendous world champion with lightning quick hands and knockout power,” said Hall of Fame director Edward Brophy. “He’s a real fan favorite and we’re looking forward to welcoming him back to Canastota.”
Born in Lubbock, Texas Norris turned pro in 1986 following a brief amateur career. As a pro he reigned three times as WBC light middleweight champion (1990-93, 1994, 1995-97) and also held the IBF title (1995-97). During his championship career he scored wins over John “The Beast” Mugabi, Donald Curry, Meldrick Taylor, Maurice Blocker, Simon Brown and Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Leonard. Norris retired in 1998 with a pro ledger of 47-9 (31 KOs). In 2005 Norris was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Referees Hazzard, Cortez and Steele Set to Attend
Hall of Fame referees Larry Hazzard, Joe Cortez and Richard Steele are set to participate in 2015 Hall of Fame Weekend festivities.
“These three Hall of Famers were involved in so many iconic bouts featuring legendary fighters,” said Hall of Fame director Edward Brophy. “It will be exciting for fans to see them in Canastota and recall the memorable fights they officiated.”
Hazzard began refereeing professional bouts in 1978 and officiated over 40-world title fights featuring such champions as Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Michael Spinks, Dwight Qawi, Yoko Gushiken, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Pernell Whitaker and Riddick Bowe. He also refereed non-title bouts of Ray Mancini, Alexis Arguello, Thomas Hearns and Hector Camacho. Hazzard was commissioner of the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board from 1985 until 2007 and was reappointed in 2014. He was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2010.
Cortez officiated his first world title bout, WBA junior welterweight king Aaron Pryor’s TKO 12 over Miguel Montilla, in 1982. Among the notable bouts he has refereed include Tyson vs. Holmes, Duran vs. Barkley, Bowe vs. Holyfield I, Foreman vs. Moorer, De La Hoya vs. Vargas, Mayweather vs. Hatton and Chavez vs. Haugen in front of 132,274 fans. He’s also worked fights involving James Toney, Mike McCallum, Naseem Hamed, Bernard Hopkins, Felix Trinidad and Lennox Lewis. In 2011 he was elected into the Hall of Fame.
Among the legendary fights Steele was the third man in the ring for include Aaron Pryor vs. Alexis Arguello II, Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Mike Tyson vs. Frank Bruno I, Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns II, Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Meldrick Taylor, Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Diego Corrales and Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Zab Judah. Steele retired in 2006 and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2014.
For more information on the 2015 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, please call the Hall of Fame at (315) 697-7095 or visit www.ibhof.com.