In its entire history, the International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum in Canastota might not experience more attention than it will receive when its Class of 2011 is inducted on the second weekend in June.
The presence of Sylvester Stallone, the actor/writer/director who played Rocky Balboa six times on the big screen, and Mike Tyson, the youngest-ever heavyweight champion whose life in and out of the ring generated headlines, makes that possible.
Stallone and Tyson are part of a class of 2011 that also includes Mexican great Julio Cesar Chavez, Russian champion Kostya Tszyu, Ignacio Beristain and referee Joe Cortez.
“The sport of boxing has given me so much and it is truly a blessing to be acknowledged alongside other historical boxing legends, because they paved the way for me as I hope I have inspired others in this great sport,” said Tyson.
Posthumous honorees in 2011 include bantamweight Memphis Pal Moore, light heavyweight champion Jack Root and welterweight and middleweight Dave Shade in the Old-Timer Category; promoter A.F. Bettinson in the Non Participant Category; broadcaster Harry Carpenter in the Observer Category; and John Gully in the Pioneer Category.
All the inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians.
In 1976, Stallone, a struggling actor at the time, attained international stardom with “Rocky”, the movie about a Philadelphia club fighter who gets a shot at the heavyweight championship. It ended up winning the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Through that movie, and five sequels (four of which he would write and direct), Stallone’s character entered the common sports lexicon. Now any underdog success story, regardless of sport, is given the “Rocky” tag.
In sharp contrast to Stallone and Rocky Balboa, Mike Tyson relished the villain’s role and proclaimed himself “the baddest man on the planet”. That proved all too true.
Legendary trainer Cus D’Amato mentored Tyson in his formative years, transforming a troubled kid from Brooklyn into a heavyweight contender before he died in 1985.
A year later, in November 1986, Tyson, at 20, knocked out Trevor Berbick in Las Vegas to earn his first piece of the heavyweight title, eventually unifying the belts a year later. With devastating punching power, Tyson earned KO’s or TKO’s in short order, most times in the first round.
But after James (Buster) Douglas stunned Tyson in February 1990 in Tokyo, his career plummeted. A rape conviction in 1992 led to a three-year stay in prison, and though Tyson won some matches when he returned, he also had two crushing defeats to Evander Holyfield, the latter of which gained infamy when Tyson twice bit Holyfield’s ears.
Tyson retired in 2005 with 50 wins, six losses and two draws, with 44 knockouts. In a somewhat ironic twist, Tyson ventured into Stallone’s territory in 2009 when he made a cameo in the movie “The Hangover”.
Of the remaining 2011 inductees, Julio Cesar Chavez carries the biggest name. Chavez won championship belts in three different weight classes and, overall, won 107 of his 115 fights, losing just four times and drawing twice. Of those 107 wins, 88 were by knockout.
“I feel humble,” Chavez said. “At this moment in my life, to be inducted into the Hall of Fame is very special. I feel great to know that my name will be inscribed with the best of the best, to join some of my heroes and to leave a mark for my family and my country.”
The 22nd Annual Hall of Fame Weekend is scheduled for June 9-12, 2011. More than 20 events, including a golf tournament, banquet, parade and autograph card show, are planned. An impressive celebrity lineup of boxing greats will attend. The highlight of the weekend will be the enshrinement ceremony on the Hall of Fame Museum Grounds in Canastota on Sunday, June 12.
For more information on the events, call the Hall of Fame at (315) 697-7095 or visit www.ibhof.com.
