(Canastota, NY – May 2013) For boxers Virgil “Quicksilver” Hill and Myung-Woo Yuh, referee Mills Lane, ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. and journalist Colin Hart, their day in the sun is rapidly approaching. On Sunday, June 9 they will join boxing’s immortals when they are officially inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota.
“We are eagerly anticipating paying tribute to the incredible accomplishments of the members of the Class of 2013,” said Hall of Fame Executive Director Edward Brophy. “We look forward to welcoming them to Canastota to take their place in the Hall of Fame. “It is so exciting to think that they will be boarding airplanes two weeks from now and making the trek to Canastota to receive boxing’s highest honor.”
North Dakota’s Hill is a five-time world champion, South Korea’s Yuh was twice junior flyweight champion, Reno, NV’s Lane is a legendary referee known for his pre-fight phrase “Let’s Get It On,” Lennon Jr. is known worldwide for his pre-fight battle call “It’s Showtime!,”Hart is known as the “Voice of Boxing” during a nearly 50 year career as a journalist. Each living inductee will receive a Hall of Fame Induction Certificate and gold Hall of Fame Ring.
The Class of 2013 also includes posthumous honorees two-division world champion Arturo “Thunder” Gatti in the Modern category; lightweight Wesley Ramey and middleweight Jeff Smith in the Old-Timer Category; manager Arturo “Cuyo” Hernandez in the Non Participant Category; cartoonist Ted Carroll in the Observer Category; and Joe Coburn in the Pioneer Category. Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians.
A plaque with each inductee’s biography and photo will be on permanent display on the Hall of Fame Wall. The Official Enshrinement Ceremony will be held on the Hall of Fame Museum Grounds in Canastota on Sunday, June 9 at 2:30 p.m.
For more information on the Hall of Fame’s 24th Annual Induction Weekend, call (315) 697-7095, or visit online at www.ibhof.com.