Two-time World Champion Tracy Harris Patterson headlines the 2021 class of the Alabama Boxing Hall of Fame. Patterson, from Grady, Alabama won World titles at Super Bantamweight and Super Featherweight during a 16-year career in which he compiled a 63-8-2 record with 43 knockouts. Patterson will be inducted in the Pro Boxer category.
In the Amateur Boxer/Toughman category, fan favorite Eric “Butterbean” Esch of Jasper, AL is the inductee for his five World Toughman titles.
Other winners are:
Old Timer: Sgt. Sammy Baker
Manager/Trainer/Promoter: Jerry Tillman
Support Personnel: Larry Bright
Alabama only inducts one person per category per year. Inductions are held as part of a professional fight card. The 2021 card/induction ceremony date and location will be announced soon. Former inductees, Alabamians Evander Holyfield, Deontay Wilder, Earnie Shavers and Byron Mitchell are expected to attend.
Didn’t know Evander Holyfield was from Alabama.
Yes! Joe Louis also, who was the first inducted into the ABHOF. The year 1-5 inductees for Pro Boxer have been Joe Louis, Evander Holyfield, Earnie Shavers, Frankie Randall and Tracy Harris Patterson. That’s a strong top five!
Hedgemon Lewis was from Greensboro, Alabama.
I recall the Butterbean era and everyone was blown away a big heavy man was bulldozing thru opponents. However, once Butterbean entered MMA, he met his demise when his body gave him some limitations against certain opponents. I also recall when Larry Holmes boxed Butterbean in a slow boring fight most folks would have dozed off watching.
I have to give Butterbean credit for being sufficiently fit to box four 3-minute rounds. In Toughman events, most ordinary guys not in serious training run out of gas after Round 1. Bean did the same thing Tony Galento did – letting opponents think he was a fat slob when he was better conditioned than he appeared.
I remember when he hit Gatti w a brutal body punch that dropped him and the ref mistakenly called it low. Who knows if that would have changed the outcome of the fight. Normally I’d say yes, but after watching Thunder get up from that Mickey Ward sledgehammer and actually win the next round Idk.