‘The Raging Bull’ Returning Boxer
(Canastota, NY – Feb. 2015) The International Boxing Hall of Fame announces legendary middleweight champion “The Raging Bull” Jake LaMotta will be among returning Hall of Famers attending festivities planned for the 2015 Annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend June 11 to 14.
“Jake LaMotta is a legend in the sport of boxing and one of the most popular champions ever,” said Hall of Fame director Edward Brophy. “It’s always exciting for fans to see ‘The Raging Bull’ in Canastota for the Hall of Fame Weekend.”
Boxing out of the Bronx, LaMotta captured the world middleweight championship via 10th round TKO over Hall of Famer Marcel Cerdan in 1949. The cagey middleweight also scored wins over Bert Lytell, Tommy Bell and Hall of Famers Holman Williams, Fritzie Zivic and Sugar Ray Robinson, whom he met in six legendary bouts. His pro record stands at 83-19-4 (30 KOs). LaMotta’s life story was made into the motion picture Raging Bull starring Robert DeNiro. LaMotta was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990.
LaMotta will be one of the boxing stars featured at “A Night of 15 Rounders” June 12 at the Rusty Rail Party House during Hall of Fame Weekend.
Other events planned for the weekend include a banquet, parade, golf tournament, boxing autograph card show, cocktail party and the Official Induction Ceremony honoring the Class of 2015. Living inductees include heavyweight champion Riddick “Big Daddy” Bowe, featherweight champion “Prince” Naseem Hamed, lightweight champion Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, light flyweight champion Yoko Gushiken, manager Rafael Mendoza, referee Steve Smoger, journalist Nigel Collinsand broadcaster Jim Lampley. Posthumous inductees in the Old-Timer and Non-Participant categories will also be honored.
A list of more than 40 boxing greats from the United States and abroad are scheduled to participate in weekend.
‘Irish’ Micky Ward to Return
“Irish” Micky Ward, whose life was portrayed in the Academy Award-winning motion picture The Fighter, will return to Canastota to attend festivities planned for the 2015 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend.
“’Irish’ Micky Ward was a true warrior inside the ropes,” said Hall of Fame director Edward Brophy. “The Hall of Fame is excited to welcome him back to Canastota to participate in the 2015 festivities.”
Boxing out of Lowell, Mass. Ward was one of boxing’s most exciting fighters. He turned pro in 1985 and used a crowd-pleasing style to register a 38-13 (27 KOs) record that includes wins over Shea Neary, Reggie Green and Emanuel Burton. In 2002 and 2003 Ward engaged in an epic trilogy with Arturo “Thunder” Gatti (1-2). Following their third bout Ward announced his retirement from the ring. During his career, he was in “Fight of the Year” three times (2001 vs. Burton, 2002 and 2003 vs. Gatti). The Fighter, an Academy Award-winning motion picture chronicling his life, featured Mark Wahlberg as Ward and Christian Bale as his brother / trainer Dicky Eklund.
Ward will be one of the boxing stars participating in the 5K Race / Fun Run, held in conjunction with the Canastota Running Club Saturday June 13 at 8:30 a.m. More than 500 runners will compete in the race, which weaves through the streets of Canastota. Awards will be presented to top finishers and many door prizes will be given away.
Benevenuti Set for Hall of Fame Weekend
Legendary middleweight champion Nino Benvenuti will be among returning Hall of Famers attending festivities planned for the 2015 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend.
“From the Olympic gold medal to world titles in two weight divisions, Benvenuti was a superstar in boxing in the 1960s,” said Hall of Fame director Edward Brophy. “We are very excited to welcome the Italian idol back to Canastota to participate in the 2015 Hall of Fame Weekend.”
Born in Trieste, Italy, Benvenuti is the 1960 Olympic welterweight gold medalist. He turned pro in 1961 and scored wins over Gaspar Ortega and Denny Moyer before stopping Sandro Mazzinghi in six rounds for the world junior middleweight belt. He moved up in weight to engage Hall of Famer Emile Griffith in a middleweight championship trilogy that saw him win, lose and regain the strap in 1967 and 1968. Following successful defenses over Don Fullmer, Fraser Scott, Luis Rodriguez and Tom Bethea, he lost the title to Hall of Famer Carlos Monzon in 1970. After unsuccessfully challenging Monzon in the rematch he retired with an 82-7-1 (35 KOs) record. In 1992 Benvenuti was elected into the Hall of Fame.
Benvenuti will be one of the boxing stars featured at “A Night of 15 Rounders” June 12.
William Joppy to Make First Visit
Three-time WBA middleweight champion William Joppy will make his first visit to Canastota to participate in events planned for the 2015 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend.
“William Joppy was a very talented fighter and met the sport’s top fighters throughout his championship career,” said Hall of Fame director Edward Brophy. “We are very much looking forward to welcoming him to Canastota.”
Fighting out of the Washington, DC area, Joppy compiled a 48-4 amateur record before turning pro in 1993. He reigned as WBA middleweight champion three times (1996-1997, 1998-2001, 2001-2003) and holds wins over Julio Cesar Green, Hacine Cherifi, Howard Eastman and Hall of Famer Roberto Duran. He retired in 2011 with a pro record of 40-7-2 (30 KOs).
“It will be a thrill to be at the Hall with all the great champions I fought along with and trained with. It’s beyond words. This is a trip I’ve wanted to make for a long time. I remember when Muhammad Ali was inducted and I’ve wanted to visit ever since,” said Joppy.
‘Merciless’ Ray Mercer to Return
1988 Olympic gold medalist and former WBO heavyweight champion “Merciless” Ray Mercer will return to Canastota to participate in events planned for the 2015 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend.
“From the Olympic gold medal to the heavyweight championship of the world, Ray Mercer was a fan favorite,” said Hall of Fame director Edward Brophy. “We are very much looking forward to welcoming him back to Canastota.”
Mercer compiled an 85-6 amateur record and captured the 1988 Olympic heavyweight gold medal. He turned pro in 1989 and won the NABF heavyweight title from Bert Cooper (W 12) in 1990 before stopping Francesco Damiani in 1991 (KO 9) for the WBO title. In his first defense he scored a dramatic 5th round TKO over Tommy “The Duke” Morrison. Stripped of the title in 1992, he went on to score wins over Tim Witherspoon and Darroll Wilson among others. Mercer’s pro record stands at 36-7-1 (26 KOs).
For more information on the 2015 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend, please call the Hall of Fame at (315) 697-7095 or visit online at www.ibhof.com.