Hall of Fame awaits Manny

CANASTOTA – WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao isn’t eligible for induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame because he remains active in the ring but five years after his retirement, there will be no doubt of his enshrinement.

Hall of Fame director Ed Brophy, however, wouldn’t guarantee his place in the revered honor roll – at least, not yet. 

“At this stage of his career, Manny has certainly gained the respect and admiration of the boxing world,” said Brophy. “But I wouldn’t be able to guarantee anything. That’s not my call even if the consensus is he’s a shoo-in. A lot will depend on how Manny finishes his career. A fighter is eligible for induction only five years after his retirement. Then, a panel of experts and historians will vote on those to be inducted.”

Brophy said Filipino fighters have clearly stamped their class in the sport. The Hall has so far welcomed Asia’s first world champion Pancho Villa and former world junior lightweight titlist Gabriel (Flash) Elorde. A third Filipino in the Hall is promoter Lope (Papa) Sarreal, Sr. who is listed in the non-participants category.

Brophy’s brother Mike, a volunteer chairman of the media committee for the induction rites, said he’s looking forward to the day when Pacquiao is inducted. “I can see it happening,” he said. “Manny has done so much for the sport. He’s fought in a lot of outstanding fights but I think his biggest win was over Ricky Hatton. That guy Hatton was tough and a great fighter but Manny took him out with one shot in the second round. That was his defining moment.”

Of the 386 individuals enshrined, only eight are Asians – Villa, Elorde, Sarreal, Chang Jung Koo of South Korea, Khaosai Galaxy of Thailand, Masahiko (Fighting) Harada of Japan, promoter Akihiko Honda of Japan and writer Joe Koizumi of Japan.

Asked why former world middleweight champion Ceferino Garcia has not been inducted, Brophy said he would look into the records of the man widely known for introducing the bolo punch. The final decision will be made by the voting panel composed of members of the Boxing Writers Association of America and international ring historians.

Garcia, born in Biliran, was the first fighter to floor World War II hero Barney Ross and one of only six fighters to draw with the legendary Henry Armstrong. Ross, Armstrong and the man he dethroned as middleweight titleholder – Fred Apostoli – are in the Hall of Fame. Garcia, who retired in 1945 and died in 1981, was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1977 and the California-based World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1981. 

In the Hall of Fame’s museum, Pacquiao’s picture is framed on a wall honoring the greatest lightweight champions in history. The others in the wall with Pacquiao are Mando Ramos, Roberto Duran, Ike Williams, Harry Jaffra, Julio Cesar Chavez, Arturo Gatti, Greg Haugen and Pernell Whitaker. The picture is the only reference the Hall of Fame makes to Pacquiao.

During the Hall of Fame four-day induction ceremonies that ended last Friday, a white hoodie with a stitched patch reading “Pacquiao-De la Hoya 24/7” went on silent auction. Another item for auction was Sugar Shane Mosley’s autographed glove.

Elorde’s robe and fighting shoe are on display in the museum. They are the only artifacts from a Filipino inductee. The only other Asian with things on display was Galaxy whose boxing shorts and glove are encased in glass.

The Hall of Fame was organized in June 1989 and inducted its first batch of Hall of Famers the next year with Muhammad Ali gracing the event. Canastota was chosen as the Hall of Fame site because of its boxing roots. Former world champions Carmen Basilio and Billy Backus were born in Canastota. A stone’s throw away from the Hall of Fame headquarters is an Italian restaurant owned by Tony Graziano, no relation to the former world champion Rocky Graziano (whose real name was Thomas Rocco Barbella). The restaurant is a popular hang-out of boxing personalities visiting the Hall of Fame and Museum.

Brophy said last weekend’s induction was a huge success with actor Sylvester Stallone and Mike Tyson leading the Class of 2011. The festivities began Thursday and ended with the formal enshrinement last Sunday. Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Leon Spinks, Ken Norton, George Chuvalo, Jake LaMotta, Michael Carbajal and John Stracey were among the former champions who attended.