Report/Photos: Boxing Bob Newman

Just as a boxer might have to adapt to his opponent in the ring, adjusting his or her tactics in order to win, so too has the Boxing Hall of Fame had to adjust its strategies for the sake of the inductees and all attending the festivities this week in Canastota and Verona, New York.

With the wildfires still raging in Quebec and Ontario provinces in Canada much of the North Eastern United States has been enveloped in the resulting smoke and smog, causing a safety risk for anyone who ventures outdoors.

For those who have traveled to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the past, much is already changed in the last few years. First there was the pandemic which canceled the inductions for 2021 and 2022, resulting in the trilogy event last year where those two years classes joined the class of 2023 for a triple induction ceremony. With the wildfires still out of control, the resulting air safety index has caused IBHOF director Ed Brophy to call an audible and move many of the events which are scheduled for the museum grounds, indoors to the comfortable confines of Verona’s Turning Stone Casino. Today’s fist casting event was the first such change. It was held in the casinos Show Room. This is also where the induction ceremonies on Sunday will be held.

The annual rite of having one’s fist cast included both inductees and other fighters who have not graced the hall with their presence yet. First up were 2023 inductees Timothy Bradley, Carl Froch, Alicia Ashley and Rafael Marquez. They were followed by former inductee Lucia Rijker, former champ Michael Nunn, current brother and sister contenders Gabriella and Sebastian Fundora and former champion and now top trainer Robert Garcia.

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