Today the International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum announced its Class of 2013, which includes the late Arturo Gatti, Virgil Hill and Myung-Woo Yuh. Non-participant inductees include referee Mills Lane and ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr.
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Gatti, Hill and Yuh inducted to International Boxing Hall of Fame
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Today the International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum announced its Class of 2013, which includes the late Arturo Gatti, Virgil Hill and Myung-Woo Yuh. Non-participant inductees include retired referee Mills Lane and ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. Gatti, who died by mysterious means in 2009 at the age of 37, was one of the most popular fighters of the 1990s and 2000s. The all-action boxer-slugger won major titles at junior lightweight and junior welterweight. He is best known for his thrilling trilogy with Micky Ward and for being in breath-taking brawls, including THE RING’s Fight of the Year four times. He retired in 2007 with a record of 40 wins (30 by knockout) and nine losses. Hill is a two-time light heavyweight beltholder who made 20 title defenses over two reigns spanning 10 years (1987-1997). The 1984 Olympic silver medalist also won a major title at cruiserweight. Hill beat seven titleholders, including Henry Maske, Bobby Czyz, Lou Del Valle and Fabrice Tiozzo (twice). He retired in 2007 with a record of 50 wins (23 by KO) and seven losses. Yuh is one of South Korea’s most decorated boxers. The junior flyweight won the WBA 108-pound title with a 15-round decision over Joey Olivo in 1985 and defended the belt 18 times over two reigns that lasted until 1993. Yuh’s only loss was a split decision to Hiroki Ioka in ’91, which he reversed a year later. Both bouts took place in Ioka’s native Japan. Yuh retired in ’93 with a record of 38 wins (14 by KO) and one loss. Lane, Lennon and journalist Colin Hart – as well as lightweight Wesley Ramey and middleweight Jeff Smith in the Old-Timer Category (posthumous); manager Arturo “Cuyo” Hernandez in the Non Participant Category (posthumous); cartoonist Ted Carroll in the Observer Category (posthumous); and Joe Coburn in the Pioneer Category (posthumous) – were also inducted. “We’re extremely excited about the Class of 2013 and very much looking forward to honoring the 24th class of inductees,” said Executive Director Edward Brophy. The 24th Annual Hall of Fame Weekend is scheduled for June 6-9th in Canastota, N.Y. The Official Enshrinement Ceremony on the Hall of Fame Museum Grounds takes place on Sunday, June 9th. Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians. |