Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend

Oscar De La Hoya to be inducted in the Hall of Fame

Oscar De La Hoya to be inducted in the Hall of Fame

In 1982 residents of Canastota decided to honor former welterweight and middleweight champion Carmen Basilio, and his nephew, Billy Backus, who won the world welterweight title in 1970. The townspeople raised funds for a showcase that would celebrate the achievements of their two local heroes. The success and enthusiasm for that project encouraged Canastotians to explore the possibility of establishing boxing’s first hall of fame and museum.

25 years later The Hall of Fame continues to hold an annual induction ceremony as the highlight of a four-day celebration of boxing and its legends. This year the ceremony runs June 5-8 and features living inductees “The Pride of Wales” Joe Calzaghe, six division world champion “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya and three division champion Felix “Tito” Trinidad, promoter Barry Hearn, referee Richard Steele, journalist Graham Houston and photographer Neil Leifer.

Posthumous honorees include George “K.O.” Chaney, Charles Ledoux and Mike O’Dowd, referee Eugene Corri and Tom Allen. Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians.

Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri has been named Grand Marshal and Bronze Medalist Erin Hamlin will be a special guest in the Boxing Hall of Fame Parade of Champions on Sunday. An impressive list of over 40 boxing greats from the United States and abroad, including Erik Morales, George Chuvalo, John John Molina, Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Ruben Olivares and Pipino Cuevas, and “Irish” Micky Ward, whose life was portrayed in the Academy Award-winning motion picture The Fighter, will return to Canastota to attend festivities.

Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend Events

Thursday, June 5

1:00 p.m. – Ringside Lectures – Museum Grounds
3:00 p.m. – Ringside Lectures – Museum Grounds
4:00 p.m. – Ringside Lectures – Museum Grounds
5-6 p.m. – Hall of Fame Opening Ceremony – Museum Grounds

Friday, June 6

10 a.m.-3 p.m. – Ringside Lectures – Museum Grounds
1:00 p.m. – Celebrity Boxing Demonstration – Museum Grounds
3:00 p.m. – Celebrity Fist Casting – Museum Grounds
7:30 p.m. – A Night of Puerto Rican Pride – Rusty Rail Party House

Saturday, June 7

7 a.m.- 3 p.m. – Golf Tournament of Champions – Casolwood Golf Course
8:30 a.m. – 5K Race, Fun Run – Canastota High School
10 a.m.- 4 p.m. – Boxing Autograph Card Show – Canastota High School
11 a.m.- 4 p.m. – Ringside Lectures – Museum Grounds
1:00 p.m. – Celebrity Boxing Demonstration – Museum Grounds
5:30-6:30 p.m. – VIP “Gala” Cocktail Reception – Greystone Castle
8:00 p.m. – Banquet of Champions – Syracuse Oncenter Complex

Sunday, June 8

10:00 a.m. – U.S Postal Service Tribute – Museum Grounds
1:00 p.m. – Parade of Champions – Downtown District
2:30 p.m. – Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony – Museum Grounds

For more updates about Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend

ibhof.com

The International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York is located at exit 34 of the New York State Thruway (Route 90). Exit 34 is approximately 20 minutes East of Syracuse, New York.