Boxing News Boxing News
Nine of the 10 Bantamweights nominated in “The World’s Greatest Ever Boxer” promotion are inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the one who isn’t enshrined yet, Hozumi Hasegawa, is still actively fighting.
Seven different countries are represented in this group of fighters whose professional years range from 1909 to today.
On-line voting at www.GreatestEver.com allows boxing fans from around the world to select the greatest boxer in each of the original eight weight classes, highlighted by the all-time pound-for-pound “Greatest Ever.”
The eight categories represent the eight original weight-class divisions: Strawweights are included in the Flyweight category; Super Middleweight in the Light Heavyweight division. Many fighters fought and won titles at a number of different weights. As far as possible they have been nominated in the division that they made their biggest impact.
Fighters have not been nominated on the basis of whether they would beat another fighter in that division, though this is, of course, a consideration. More importantly is their overall record, who they fought at the time, as well as the impact they made on the boxing world, and indeed the world around them. All nominees are listed in the voting section at www.GreatestEver.com.
The 10 Bantamweight nominees with brief bios, listed in no particular order, follow:
“Panama” Al Brown – 123-18-10 4 ND (62 KOs): Panamanian…IHOF inductee…Pro Years: 1922-1942…boxing’s first Hispanic world champion…Notable Victories: Gregorio Vidal, Victor Perez, and Baltazar Berenguer Hervas.
Manuel Ortiz – 96-28-3 (49 KOs: American…IHOF inductee…Pro Years: 1938-1955…National AAU Champion…Notable Victories: Lou Salica, Dado Marino, Jackie Jurich and Harold Dude.
Eder “Golden Bantam” Jofre – 72-2-4 (50 KOs)…Brazilian…IHOF inductee…Pro Years: 1957-1976…..2-time world champion…Notable Victories: Vicente Saldivar, Katsuyasko Aoki, Piero Rollo, Ramon Arias, Herman Marques, Johnny Jamito and Bernardo Caraballo.
Ruben “El Pucas” Olivares – 88-13-3 (78 KOs)…Mexican…IHOF inductee…
Pro Years: 1970-1979…multiple world champion…Notable Victories: Lionel Rose, Alan Rudkin, Salvatore Burruni, Takai Sakurai, Chucho Castillo, Efren Torres, Bobby Chacon, Jose Cervantes and Fernando Cananrla.
Carlos “Canas” Zarate – 61-4 (58 KOs)…Mexican…IHOF inductee…Pro Years: 1970-1979…record two streaks of 20 or more knockout wins…Notable Victories: Nestor Jimenez, Rudolfo Martinez and Alfonso Zamora.
Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gomez – 44-3-1 (42 KOs)…Puerto Rican…IHOF inductee…Pro Years: 1974-1989…Puerto Rican Olympian…3-time world champion…one of the highest KO rates (95.4%) in boxing history …32 knockouts in a row longest streak of any world champion…Notable Victories: Carlos Zarate, Alberto Davila, Royal Kobayasho, Juan Meza, Lupe Pintor, Juan Laporte and Rocky Lockridge.
“Joltin” Jeff Chandler – 33-2-2 (18 KOs)…American…IHOF inductee…Pro Years: 1976-1984…became first American to hold world bantamweight title in more than 30 years…Notable Victories: Jorge Lycan, Julian Solis and Johnny Carter.
Hozumi Hasegawa – 26-2 (10 KOs)…Japanese…Pro Years: 1999-Present…only Japanese boxer to defend world bantamweight title more than 4 times…WBC bantamweight title-holder since 2004….makes his eighth title defense July 14 vs. Nestor Rocha…Notable Victories: Veeraphol Sahaprom, Geraldo Martinez, Simpiwe Vetyeka and Simone Malidrotta.
Kid Williams – 158-26-15 (57 KOs)…Dane…IHOF inductee…Pro Years: 1909-1929…moved at young age and grew-up in Baltimore…fought many world champions bit defended title only two times…Notable Victories: Joe Lynch, Joe Dundee, Pete Herman and Johnny Coulon.
Orlando Canizales – 50-5-1 (37 KOs)…American…IHOF inductee…Pro Years: 1984-1999…IBF bantamweight champion who defended a record 16 consecutive times…Notable Victories: Kelvin Seabrooks, Paul Gonzalez, Clarence Adams, Rolando Bohol and Billy Hardy.
Boxing fans attending the festivities will be able to celebrate, up close and personal, the achievements of the World’s Greater Ever Boxers. A three-day boxing spectacular is planned October 2-4 at the Paris Las Vegas, commencing that Friday with an official welcome reception and official weigh in for the following evening’s professional boxing show, presented by Sterling Promotions, and featuring Team USA versus Team Europe, capped by an exclusive after party.
The event culminates Sunday with The Greater Ever black-tie awards dinner, featuring some of the greatest boxers ever, as well as world-class entertainment, and then an exclusive after party.
The Retired Boxers Foundation (RBF) is the official charity for The World’s Greatest Ever Boxer. RBF assists retired professional boxers in the transition from their days in the ring to dignified retirement, helping those suffering from alcohol and substance abuse problems, homelessness and effects of pugilistic dementia.
Four ticket packages are on sale for the Oct. 2-4 weekend’s events through agents at the following numbers: North America – The Sports Alliance (914.941.3366) Smart Ticket Solutions (847.917.8497); United Kingdom and Europe – Rock Solid Events (UK: 0845 0945 606, Outside UK: +44 845 0945 606); Australasia – Events Worldwide Travel Group (Australia: 1300 788 666, Outside Australia: +61 3 5989 7666).
The event-only packages are as follows (all prices USD): Super VIP ($2,500), Platinum ($1,900), VIP ($1,400) and Gold ($1,115). The Super VIP, Platinum and VIP packages have a number or premiums in addition to those detailed in the Gold (welcome function, weigh-in, Greatest Ever poker tournament, exclusive Paris Las Vegas gaming area, exclusive memorabilia, movie screenings, access to Greatest Ever dedicated gaming areas and VIP bar, media and legends signings, general seating for the fights and at the awards dinner). Regional agents can provide additional premiums for individual packages.
